Sarona supports first North American based Microfinance Liquidity Fund

WATERLOO, ON, July 28 /CNW/ - Sarona Asset Management announced today that its Sarona Risk Capital Fund has committed up to US$3,300,000 as an anchor investor in the MicroVest Short Duration Fund, the first North-American based microfinance liquidity fund available to private investors.

Sarona also approved an investment in MFX Solutions LLC, an industry initiative to provide hedging contracts in exotic currencies for international microfinance banking transactions.

"We believe our investment in the MicroVest Short Duration Fund will allow institutional investors, non-profit organizations and foundations the ability to invest their assets in a highly liquid, low risk vehicle that supports the growth of the microfinance banking sector," said Gerhard Pries, President of Sarona. "And our investment in MFX Solutions LLC is part of our continuing effort to develop innovative initiatives in the field of impact investing. This initiative tackles one of the microfinance industry's original sins - lending to microfinance banks in hard currency and thereby forcing them and their micro-business clients to bear the brunt of the currency risk."

Sarona Asset Management is based in Waterloo, ON, and is a co-founder and or manager of a number of impact investment funds, including the Sarona and MicroVest groups of funds. Together, these funds have over $165 million in assets under management in emerging and developing country markets around the world.

For further information: Gerhard Pries, President, Sarona Asset Management, [email protected], 1.519.883.7557