IFC Commits $50 Million to Victory Park Capital to Expand SME Financing in Emerging Markets

WASHINGTON & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a $50 million follow-on investment in Victory Park Capital Investor Fund W, LP (the “Fund”), reinforcing its commitment to financial inclusion and economic resilience in Emerging Markets. With this latest investment and additional support from IDB Invest, which upsized its commitment by $50 million in January 2025, the Fund now exceeds $200 million in total commitments.

IFC’s new commitment extends the Fund’s investment period to 2030 and builds on its longstanding partnership with Victory Park Capital (“VPC”), a global alternative investment firm focused on private credit and asset-backed lending in emerging markets. The investment enables VPC to provide debt financing to new fintech lenders and aims to expand access to credit for underserved individuals and micro, small, and medium enterprises (“MSMEs”).

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with IFC, whose ongoing support is a strong endorsement of our strategy to expand access to responsible credit for underserved small businesses across Emerging Markets, particularly Mexico and Colombia,” said Gordon Watson, Partner at VPC. “Together, we’re helping fuel the growth of next-generation financial platforms that deliver critical capital to the market segments driving local economies forward.”

“MSMEs are the backbone of economic growth and employment in the region, yet they continue to face significant barriers to accessing finance,” said Elizabeth Martínez de Marcano, IFC’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “This investment will help bridge that gap by supporting innovative fintech solutions that bring affordable credit where it’s needed most.”

Beyond capital, IFC will provide technical guidance to further strengthen VPC’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, including the implementation of an E&S action plan, enhanced anti-money laundering protocols, and the collection of gender-disaggregated data to promote more inclusive financial practices.

This initiative aligns with IFC’s broader strategy to deepen venture debt markets in emerging economies and demonstrates the commercial viability of fintech lending models that prioritize inclusion, transparency, and sustainability.

About IFC

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2024, IFC committed a record $56 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

About Victory Park Capital

Victory Park Capital Advisors, LLC (“VPC” or the “Firm”) is a global alternative asset manager that specializes in private asset-backed credit. In addition, the Firm offers comprehensive structured financing and capital markets solutions through its affiliate platform, Triumph Capital Markets. The Firm was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Chicago. In 2024, VPC became a majority-owned affiliate of Janus Henderson Group. The Firm leverages the broader resources of Janus Henderson’s 2,000+ employees across offices in 25 cities worldwide. VPC is a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. For more information, please visit www.victoryparkcapital.com.