Introduction

Caspian Advisors, incorporated in December 2004, is a private microfinance consultancy company specifically geared towards managing Microfinance Investment Funds and provides the following broad services:

   Promotion and management of Microfinance investment funds, including the origination of equity and
       debt investments, appraisal as well as supervision and follow-up of investments
   Support in strengthening microfinance institutions in the areas of legal transformation, governance
       and systems
   Advise Microfinance Institutions on accessing mainstream financial markets
   Help Mainstream banks and financial institutions to downscale and serve microfinance clients

We firmly believe that

   Microfinance services have to be significantly scaled up to impact poverty
   Microfinance institutions (MFIs) need to be run like any other business, with a view to maximizing        stakeholder value
   MFI managers need to focus on improving institutional efficiency and gaining a competitive advantage
   In doing so, an optimum balance between financial and development return can be achieved
   Pure social returns cannot compensate the lack of financial returns and a right balance needs to be        achieved

Caspian has been promoted by Mr S Viswanatha Prasad, a senior Microfinance professional with over 18 years of experience, in the microfinance sector as well as the mainstream financial sector.

Caspian is based in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad in the state of Andhra Pradesh, widely known as the hub of Microfinance in India. But the strategic location also allows Caspian to be well connected and accessible to investee MFIs across the country. Presently, Caspian is managing Microfinance investments within India. The team at Caspian comprises qualified and experienced professionals who bring in unrivalled expertise to managing microfinance investments.