A Mauritius-based fund manager is eyeing a $50-million investment from the International Finance Corp. (IFC) to support medium-sized firms in the South and Southeast Asian regions, including the Philippines.
The IFC disclosed on Oct. 22 that Creador Management VI Ltd. sought funding from the World Bank Group's private-sector lending arm, which will be capped at 20 percent of its total targeted commitments amounting to $800 million.
The Creador VI fund aims to "increase access to private equity (PE) capital and value creation for mid-market companies in South and Southeast Asia with a primary focus on India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines," the IFC said.
"A meaningful share of investees is expected to be women-led or owned, thereby addressing gender divides," the IFC added.
The IFC shall also provide advisory services to Creador VI to promote financial inclusion in the Philippines.
According to the IFC, the fund would be "sector-agnostic" even as it prefers to invest in firms involved in business and financial services as well as the consumer and retail sectors.
The IFC's board is scheduled to approve its investment in Creador VI on Nov. 30.
Once Creador VI secures the IFC investment, the fund is projected to "drive value creation by implementing its environmental and social policy, improving supply chain management, building management capabilities, strategic alliances, and product and business expansion."
"Beyond the project, the IFC's investment into Creador will support the fund in continuing to show the scalability and long-term viability of the PE model operating in Southeast Asia outside Singapore," it said.