MICROCAPITAL STORY: BlueOrchard Finance Disburses Over USD 28m to Microfinance Institutions in May

BlueOrchard Finance disbursed over USD 28 million in loans to 13 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in May.  As reported to the CGAP Microfinance Dealbook, BlueOrchard Finance loaned USD 15.5 million through the Dexia Micro-Credit Fund and USD 1 million through the BBVA Codespa Microfinance Fund. BlueOrchard is also an advisor to the Microfinance Enhancement Facility, launched by the International Finance Corporation and KfW Entwicklungsbank, which disbursed its first four loans totaling USD 12 million.

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Global Summit on Microfinance as an Alternate Asset Class for Institutional Investors

GLOBAL SUMMIT ON MICROFINANCE AS AN ALTERNATIVE ASSET CLASS FOR INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS

OCTOBER 29-30, MILLENIUM KNIGHTSBRIDGE HOTEL, LONDON, ENGLAND

The conference will focus on the opportunities and challenges for microfinance investments as the industry becomes larger and converges with mainstream financial institutions. Specific topics will include the current state of the microfinance sector, the risks and rewards for institutional investors involved in microfinance, an evaluation of rating metrics currently employed, lessons and opportunities taken from other asset classes, good governance in microfinance institutions (MFIs), and developing a universal framework for evaluating social returns. A complete agenda can be found of the conference website.

MICROCAPITAL STORY: responsAbility Mikrofinanz-Fonds Invests $2.7m in MicroInvest, AgroInvest, Prestanic and Fondesurco

In its Microfinance Capital Markets Update, CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) reports that responsAbility Mikrofinanz-Fonds fund recently made investments totaling USD 2.7 million in four microfinance institutions (MFIs). In the Europe and Central Asia Region, Mikrofinanz-Fonds invested USD 300,000 in MicroInvest of Tajikistan and USD 1.5 million in AgroInvest of Serbia and Montenegro. In the Latin America and Caribbean Region, USD 500,000 was invested in Prestanic of Nicaragua and USD 400,000 in Peruvian MFI Fondesurco.

MICROCAPITAL STORY: responsAbility Global Microfinance Fund (rAGMF) of Luxembourg Lends a Total of $3.25m to the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia

The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) reports in its list of recent transactions that the responsAbility Global Microfinance Fund (rAGMF) financed USD 750,000 in loans to the Foundation for International Community Assistance Azerbaijan (FINCA Azerbaijan) on February 27, 2008, USD 1 million to FINCA MicroCredit Company (FMCC) of Kyrgyzstan on March 17, 2008, and USD 1.5 million to FINCA Georgia on March 19, 2008. The transaction to FINCA Azerbaijan is not to be confused with a separate responsAbility Microfinance Leaders Fund (rAMLF) loan taking place on the same date for the exact same amount, which was reported on by MicroCapital here.

MICROCAPITAL STORY: responsAbility Microfinance Leaders Fund (rAMLF) of Luxembourg Lends $500k to Thaneakea Phum (Cambodia) (TPC), $303k to Catalyst Microfinance Investors (CMI), $929k to ASP Financiera (ASP), and $750k to the Foundation for International Community Assistance Azerbaijan (FINCA Azerbaijan)

The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) reports in its list of recent transactions that the responsAbility Microfinance Leaders Fund (rAMLF) financed USD 500,000 in loans to Thaneakea Phum (Cambodia) (TPC) on February 6, 2008, USD 303,092 to Catalyst Microfinance Investors (CMI) on February 7, 2008, USD 929,000 to ASP Financiera (ASP) on February 20, 2008, and USD 750,000 to the Foundation for International Community Assistance Azerbaijan (FINCA Azerbaijan) on February 27, 2008.

Raise a Glass for Transparency! Launching of Luxembourg Fund Labeling Agency Important Milestone in Microfinance Investment

The launch of the Luxembourg Fund Labeling Agency a.s.b.l. (LuxFLAG) will grant a label to both Luxembourg and foreign investment funds that invest in microfinance assets. Conceived initially at the 2005 Luxembourg Round Table on Microfinance, this agency aims to encourage private investment in microfinance funds.

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