Our Convictions

 

Our ambition is to push the boundaries of financial exclusion even further by offering tailored financial support to artisans, traders, producers, operators, craftsmen, and farmers — all players in the informal sector driven by a shared desire to succeed.

 

Our Mission

To build a network of leading financial institutions that contribute to the growth of local businesses, the creation and preservation of jobs, and the improvement of clients’ living standards, thereby fostering economic and social development in Africa and Asia.

Advans in Key Dates

1990 – Creation of Horus

Horus provides services in the field of development financing through short-term consulting missions with donors, governments, and financial institutions (banks and MFIs). An expert in microfinance and SME financing, Horus is gradually called upon to provide longer-term technical assistance to microfinance programs and financial institutions.

2005 – Creation of Advans

In 2005, Horus Development Finance creates an investment company, Advans SA SICAR, with the aim of establishing microfinance institutions and investing in existing institutions that share the same values.

2022 – Launch of Air+

Air+ is Advans’ digital transformation program aimed at replacing current IT systems and solutions, while adopting harmonized and standardized processes. The primary objective is to make life easier for our clients, both in terms of loan subscription and the day-to-day management of their financial operations, even for clients located far from our branches. This digital transformation also provides our subsidiaries and all of their employees with digital solutions that enable more reliable management of their activities, better tracking of operations, and an overall improvement in productivity.

Board of Directors

The board of directors of Advans is composed of experts with strong experience in the financial services sector. It is responsible for the governance of Advans SA in accordance with its statutes and Luxembourg law. Advans SA has also established committees to support the board: the Audit and Risk Committee, and the Human Resources and Governance Committee. A Social Performance Officer has also been appointed within the Board.

Executive Committee

The support services of the Advans Group are based at Advans International in Paris. Business lines and strong group departments have been created to guide and support the development of subsidiaries. Advans International supports, supervises, and establishes standards for the group by providing subsidiaries with advice, resources, and expertise.

Legal and Financial Structure

Advans SA is an investment company registered in Luxembourg and supervised by the CSSF. Advans SA invests in the creation and development of microfinance institutions alongside co-shareholders who share the same values. As a majority or principal shareholder, Advans SA invests for the long term to provide capital to its subsidiaries and facilitate their growth through loans and guarantees. Advans SA actively participates in the governance of these institutions.

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Reference Shareholders

The shareholding of Advans SA combines the technical expertise of Advans International with the financial strength of 6 leading development banks. These organizations have been essential to the development of the microfinance sector worldwide for many years.