by Christine Chang -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Investment Firms Matrix Partners India, Hivos-Triodos Fonds and Lok Capital LLC Invest $26.5m in Indian BASIX Microfinance Institution Bhartiya Samruddhi Finance Limited (BSFL)

Matrix Partners India, a Mumbai-based investment firm, is investing INR 1 billion (USD 22.5 million) in Bhartiya Samruddhi Finance Limited (BSFL), an Indian microfinance institution that is a member of the BASIX (Bhartiya Samruddhi Investment & Consulting Service) Group. Two existing investors, Europe-based Hivos-Triodos Fonds and dedicated microfinance institution (MFI) investor Lok Capital LLC, are contributing a further INR 127 million (USD 2.9 million) and INR 55 million (USD 1.2 million) respectively.

by Christopher Maggio -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Janalakshmi Financial Services (JFS), a Microfinance Institution (MFI) Located in India, Raises $10m from Funders Including Tree Line Asia Master Fund (Singapore) Private Limited and Bellwether Microfinance Fund

Janalakshmi Financial Services (JFS), a microfinance institution (MFI) located in India, has raised INR 45.8 crore, the equivalent of over USD 10 million, in a second round of funding.

by Kenny Kline -

KNOW A MICROFINANCE FUND: AfriCap Microfinance Fund

Overview:
The AfriCap Microfinance Fund (AfriCap) is private equity fund that invests in microfinance related organizations that are committed to commercial viability.

Description:
AfriCap uses equity and quasi equity instruments with an aggregate exposure of $1.5 million per investment, with equity stakes ranging from 15 to 30 percent. AfriCap also offers a Technology Assistance Package through the AfriCap managed grant fund. AfriCap invests in a range of financial services companies, including micro-insurance, low-income housing, micro-leasing and money transfers.

by Stefanie Rubin -

MICROFINANCE PROFILE: LeapFrog Investments

Name of Organization or Microfinance Investment Vehicle: LeapFrog Investments

Overview: LeapFrog Investments is a for-profit, private equity fund focused on microinsurance and financial inclusion

Description:

LeapFrog Investments was founded in 2007 by Dr. Andrew Kuper. It is a for-profit, private equity fund aimed at earning large returns by investing in and supporting microinsurance initiatives. LeapFrog has raised USD 44 million from a range of public and private investors, including the European Investment Bank, the Omidyar Network, FMO, Triodos-Doen and Hivos-Triodos, ACCION International, Calvert, and Felipe Medina (a senior Goldman Sachs wealth manager). The LeapFrog team has also committed USD 1 million of their own personal money into the fund. The fund focuses on ventures in Africa and Asia, with initial target countries including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Pakistand and the Philippines.

by Christopher Maggio -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Azerbaijan Microfinance Association Investors Fair in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 7, 2009

Microfinance Event: Azerbaijan Microfinance Association Investors Fair in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 7, 2009

Event Name: Azerbaijan Microfinance Association Investors Fair

Location: Baku, Azerbaijan

Date: October 7, 2009

Event Description: The conference will focus on MFI governance strategy, financial risk management, client protection, opportunities to learn about innovative products, and a chance to access capital investors [1].

See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar Here: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

Cost: AMFA Members: AZN 200 (USD 248)
non-AMFA Members: AZN 250 (USD 310)
International: USD 200

Summary of Event: The day will start with remarks from members of the Azerbaijan Microfinance Association, the Azerbaijani government, and business representatives. There will then be three panels on governance, risk, and client protection, respectively. Lastly, the Investors Fair will be a roundtable to discuss critical microfinance issues [2].

by Zoran Stanisljevic -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Roundtable 2009, presented by the United Nations, October 22-23, 2009 at Cape Town, South Africa

MICROFINANCE EVENT: United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Roundtable 2009, presented by the United Nations, October 22-23, 2009 at Cape Town, South Africa

United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), presented by the United Nations, October 22-23, 2009 at Cape Town, South Africa

October 22-23, 2009 at Cape Town, South Africa

See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar Here: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

by Chinq Yee Chong -

MICROCAPITAL.ORG STORY: Indonesian Government And Central Bank Plans To Cut Interest Rates For Microfinance Loans

In a report by Mr Mustaqim Adamrah in the Jakarta Post entitled ‘Govt, Bank Indonesia seek lower rates for micro loans’ [1], it was stated that the Indonesian government and the central bank of Indonesia, Bank Indonesia [2], will work together to bring down interest rates charged by banks to small businesses to around 13 percent under its microcredit program or ‘KUR’. This move was seen as necessary to help Indonesia’s micro, small and medium enterprises. The article notes that Bank Indonesia recently cut its key base interest rate to 6.5 percent last December. It is not known whether the decision to reduce interest rates under the KUR program is related to this development. The details set out in the Jakarta Post article have yet to be confirmed by other public reports or sources at this stage.