SME investor to fund 50 firms

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ARQ SME Business Development Company, ARQCapital Partners (ARQ) has increased its  portfolio of investments to more than 20 high-growth medium enterprises (MEs), providing P300 million to companies engaged in affordable housing as well as instant credit for an on-demand wages service provider.

An advocated of sustainable financial inclusion, ARQ is also raising funds to reach its target of P2.5 billion in investments to fund 50 high-growth MEs in the country over the next three years.

ARQ has deployed about P1.5 billion to more than 35 investees since 2014..

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Since last year supported the capital requirements of the Atharra Group for its two affordable housing projects in Bohol and fintech startup Advance Tech Lending Inc. for its on-demand earned wages platform for salaried employees.

The two companies are among ARQ’s current portfolio of more than 20 high-growth medium enterprises (MEs), which includes renewable energy firms CleanTech Global Renewables Inc. and Magnus Renewable Tech Corp., and affordable housing developers Vester Corp. and Investphil Realty.

Atharra provides high-quality affordable homes in Bohol, contributing at least 13 percent of the economic housing need in the island-province.This will help address a total housing backlog of at least 800,000 units a year in Visayas and Mindanao alone, the company said, citing government data.

Atharra has built more than 200 housing units in Baclayon and over 50 units in Tagbilaran City under its Atharra Residences brand, while at least 490 units are under construction.

Meanwhile, ARQ forayed into venture debt with Advance, the country’s first on-demand earned wages access provider, as Advance raises funds for its lending activities.

ARQ said it supports Advance’s efforts to partner with employers that can extend salary advances to its employees who in turn use them to pay for unscheduled expenses. The “instant credit” is disbursed in less than a minute through Advance’s proprietary technology platform.

“ARQ will continue to respond to the need of SMEs for appropriate and sustainable capital during their growth phase, ensuring that these value-adding partnerships will help elevate the financial inclusion of SMEs and push for a sustainable economic growth for the Philippines,” said Edmund Solilapsi, ” ARQ founding partner and chief executive officer.

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