responsAbility Investments AG, the international impact asset manager headquartered in Switzerland, is launching a USD 175m securitization of loans to SME-finance institutions in emerging markets arranged by JP Morgan, and backed by Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) – partnered with Ameriabank as financial intermediary for Armenia. 

The bank has said that this method allows investors to access a pool of assets that offers attractive market return, is less correlated to traditional public debt and equity investments and creates high development impact.

The arranger and placement agent of the transaction is JP Morgan, while key investors in this blended finance vehicle include the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), who provided the catalytic capital necessary to mobilize the private institutional investment in the deal.

“This securitization shows that the fast-growing microfinance and SME finance space in emerging markets has now reached a maturity that allows it to access financing from mainstream capital markets,” said Thomas Müller, Co-Head Financial Institutions Debt at responsAbility.

“We are delighted to be part of global pool of quality microfinance and SME finance players, participating in an innovative, global capital markets transaction managed by responsAbility, arranged by JP Morgan, and invested in by OPIC and other high quality investors in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals,” stated Gevorg Tarumyan, CFO, Deputy General Director of Ameriabank.