Microfinance Focus, January 31, 2012: Sarona Asset Management has recently committed $1,500,000 to Women’s World Banking (WWB) Isis I Fund which will invest in microfinance institutions across the globe. The investment is made through MEDA Sarona Risk Capital Fund.

WWB aims to expand the economic assets, participation and power of low-income women by helping them access financial services, knowledge and markets.

Sarona allocated another $2 million through its Frontier Markets Fund I to Ventureast Fund III LP, a private equity fund that invests in small and mid-market companies in India with a focus on the healthcare, clean technology and agribusiness sectors.

MicroVest+ Plus Fund also received $250,000 commitment from the MEDA Sarona Risk Capital Fund globally invest in low income financial institutions (LIFIs), including those with microfinance offerings.

MicroVest facilitates the flow of private capital to LIFIs to help build capital markets serving the entrepreneurial poor at the base of the pyramid while providing market-rate returns to its investors.

Sarona Asset Management is based in Waterloo, Canada, and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It is a co-founder and/or manager of numerous investment funds, including the Sarona and MicroVest groups of funds. Together, these funds have over $180 million in assets under management in emerging and developing country markets around the world.