Standard Chartered Bank

Symbiotics SA

Symbiotics SA Information, Consulting & Services is a leading investment advisory services company, providing professional investment solutions to microfinance investors and fund managers. The company works for over 15 microfinance investment vehicles, having originated more than USD 555 million of loans for them. In four years time, Symbiotics has built one of the strongest track records of MFI investment analysis. By selecting ethical and sustainable financial institutions in underserved economies Symbiotics proposes to its MIV clients valuable investment opportunities. Of the 500 microfinance institutions the company has visited and analyzed in 30 emerging economies, over 120 have benefited from Symbiotics’ investment platform. This, in turn, corresponds to over 408,000 micro- and small loans disbursed to as many micro and small entrepreneurs.

By contributing to the democratization of capital and the building of inclusive financial systems, Symbiotics provides a double bottom line investment to its clients – first they benefit from a stable and well diversified return, second they contribute to the sustainability and fairness of our global financial system.

Symbiotics employs 30 microfinance experts with offices in Geneva (Switzerland), Mexico City and Singapore. Contact us at info@symbiotics.ch or visit us at www.symbiotics.ch

Web: www.symbiotics.ch

Blue Orchard

BlueOrchard is a leading commercial microfinance investment manager, providing credit and equity to microfinance institutions in emerging countries. It presently has nearly USD 1 billion assets under management and works with about 150 partner microfinance institutions (MFIs) in about 50 countries. While supporting the development of small enterprises, the microfinance investment vehicles managed by BlueOrchard have continuously generated stable returns since over 10 years. In Asia, BlueOrchard is presently partnering with over 50 MFIs in 15 countries. As at September 2009, BlueOrchard Finance S.A. has disbursed loans to 51 MFIs; while BlueOrchard Investments has invested in the capital of 2 MFIs and 1 fund. The total amount of outstanding loans is USD 247 millions, representing 34% in BlueOrchard overall debt portfolio. The total amount invested in capital represents USD 10 million.

With a potential for growth estimated at USD 300 billion, there are still a lot of valuable opportunities to be seized in the microfinance sector. Microfinance institutions will require significant amounts of funding from private sources. BlueOrchard is committed to facilitate a well-managed flow of capital between private investors and the microfinance industry. )

Contact us at communication@blueorchard.com or see our website for more information.

Web: www.blueorchard.com

IBM

IBM Global Services offer a complete outsourcing information system (IS) so that the MFI’s can focus on their main business: handling client relationships and providing financial services to the unbanked. The Microfinance Processing Hub provides an end-to-end technology solution for microfinance institutions, including a functionally rich and scalable core banking platform, interoperability with payment and remittance networks, and robust/secure data center services. This innovative service offering from IBM is delivered over a shared infrastructure thereby dramatically reducing costs per account.

Without an up-front investment on the part of MFIs, IBM's Hub offering gives access to a sophisticated and mission-appropriate core banking technology enabling growth for microfinance institutions and the industry in general.

For more information please download our whitepapers

• IBM Microfinance Point of View
• The Role of IBM in Microfinance

Contact us: Shivon A. Zilis, Craig Wilson

Web: www.ibm.com/us

Developing World Markets

A leading institutional fund manager for microfinance with over US$600 million of microfinance assets under management, Developing World Markets (DWM) is a pioneer in structuring capital markets transactions that provide microfinance institutions and other socially motivated organizations access to international capital markets. DWM aims to achieve sustainable development through market-level financial returns for our investors and social returns in the developing world. DWM is composed of a team that shares a deep commitment to development and socially responsible investing, backed by extensive experience in emerging markets and around the world in both the private and public sectors. DWM’s long history of “firsts” includes structuring and placing the first CLO in microfinance, and managing the largest institution-only microfinance fund. In the last two years, DWM has deployed over $105 million to over 30 MFIs across Asia.

For more information contact Simone Balch (Simone@dwmarkets.com), + 1 203 655 5453.  

Web: www.dwmarkets.com

Developing World Markets

Fern Software was established in 1979, and provides effective solutions to a wide range of microfinance institutions and other savings and loans organisations. Fern has a well established customer base worldwide and has over 300 clients in 40 different countries. They have established offices in Australia, Ireland, Fiji, Panama, Philippines, South Africa and the UK and continue to expand in response to customer demand.

To achieve this prominence and growth, Fern combines strong management with the selection of highly qualified and motivated personnel. It has invested heavily in R & D and in training of its professional staff in leading-edge technologies to maintain its eminent position in providing innovative solutions in banking systems .

Its range of products – including Cubis, M2, Focus SQL, Abacus OneWorld – ensures a seamless upgrade path for its customers and protects their investment over the long term. Services provided include: training, data migration, implementation, project management and all associated initial and ongoing support services for its products.

Abacus OneWorld, based on International Accounting Standards received one of the highest score from CGAP in their comprehensive review of all vendors.  

Web: www.fernsoftware.com

Accion

ACCION is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission of giving people the financial tools they need – microenterprise loans, business training and other financial services – to work their way out of poverty. A world pioneer in microfinance, ACCION was founded in 1961 and issued its first microloan in 1973 in Brazil. ACCION's partner microfinance institutions today are providing loans as low as $50 to poor men and women entrepreneurs in 23 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the United States.

Web: www.accion.org