Unitus goes to Africa, SKS looking at IPO

SKS , a microfinance lender which has relied on private equity, including money from Unitus invetors , is likely to go public within the next 18 months. "It will make a big splash," Unitus President Ed Bland said , but not in the same way as the last major microfinance IPO , Compartamos of Mexico. SKS charges interest rates of 26 percent, compared to the 84 percent interest charged by Compartamos, he said. The IPO helped fuel a debate about the role of microfinance.