Annapurna Finance said on Wednesday it had raised $100 million through a syndicated multi-currency loan, meaning a group of international banks jointly lent funds to the company in more than one foreign currency, strengthening its access to overseas capital as it looks to expand lending to low-income households and small entrepreneurs across India.
The financing, provided in U.S. dollars and Japanese yen, also includes an option to raise an additional $50 million if required. Such loans allow companies to tap larger pools of funding while spreading risk among several lenders.
Standard Chartered Bank arranged and led the transaction, bringing together multiple lenders for the deal.
Annapurna said the funds would help diversify its borrowing sources and provide stable, long-term capital at a time when global liquidity remains tight. “The size and timing of this transaction reflect confidence in our business model and governance,” said Dibyajyoti Pattanaik, a director at the company.
The lender raised $109.5 million through a similar syndicated facility last year, also arranged by Standard Chartered, underlining sustained interest among overseas banks in India’s microfinance sector.
Founded in Odisha, Annapurna Finance is among India’s largest microfinance-focused non-banking finance companies, ranking fourth in the NBFC–MFI segment. It provides small loans mainly to women borrowers, rural households and micro-entrepreneurs, supporting activities such as farming, livestock rearing, small shops and home-based businesses.
The company said the fresh capital would be used to expand access to formal credit, improve household financial resilience and support small business growth, while maintaining its focus on responsible lending.
