MicroVest Invests $10 million in OnePuhunan to Support Women Microentrepreneurs in the Philippines

MicroVest Capital Management (MicroVest) has completed its latest investment in OnePuhunan, a microfinance institution that provides financial services to low-income female microentrepreneurs in the Philippines. This $10 million investment will enable OnePuhunan to expand access to financial services for women who are unable to obtain financing through traditional banks and to reach more clients in rural areas.

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the driving force of the Philippine economy, contributing 40% of GDP and 63% of total employment. With over 950,000 MSMEs in the Philippines, the majority of which are owned by women, access to credit remains a significant barrier to growth. According to the Asian Development Bank, in the Philippines, 58% of women-owned MSMEs reported facing challenges with access to financing, in contrast to 37% of men-owned MSMEs. This disparity can be attributed to factors such as the perceived complexity of the application process, documentation requirements, and financing costs, which makes women-owned MSMEs more hesitant to apply for funding than their male counterparts.

Established in 2014 by the CreditAccess Asia Group, OnePuhunan today is a leading microfinance institution in the Philippines. OnePuhunan’s lending is exclusively aimed at self-employed women, with loans tailored to support their businesses. These women mainly operate “sari-sari” stores in urban areas and engage in smallholder agriculture in rural areas. With a presence across 200 branches in the Philippines, OnePuhunan now serves almost 400,000 clients and employs over 1,500 full-time staff. On average, borrowers take out loans of around $300.

MicroVest has invested in OnePuhunan since 2016.

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The information contained here has been written for MicroVest Capital Management, LLC (“MicroVest”) and no representation or warranty, expressed or implied is made by MicroVest as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. The portfolio company highlighted is for informational purposes only and does not represent all of the portfolio holdings and it should not be assumed that investments in the portfolio company identified and discussed were or will be profitable. The information presented on this page is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase an interest in any MicroVest product (the “Funds”), and nothing herein should be construed as such. Any such offer or solicitation will be made only by means of delivery of a definitive private offering memorandum which contains a description of the significant risks involved in such an investment. Prospective investors should request a copy of the relevant Memorandum and review all offering materials carefully prior to making an investment.