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§ Private Profile · Croeselaan 1, 3521 BJ Utrecht, Netherlands
sustainable investment fund financing microfinance institutions in developing countries for financial inclusion.
Key people at ASN Novib Microcreditfund.
Based in The Hague, Netherlands, ASN Novib Microcreditfund is an investment fund that provides debt and equity capital to microfinance institutions and financial service providers across developing countries. The impact investment vehicle pools capital from both retail and institutional investors to expand access to loans and savings products for underserved small and medium enterprises globally. Operating as the first microfinance investment fund with a European stock listing, the entity manages €270 million in specific fund assets under management within a broader €740 million portfolio, reaching approximately 565,000 end clients across 75 countries worldwide. Its portfolio is managed by Triple Jump and includes strategic equity investments in entities like Banco Popular Honduras, frequently co-investing alongside major organizations such as the IFC and FMO. ASN Novib Microcreditfund was founded in 1998 by ASN Bank and Oxfam Novib.
ASN-Novib Microcredit Fund (also known as ASN Microkredietfonds or AMP) is a listed investment fund managed by Triple Jump on behalf of ASN Impact Investors, focusing on microfinance to promote financial inclusion in emerging markets.[1][2] Its mission is to invest in microfinance institutions (MFIs) across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, providing loans, savings, and payment products to underserved individuals—primarily women—to boost incomes, financial resilience, and job creation.[2][4] By end-2021, it had direct investments in 84 MFIs across 40 countries, reaching over 1.7 million beneficiaries (83% women) and supporting 30,000 jobs, with an average investment of €3.6 million per MFI.[2] As the world's only highly liquid listed microfinance fund (minimum €50 investment, daily liquidity), it delivers consistent returns without negative years, emphasizing both financial performance and social impact.[1]
The fund's investment philosophy combines debt and equity (about 10% in equity) to build sustainable MFI relationships, rigorously assessing financial health, profitability, and social metrics like women and rural borrowers reached.[2][7] It targets expanding, mature financial service providers, contributing to inclusive finance rather than traditional startups, with a track record of steady growth from slow early years to €270 million AUM around 2017.[1]
Launched in 1998 by ASN Bank—one of the Netherlands' largest ethical banks—and Oxfam Novib, the ASN-Novib Microcredit Fund emerged from a partnership to channel investments into microfinance for the poorest in developing countries.[1][3] Triple Jump, an impact investment manager founded later (reaching 565,000 clients in 11 years by ~2017 with €740 million AUM), took on day-to-day management and advisory roles.[1][8] Initial growth was slow, but over the next two decades, it expanded significantly, hitting €270 million by around 2017 through consistent performance in a low-interest environment.[1][2] Key milestones include deepening MFI engagements with equity stakes by the 2010s and integrations like adding microfinance to ASN's Sustainable Mix Funds in 2018.[8]
While not a tech firm, ASN-Novib Microcredit Fund rides the global fintech and digital inclusion wave by funding MFIs that increasingly offer digital loans, payments, and savings in emerging markets.[2][4] Timing aligns with rising demand for financial services among the unbanked—78-83% women clients—amid mobile money booms in Africa/Asia, where market forces like smartphone penetration and regulatory pushes for inclusion amplify impact.[1][2] It influences the ecosystem by strengthening MFIs as intermediaries, fostering responsible finance that unlocks economic potential in 75 countries, and integrating microfinance into broader sustainable portfolios like ASN's mix funds.[1][8]
ASN-Novib Microcredit Fund is poised to scale amid accelerating digital microfinance adoption, potentially deepening tech integrations in MFIs for mobile-first products and AI-driven risk assessment. Trends like climate-resilient finance and gender-focused impact will shape its path, with equity stakes driving MFI innovation. Its influence may evolve toward hybrid fintech models, enhancing liquidity and returns while reaching millions more, solidifying its role as a pioneer in accessible, high-impact microfinance.[2]
Key people at ASN Novib Microcreditfund.
