GLS Alternative Investments – Mikrofinanzfonds
The GLS Bank launched its first own microfinance fund. The main objective of the « GLS Alternative Investments – Mikrofinanzfonds » is to enable borrowers in emerging and developing countries to access financial services, which would otherwise be limited or impossible. The resources of the fund are used to
refinance microfinance institutions (MFIs) and where applicable offer technical assistance or financial education. The main activity of it is granting loans to micro and small entrepreneurs. In addition, they can also offer other financial services such as saving opportunities or insurance products. MFIs are mainly located in Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, Central America, South America, the Caucasus region or Southeast Europe.
As part of this selection process certain criteria have to be met: e.g. high cost transparency for the final borrower and client protection standards. Additionally, the MFI has to comply with the minimum requirements of the Smart Campaign. Exclusion criteria, such as armor and weapons, gambling etc., and positive criteria (e.g. financing of small and medium enterprises, particularly in rural areas; Organized in the form of a cooperative, not profit-maximizing-oriented legal forms) further determine a selection.
The fund is managed by Frankfurt School Financial Services, a subsidiary of Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, which has over 20 years of experience in advising financial institutions in developing and emerging markets. Total assets have reached almost 50 million euros. The GLS Bank is the advisor of the fund. Several members of INAISE are already cooperating with the fund. This poses a great opportunity to combine the network of INAISE and a systematic increase in investments in these regions.
If you are looking for a long-term reliable financing partner, please feel free to send your call of interest to investmentfonds@gls.de (This also applies to non-MFI-insitutions)
ISIN: LU1309710678 | Overview of the fonds, including sales prospectus and monthly report: http://www.ipconcept.com/ipc/en/funds_overview.html?country=de&isin=LU1309710678&audience=200