PROJECT

Projects

Summary of Proposed Investment

Project Number

9311

Company Name

BHARTIYA SAMRUDDHI FINANCE LIMITED

Date SPI Disclosed

Apr 26, 1999

Country

India

Industry

Financial Markets

Status

Completed

Sector

Commercial Banking - Microfinance and Small Business

Department

Regional Industry - FIG Asia & Pac

Environmental Category

FI

Previous Events

Approved : Nov 9, 2000
Signed : Nov 10, 2000
Invested : Dec 11, 2001

Project Description

Summary Of Project Information (SPI)

Project Name:India - Bhartiya Samruddhi Finance Limited (Samruddhi)
Region:South and Southeast Asia
Sector:
Project No:009311
Projected Board Date:May 30, 1999
Company Name:Bhartiya Samruddhi Finance Limited (Samruddhi)
Technical Partner and/or Major Shareholders

Bhartiya Samruddhi Investments and Consulting Services Ltd. (BASICS Ltd. or the Company)is promoted by Mr. Vijay Mahajan as the main sponsor. Mr. Mahajan is a well-known micro finance practitioner and his initial pilot program funded by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, The Ford Foundation and the Swiss Development Cooperation has been highly successful.

Project Cost Including proposed IFC investment

The micro finance company promoted by BASICS Ltd. is called Bhartiya Samruddhi Finance Ltd. (Samruddhi, or the project). Samruddhi will be capitalized at Rs. 176 million (approximately US$4 million). IFC is expected to invest US$0.5 million for approximately 12.5% stake.

Location of project and Description of site

Rural Areas of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in Southern India, with possible expansion to other states in later years.

Description of Company and Purpose of Project

IFC has been invited to invest up to a 12.5% equity stake in Samruddhi. In addition to IFC and the main sponsor BASICS Ltd., Samruddhi will have the equity support of key international financial institutions namely Shorebank of Chicago, Hivos-Triodos Fund managed by the Triodos Bank of the Netherlands, as well as Indian financial institutions: The Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), The Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) and the Global Trust Bank (GTB).

Samruddhi has also raised debt from Indian financial institutions including the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD, through the Global Trust Bank), and BILANCE, Netherlands. The sponsors have raised long-term soft loans from the Ford Foundation, Swiss Development Cooperation and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA through Desjardins, a Canadian Financial Institution). These funds will be down-streamed as equity and subordinated debt into Samruddhi.

Through this project, IFC will assist in the establishment of a strong private sector micro finance institution in India, a country with potentially the world''s largest micro finance market. The country''s financial system does not adequately cater to the micro finance market and it is estimated that close to 300 million people are inadequately served by the formal financial system. The presence of an efficient specialized micro finance operator like Samruddhi is expected to increase the flow of funds to the weaker sections of India''s rural economy; and thus the project has a direct poverty alleviation impact.

Environmental Category and Issues

This is an FI Type 1 micro finance project. Samruddhi will be required to ensure that its operations are consistent with GOI requirements and IFC''s Micro Finance Exclusion List. IFC will assess Samruddhi''s capability to carry out environmental reviews.

The is from the InfoShop.

Host country location of environmental documentsIndia

Date SPI sent to InfoShop: April 26, 1999
“This Summary of Project Information is prepared and distributed to the public in advance of consideration of the proposed transaction by the Corporation’s Board of Directors. It is provided for the purpose of enhancing the transparency of IFC’s activities and should not be construed as presuming the outcome of IFC Board consideration.”

For Additional Information contact: Corporate Relations Unit -
telephone: (202) 473-7711
facsimile: (202) 974-4384

Sponsor / Cost / Location