European Depositary Bank, a Luxembourg-based provider of banking, depositary and custody solutions part of the Apex Group, on Monday said it has been appointed by Mikro Kapital Management S.A., a Luxembourg-based alternative lender and a leading microfinance and sustainable investor in emerging markets, for the delivery of paying agent services for the firm’s new bond issuances.
Mikro Kapital manages securitisation funds that aim to support micro and small entrepreneurs lending, financial and operational leasing, and other micro-financing activities worldwide, with a focus on Europe, Middle East and Africa and Asia-Pacific. Its funds acquire risks connected to equity and debt of micro-financing companies, small financial institutions, leasing companies, sharing economy participants, banks or credit cooperatives.
EDB will provide Mikro Kapital with paying agent services in issuing further bonds. EDB said it will offer paying agency, registrar and transfer agency services on new money Eurobonds as part of its comprehensive suite of services for capital markets transactions across syndicated loan, corporate bond and securitisation markets.
Essential role
“As access to debt becomes restricted, alternative lenders such as Mikro Kapital will play an essential role in financing the sustainable growth in the real economy,” said Jean-Daniel Zandona, Regional Head, Business Development at Apex Group, in a statement..
“Drawing on the experience of the wider Apex Group, we have been impressed by EDB’s capital markets experience and track record of supporting securitisations,” said Johannes Feist. “We are delighted to appoint EDB as our paying agent for future bond issuances, in recognition of their standout credentials as an independent provider free from institutional influences, that can deliver an agile and responsive cross-jurisdictional service in an ever-changing regulatory environment.”
Feist was appointed as CEO of Mikro Kapital in September. He has a track record as development finance expert, experienced with mergers & acquisitions and restructurings, and with commercial, governmental, and not for profit business models. He has deep knowledge of the functions of development finance institutions, of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and rural financial services industries, and of investment fund regulations in Luxemburg, Germany and Mauritius.
Hong Kong office
Mikro Kapital last week announced the official opening of a new Hong Kong (photo) office and the appointment of its chief executive officer for Asia, Danny Howell. The firm has established an ecosystem of 256 offices with a European investor base from countries including Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France and Italy, Howell will be working closely with founder and chairman, Vincenzo Trani, to create opportunities for Asian based family and multi-family offices where demand for social impact investing closely follows the global trend.
Apex’s EDB is one of the largest independent providers of depositary services in Europe for regulated UCITS and alternative funds, with over 160 billion in assets under depositary.
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