Bank of America, a US-based financial services provider, is investing USD 10 million in Calvert Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization specializing in social-impact investment, to provide loans to organizations that increase financial access for women entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America [1].
Search Results for: MicroVest
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grama Vidiyal Microfinance of India Borrows from World Business Capital
Grama Vidiyal Microfinance, a microfinance institution (MFI) operating in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, has raised an undisclosed amount of financing through both senior and subordinate loans from World Business Capital, a US-based lender to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroCred Holding Raises $11m in Equity from Danish Microfinance Partners
MicroCred Holding, a French microfinance investment company that was created by French NGO PlaNet Finance, has raised EUR 8.4 million (USD 11.4 million) in equity funding through an issue of new shares to Danish Microfinance Partners (DMP), a Danish investment fund that invests in micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Gray Matters Capital Invests Equity in Unitus Capital
Unitus Capital (UC), a Bangalore-based financial services firm that specializes in capital market services for microfinance institutions (MFIs) and other social enterprises in Asia, recently announced that Gray Matters Capital (GMC), a US-based private foundation, invested an undisclosed amount in UC to fund social businesses that both assist poor clients and generate financial returns.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: LeapFrog, Kinnevik Invest $7m in Mobile Microinsurance Provider Bima
LeapFrog Investments, a Mauritius-based investor in insurance providers operating in emerging markets, recently announced plans to invest USD 4.3 million to take a stake of undisclosed size in Bima, a Sweden-based mobile microinsurance provider that operates in emerging markets in Africa and Asia.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Loans $3m to Arnur Credit to Support Micro- and Small Enterprises in Rural Kazakhstan
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a multilateral development finance institution headquartered in London, has agreed to provide a local-currency loan in an amount equivalent to USD 3 million to Arnur Credit, a microfinance institution (MFI) in Kazakhstan, for on-lending to micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) in rural areas of the country.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa (REGMIFA) Celebrates 2nd Anniversary, Reports Positive Financials for 2011
The Regional Micro-, Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Investment Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa (REGMIFA) SA, a Luxembourg-based investment fund that focuses on supporting micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the region, recently celebrated its second anniversary by presenting a summary of 2011 achievements along with an overview of its goals for 2012.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation (IFC), ACCION Support Swadhaar in Expanding Microfinance for Women in Urban India
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-investment arm of the World Bank Group, and ACCION International, a private, US-based nonprofit organization, will advise Swadhaar FinServe Private Limited (SFPL), an Indian microfinance institution, on its expansion of financial services for women in urban slums of the following Indian states: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: State Bank of India to Grow Microfinance Portfolio by 50%, Microfinance Institutions Network Promotes Wholesale Lending to Sector
The State Bank of India (SBI) reportedly plans to grow its microfinance portfolio by 50 percent during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Indian Microfinance Institutions Allowed to Raise $10m Each in External Commercial Borrowings
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Mr H R Khan has announced that Indian microfinance institutions (MFIs) will now be allowed to execute external commercial borrowings (ECB)–those that are raised from outside India–of up to USD 10 million per financial year, twice as much as was previously allowed [1]. Such funds must be “utilised for lending to self-help groups or for micro-credit or for bonafide micro finance activity including capacity building.” [2] The change is intended to address liquidity issues in the industry [1].
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Ugafode Receives Microfinance Deposit-Taking Institution License from Bank of Uganda
Ugafode Microfinance, a Ugandan microfinance institution (MFI), reportedly has received a license from the Bank of Uganda to act as a Microfinance Deposit-Taking Institution (MDI).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Indian Microfinance Institution (MFI) Ujjivan Looking to Raise $138m from Private, Public Sector Banks
Ujjivan Financial Services, an Indian microfinance institution (MFI), reportedly plans to raise up to INR 6.2 billion (USD 138 million) from the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), a government-owned financial institution, along with other unspecified private and public-sector banks.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: BlueOrchard Loans $1.1m in Local Currency to Cameroonian Microfinance Institution (MFI) Advans Cameroun
BlueOrchard Finance SA, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based BlueOrchard Microfinance Investment Managers, has announced that it will provide a local-currency loan of XAF 500 million (USD 1.1 million) to Advans Cameroun, a microfinance institution (MFI) operating in Cameroon.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: ImpactAssets Includes 22 Microfinance-Focused Fund Managers in List of Top 50 Impact Investors
ImpactAssets, a US-based nonprofit company specializing in impact investment, recently released its “2011 ImpactAssets 50,” a list of investment fund managers that “achieve financial performance with positive social and environmental impacts,” including 22 microfinance-focused funds.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Indian Microfinance Institution (MFI) Janalakshmi Raises $14m in Equity Led by Citi Venture Capital International (CVCI)
Janalakshmi Financial Services (JFS), an Indian microfinance institution (MFI), has raised INR 65 crores (USD 14 million) through a third round of equity capital fundraising. Citi Venture Capital International, a US-based private equity investor affiliated with Citigroup, has taken a “significant minority stake” in JFS that reportedly represents its first investment in India since 2008.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Peruvian Microfinance Institution (MFI) Prisma is First Fully Certified User of Grameen Foundation’s Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI)
Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit, has announced that “Asociacion Benefica Prisma”, a Peru-based microfinance institution (MFI), has become the first fully certified user of the Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI) [1].
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Indian Microfinance Institution Grameen Koota Raises $8m through Nonconvertible Debentures
Grameen Koota, a division of Grameen Financial Services Private Limited, has raised INR 35 crore (USD 7.71 million) of debt capital through the issuance of secured, redeemable, nonconvertible debentures (NCDs) to Developing World Markets Limited, a member of US-based asset manager and investment bank Developing World Markets (DWM) Group.
MICROCAPITAL SPECIAL REPORT: “Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance” Launched at Responsible Finance Forum in The Hague, Netherlands
A group of 40 global investors in the microfinance industry, including US retirement planning firm TIAA-CREF and several microfinance investment vehicles (MIV), recently launched a set of guiding principles for investing in the microfinance industry at the Responsible Finance Forum in The Hague, Netherlands. The initiative – titled “Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance” – is reportedly the brainchild of Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, and a core group of Dutch investors, including; Triodos, a microfinance investment vehicle (MIV); Goodwell, a for-profit social investment outfit; Oikocredit, a cooperative investment fund; PGGM, an investment and pension firm; and SNS Asset Management, an institutional investment group. The group and Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima developed the principles together with CGAP and the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), a network of international investors created to promote the practice of responsible investing.