HNWIs help FIIG close bond fund



Fixed income specialist, FIIG Securities has announced it managed to close its VisionFund International fund, which only launched last week with World Vision microfinance subsidiary.
The fund raised $20 million in less than three days thanks to a strong demand from high net worth (HNW) investors.
The fund, which was aimed to help fund global financial inclusion initiatives, saw a surge in interest from HNWIs, who accounted for 80% of the raised funds, for investments that balanced a favourable financial return on investments with demonstrable social impact.
Following this, the funds would be used by VisionFund to help grow its microfinance institutions which complemented World Vision’s development work.
According to the firm’s estimates, over five years the investments would impact 470,000 people in developing countries of which 274,000 beneficiaries would be children.
Jim Stening, managing director of FIIG Securities, said that Australians consistently ranked in the world’s top five countries for charitable giving in the last 10 years according to the World Giving Index.
“This impact investment will benefit those living under the poverty line, so most investors view this as a key part of their philanthropic investment allocation,” he said.
“It also has the added benefit of providing diversification as it is not exposed to the Australian economic environment but instead to many developing countries around the world without the risk of exchange rate volatility.”
The five-year bond was unsecured and unsubordinated and offered a fixed rate of 5% per annum, paid semi-annually, FIIG said.
Recommended for you
Record flows into iShares ETFs helped BlackRock’s assets under management reach US$13.5 trillion in the third quarter, but it reported outflows from the APAC region.
Regal Partners has passed $20 billion in funds under management, helped by $723 million in net inflows during the last three months.
Global investment manager Fidante has formed a strategic partnership with a London-based asset manager to secure exclusive distribution rights across the APAC region.
Blackwattle Investment Partners has hired a management trio from First Sentier Investors – who departed amid the closure of four investment teams last year – to run its first equity income offering.