Lucknow-based microfinance institution Margdarshak Financial Services Ltd has raised Rs 20 crore ($3 million) in debt funding from Japan ASEAN Women Empowerment Fund, which is managed by Switzerland-based impact investment manager BlueOrchard.
Margdarshak has received the money through the issuance of non-convertible debentures with a maturity of five years.
“This long-term funding will enable Margdarshak to serve more poor households in the unchartered territories of the country,†said Margdarshak managing director Rahul Mittra, in a press release.
The Lucknow-based micro finance institution, which was incorporated in 2007, currently operates in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh through a network of 120 branches. Its assets under management stands at Rs 285 crore.
Blue Orchard was founded in 2001 through an initiative by the United Nations as the first commercial manager of microfinance debt investments worldwide and has invested $4 billion in 350 institutions across 70 countries. The Japan ASEAN Women Empowerment Fund focuses on providing financing to female micro entrepreneurs in the Southeast Asia frontier and emerging markets. MFSL
Swarna Pragati
Housing micro-finance institution Swarna Pragati Housing Microfinance Pvt. Ltd has raised Rs 50 crore (about $8 million) in debt funding from State Bank of India.
The new capital will be used to grow Swarna Pragati’s loan portfolio and strengthen its presence in the rural affordable housing market, the company said in a release. “The affordable housing market presents an unprecedented opportunity in India right now for the rural housing credit market,†said Ramesh Kumar, chairman and managing director, Swarna Pragati.
According to the release, the company facilitates financing for the historically underserved Indian population, including women, low-income and rural communities. The housing finance company does not insist on formal land titles to guarantee a loan and is willing to consider alternative types of collaterals.
Swarna Pragati has provided over Rs 170 crore in housing loans to over 17,000 borrowers across India, including Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. It operates through a network of more than 40 branches and has partnerships with non-government organisations and micro-finance institutions for customer sourcing and collections.
The latest round of funding comes after its $11.63-million Series B round, which was led by Bengaluru-based private equity firm Zephyr Peacock in December 2015. The round had also seen the participation of social impact investment funds Omidyar Network and Aavishkaar Goodwell, besides other high-net-worth individuals.
