Sri Lanka's pioneer leasing firm LOLC steps into Cambodia


27 February 2007 17:30:50
Sri Lanka's pioneer leasing firm LOLC steps into Cambodia


February 27 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's pioneer leasing firm LOLC, is stepping
into Cambodia taking an equity stake in a micro-finance firm with
several international development lenders, an official said.


"Cambodia is just blossoming out and opportunities are good," Kithsiri
Gunawardene told Lanka Business Online.

"They run a lean operation there and repayments are very good."

The firm PRASAC, is into small ticket leasing but is now poised to
grow with funding from international partners.

LOLC is taking a 17.9 percent stake with Japan's BIO and Oiko Credit,
Netherland's FMO and Dragon Capital of Vietnam also taking up 17.9
percent with each putting in 600,000 US dollars.

LOLC is Sri Lanka's pioneer specialist leasing firm set up in 1980
with Orix Corporation of Japan, local development banks and private
sector equity.

Started following a recommendation emerging from a World Bank study,
the leasing firm had also been funded by international agencies like
NGO.


The firm had assets of 22.2 billion rupees by December 2006.

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