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Centrum Capital to acquire FirstRand Bank’s microfinance business in India
As part of starting up, Centrum Capital has executed a definitive agreement to acquire the Indian microfinance business of South Africa-based FirstRand Bank, which currently has around 70,000 customers in the Maharashtra region and employs over 300 people. This is the second lending business the firm has recently entered, following its entry into affordable housing finance at the end of last year.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- lending, microfinance
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Shell and FMO to finance impact projects in Africa and India
The parties have signed a memorandum of understanding, agreeing to co-fund and co-create project opportunities in the energy access and clean energy sectors in the two regions, including investment in financial institutions with specific goals to increase access to finance, reduce inequality and promote green financing and agribusiness.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Investing
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Press release: Aisling Capital Closes $280 Million Fund to Improve Global Health
Aisling Capital will assist companies developing therapeutics to complete their clinical studies, navigate approval and ultimately reach commercialization. Portfolio companies gain access to Aisling Capital's strategic counsel and deep experience in both financial and medical fields, along with its unmatched network that extends from regulatory organizations to leading pharmaceutical companies and financial institutions.
- Categories
- Health Care, Investing
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The U.S. government is investing about $200 million in overseas venture capital funds
The program, unveiled Wednesday at a conference by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, will dedicate around $200 million over the next few years in 10 to 15 venture funds that focus primarily on making a social impact in overseas countries. The exact amount of money allocated could change, but is expected to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- North America
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Crowdfunding is a critical source of alternative financing for SMEs in Malaysia
According to findings of its research study released on Wednesday, the key priorities to boost crowdfunding include building an informed community among small business owners and the general public, grooming entrepreneurs.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- crowdfunding
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Muhammad Yunus: No reason for Grameen Bank operations in India
"In the mean time I suggested (them) to give limited banking license to successful MFIs (microfinance institutions) so that they can take deposits to become financially self- reliant, and expand their operation at a faster speed," he says.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Report: The African digital revolution is gaining pace
Consumers in Africa expect interactions with brands and businesses to be seamless, convenient and immediate and businesses across the continent are seeing the digital transformation as a way to develop new operational business models that can deliver on these demands.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Nigeria’s Bank of Industry partners Gates Foundation, CGAP on financial inclusion
The Bank of Industry (BoI), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) have gone into partnership to deepen financial inclusion and poverty eradication in Nigeria.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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