MYC4

MYC4 A/S
A/S
Industry Microcredit
Founded May 2006[1]
Headquarters Copenhagen, Denmark
Area served
 Africa
Key people
  • Mads Kjær (CEO)[1]
  • Tim Vang (Co-founder)[2]
Number of employees
 7[1]
Website myc4.com

MYC4 is a company that allows its users to invest microcredits via an internet-platform in medium and small businesses in developing countries in Africa.

History

MYC4 was founded as a joint venture in May 2006 by Mads Kjær, chairman and former CEO of the Kjær Group and Honorary Danish Consul to Ethiopia, and Tim Vang.[1][2] MYC4 is currently headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark with a regional office in Nairobi, Kenya. As of beginning of 2011, it employs 7 people at its Danish office.[2]

Since the company's creation, 19,073 investors from 115 countries have invested more than € 15 million[3] in 8,334 businesses in seven African countries - Uganda, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal and Tanzania.[1]

Annual reports[4] and up-to-date statistics are available.[5]

Method of operation

African businesses apply for a loan at a local credit provider,[6] partnering with MYC4.[7] They specify the amount of money they need, the interest they would be willing to pay and the time they plan for repayment.

Investors who have created accounts on the website can choose from these third-world businesses, which they then bid money towards supporting. They specify an amount, a target interest rate and a minimum interest rate. This process is known as a Dutch auction method and guarantees that the interest rate will be as low as possible, depending on the investor bids. Depending on the amount of money offered by investors, and the interest rates, individual bids can proceed at the target or a lower interest rate, or be cancelled. A bid can be as little as €5, repayment times are usually 6 to 12 months, sometimes 2 years. Providers, Administrators and MYC4 itself all charge a fee for their services. They vary, but they are stated on each loan, in order to create transparency.

Major investments

In December 2006, MYC4 received a € 670,000 grant from the Danish Aid Agency under the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 29 October 2008, The Industrialisation Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) decided to invest approximately € 1.3 million in Africa through MYC4. The Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark Ulla Tørnæs supports the decision.[8]

Risks

As any investment, lending money via MYC4 carries risk. In the past, a significant number of loans defaulted, making investments effectively donations. After major restructuring, it was hoped that losses will reduce. As a result of this, the first quarterly report released in 2012 showed a portfolio risk that was the lowest in two years. This shows a net return for investors of -0.1%.[9]

Potential investors should carefully read the 'Risks' page of the MYC4 website.[10]

The forum,[11] where investors could discuss issues, was disabled in October 2010,[12] being replaced with a blog by the organizers.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Catherine Riungu (July 13, 2009). "East Africa: Easy Loans - Internet Firm Comes to the Rescue of Small Business". AllAfrica. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Who is behind MYC4?". MYC4. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  3. ↑ "Countries". myc4.com. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  4. ↑ "Annual Reports". myc4.com. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  5. ↑ "MyC4 Loan Statistics and Data". wiseclerck.com. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  6. ↑ "Providers". myc4.com. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  7. ↑ "How does MYC4 work?". myc4.com. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  8. ↑ "IFU investerer 10 millioner kr. igennem MyC4" (in Danish). ifu.dk. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ Risk description on MYC4 website
  11. ↑ Link to disabled forum on MYC4
  12. ↑ "Forum disabled". myc4.com. Retrieved 2011-10-10.

External links