Kolkata: Non-banking finance company Northern Arc Capital has raised $25 million debt from Dutch impact investor FMO, making it the second debt mobilisation from overseas investors in as many months. Last month, it raised $10 million from the US-based Calvert Impact Capital.
The infusion by overseas investors marks their confidence on India s grassroots loan market despite the headwinds amid the pandemic.
The funding from FMO will be used for on-lending to financial institutions that focus on women borrowers, micro-entrepreneurs and small enterprises, Northern Arc chief operating officer Bama Balakrishnan said.
Microfinance borrowers in both urban and rural areas will be key beneficiaries of FMO’s investment.
FMO provides $25m debt financing to Indian NBFC Northern Arc
April 8, 2021
Dutch development bank FMO has provided debt financing of $25 million to Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC) Northern Arc, it said in a statement.
The Chennai-based digital debt platform said it will use the capital for on-lending to financial institutions that focus on women borrowers, micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs.
This is the fourth investment secured by Northern Arc in the last 12 months. It has attracted debt financing from global development financial institutions and impact investors including US International Development Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank and Calvert Impact Capital.
In its statement, FMO said its investment will benefit microfinance borrowers in both urban and rural areas, including under-banked households and small businesses, as well as microlenders catering to women, all of whom have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis.
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Affirma Capital, the former private equity business of Standard Chartered Bank, expects to double the size of its $3.5 billion of assets under management within the next five years as it looks to invest more in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
The company, which has $400 million in cash to invest, is actively looking at 15 potential acquisitions within the Middle East and Africa region, Taimoor Labib, founding partner and head of its Middle East and North Africa business, told
The National.
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