BlueOrchard continues to drive impact investment solutions across public and private markets
Zurich, 26 July 2021 – In its 20th anniversary year, BlueOrchard strengthens its position as the world’s leading emerging market impact manager by launching a range of innovative investment solutions, upgrading its state-of-the art impact management toolkit “B.Impact” to new asset classes, and delivering strong financial and social performance across its product line.
Highlights:
- 216 million underserved individuals and MSMEs reached – outreach increased
- USD 670 million invested across private debt strategies in H1 only - more than doubled compared to H1 2020
- Second closing of Covid-19 support strategy above USD 200 million
- Enhanced collaboration with Schroders with launch of climate impact strategy
Philipp Mueller, CEO of BlueOrchard, said: “We are very proud that BlueOrchard has been strengthening its position as the leading global impact investment manager amidst a global crisis. Our results demonstrate the resilience of the microfinance and impact investing sector and the strengths of our diversified portfolios across geographies and sectors.”
In the first half of 2021, BlueOrchard has remained resilient in a challenging environment, delivering solid performance across its impact investing strategies and increasing its outreach. Through launches of innovative impact investment solutions and close cooperation with its partners around the globe, BlueOrchard has been able to significantly advance its mission of reducing poverty and inequality, taking climate action, and channelling capital to the ones most in need.
As of June 2021, BlueOrchard’s flagship microfinance strategy alone has invested in over 150 financial institutions across more than 50 countries, advancing the economic and social well-being of vulnerable households, micro-entrepreneurs and MSMEs. With the firm’s blended finance vehicles, BlueOrchard has been able to mobilise public and private capital for investments in emerging and frontier markets. Most notably with its Covid-19 support strategy, which is backed by public and private investors worldwide, and its Japanese-investors backed women empowerment strategy, which has doubled in size over the past five years, the firm has been able to channel a significant amount of capital to entrepreneurs in emerging and frontier markets.
With its newly launched UCITS-compliant climate impact bond strategy, a collaboration with Schroders, and its sustainable infrastructure strategy, BlueOrchard has expanded its impact investment solutions across public and private markets. Additionally, it has succeeded in contributing to the democratisation of impact investments while addressing urgent climate-related needs in emerging and frontier markets.
Outlook: In H2 2021, BlueOrchard will continue to expand its impact investment solutions offering and to respond to both the Covid-19 pandemic, by providing liquidity and building resilience of financial institutions in emerging and frontier markets, and the climate crisis through its impact bond and sustainable infrastructure strategies. As a first milestone in H2, BlueOrchard has reached the second closing of the Covid-19 support strategy.
Peter Fanconi, Chairman of BlueOrchard, said: “2021 marks a milestone for BlueOrchard since we celebrate our 20th anniversary. We continue our mission to reduce poverty and inequality and to take climate action, which has become even more important in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the threat of climate change. In the name of our beneficiaries, our Board, and our talented employees, I would like to thank all our investors and partners for being part of our journey and mission over the last 20 years – there is more to come!”
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About BlueOrchard Finance Ltd
BlueOrchard is a leading global impact investment manager and member of the Schroders Group. As a pioneering impact investor, the firm is dedicated to generating lasting positive impact for communities and the environment, while aiming at providing attractive returns to investors. BlueOrchard was founded in 2001, by initiative of the UN, as the first commercial manager of microfinance debt investments worldwide. Today, the firm offers impact investment solutions across asset classes, connecting millions of entrepreneurs in emerging and frontier markets with investors with the aim to make impact investment solutions accessible to all and to advance the conscious use of capital. Being a professional investment manager and expert in innovative blended finance mandates, BlueOrchard has a sophisticated international investor base and is a trusted partner of leading global development finance institutions. To date, BlueOrchard has invested over USD 8bn across more than 90 countries. Over 216 million poor and vulnerable people in emerging and frontier markets received access to financial and related services with the support of BlueOrchard as of March 2021. For additional information, please visit: www.blueorchard.com.
For further information, please contact:
Tahmina Theis
+41 22 596 47 69
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