Le projet

About the issuer

General information:

Borrower:                                           MiCrédito, S.A
Country of operations:                      Nicaragua
Head office:                                       Managua            
Website:                                             https://www.micredito-en.com/
Date of incorporation/Founded:     1/07/2004
 

Documentation

Information document of the issuer (for NL investors)

Information note of the issuer (for BE investors)

Project terms

Currency:                                          EUR
Amount:                                            500,000
Maturity:                                           24 months, semi-annually and linearly amortizing
Grace Period:                                   n.a.                       
Interest rate:                                     5% p.a.

Summary

MiCrédito Nicaragua is a non-deposit-taking Microfinance Institution (“MFI”) that serves customers at the bottom of the pyramid in Nicaragua. The current management team together with the largest shareholder in MiCrédito Panama (Mennonite Economic Development Associates or “MEDA”) have been involved in micro-lending in Nicaragua since 1990 when they established Fundación CHISPA, one of the most successful programs in micro-lending in Nicaragua. In 2000, CHISPA partnered with other investors to establish the first regulated MFI in the country (“CONFIA”) which grew to a 10-branch network with 70 staff members.

In 2004, MEDA felt that it still had a role to play to promote financial inclusion in Nicaragua, particularly by providing improved levels of service and by targeting the underserved rural markets. That is the moment that, together with some of the key staff that participated in the original CHISPA, MiCrédito Nicaragua was created as a NGO. MiCrédito management dedicated over eight years to building institutional. In 2013 MiCrédito was approved by Nicaragua's new microfinance regulating body National Comission of Microfinance in Nicaragua (“CONAMI”).

MiCrédito has 12 branches. The agents at the branches use a traditional personal approach, going door to door, visiting rural communities by motorcycle. MC also has an active digitization strategy, which has paid of during the COVID-19 crisis. Apart from a few remaining regulatory requirements in the KYC area, the company has entirely digitized its processes.

Use of Proceeds / Loan purpose

By financing EUR 500,000, MiCrédito seeks to finance micro entrepreneurial farmers engaged in the cultivation of various crops such as corn, beans, rice, and vegetables. Through our network of 12 branches nationwide, we expect to provide financing to 300 clients in rural areas.

Impact

MiCrédito expects to impact clients as below:

• To benefit 1,500 members of 300 families (average household size of 5 members in rural areas) who work in agricultural activities.
• To ensure the food base of their families and for the majority of the population.
• To generate direct and indirect 614 employees in rural areas due to agricultural activities.

Mission

To create business solutions that include both social and financial support to Micro and Small Entrepreneurs, providing for a more prosperous future.

Vision

To evolve into an institutional bank, in order to contribute to the economic and social development of the Micro and Small businesses in Central America

COVID-19 Update

At MiCrédito, we have been proactive in implementing measures that have contributed to the health of all employees and customers. Some of the actions carried out have been:

•      Promoting the use of digital receipts in customer payments to avoid physical contact.
•      Taking temperature and washing hands before entering branches and offices.
•      Limiting the number of customers inside the branches to maintain social distancing.
•      Working from home.
•      Required use of masks and faceshields.
•      Provision of cleaning and grooming kits to all personnel.
•      Covid-19 prevention campaign on social networks.

From a business point of view measures include temporary adjustments to the credit policy suspending disbursements to tourism businesses, hostels, hotels, restaurants and all those heavily affected by the pandemic. The credit disbursements were directed to finance businesses with high demand in their products and services for being basic necessities such as equipment and cleaning products, cleaning, hygiene and medicines.

Management team

Verónica Herrera - Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Veronica worked for Nicaragua’s People’s Bank and then began a career working with MEDA. She holds a degree in Public Accounting with a concentration in finance from the National University of Managua, Nicaragua.

She has completed additional studies in Bank Management and has comprehensive knowledge of banking in Nicaragua. More recently, Verónica completed The Strategic Leadership for Microfinance Program at the Harvard Business School.

Moises Valle Marenco – Chief Operating Officer (COO)

He holds a degree in Public Accounting and Finance from the Universidad Evangélica Nicaragüense (UENIC) and has worked in a variety of managerial and accounting roles in several companies.

Cesia Calderon – Chief Credit Officer (CCO)

She has been in the microfinance industry for more than 14 years and has progressed through a number of roles, to become head of Credit in 2018. Graduated from UNICA, with a Degree in Business Economics and has a postgraduate degree in Advanced Finance.

Grethel Meza Rivera – Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFO)

Grethel has over 14 years of experience in finance and administration. She holds a Master's degree in Financial Management from the University of Barcelona (UB) in Barcelona, Spain and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Banking and Finance from the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA).

Lyann Urbina – Executive Assistant and Public Relations Officer

She provides administrative support to the CEO and Board members. She also leads the Communication department and social performance of the institution, as the public relation officer. She has a Bachelor's degree in Social Communication from the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) and joined MiCrédito team in 2016.

Lucia Sanchez Valverde – Risk & Compliance Manager

She is graduated from the UNI (National University of Engineers) with a degree in industrial engineering specializing in finances, human resources, marketing, and project development. She also has training in money laundering, terror financing, and risk management from United States Inter-American Community Affairs in Miami, FL.

Yerly Salmeron - Head of Internal Audit

Yerly joined the MiCrédito team in March 2015, but she had worked with the institution previously as a consultant on audits and internal monitoring. She holds a degree from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN-RUCFA) and is a registered public accountant and an active member of the Nicaraguan College of Public Accountants.

Awards

In 2021, MiCredito was in the Top 3 of the best MFI in Central America and Dominican Republic.