IFU is a Danish investment fund that provides advisory services and risk capital to companies wishing to do business in developing countries and emerging markets. IFU's active investments employ nearly 280,000 people.

IFU – the Investment Fund for Developing Countries is a Danish impact investor contributing to green, just and inclusive societies as well as supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. 

We provide risk capital to companies operating in developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and parts of Europe. Investments are made on commercial terms in the form of equity, loans and guarantees. 

Prioritized sectors are Green energy & infrastructure, Financial services,  Healthcare and Sustainable food systems. 

IFU has co-invested in over 1,300 companies in more than 100 developing countries and emerging markets. Contracted investments total EUR 31 billion, of which IFU has contributed EUR 3.6 billion. 

Annually IFU makes around 25 -30 investments and has on average an active portfolio of 200 investments. 

IFU’s head office is located in Copenhagen supplemented by regional representation in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe.

IFU operates as fund manager for public-private partnerships like the Danish SDG Investment Fund, which is to invest in commercially viable projects supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The SDG Fund is established in cooperation with the Danish State and several of the largest Danish Pension Funds and private investors.  
 
Total capital under management is EUR 2.1 billion.

Saraf Foods

Polygenta Technologies

Daystar Power

CleanMax

✏ NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF IFU ✏ 

The Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jørgensen, has appointed new members to the board of directors of IFU, who will be acceding on 1 September 2024. It happens when the 3-year term of the current board ends on 31 August.

Michael Rasmussen, CEO of Nykredit, will continue as chairman, and Anette Eberhard as deputy chairman. Four new board members have been appointed, extending the board from eight to ten members.

“I am very satisfied with the results achieved by the retiring board of directors. I particularly commend them for their work on the reform of IFU. It resulted in the Danish government adopting an ambitious funding plan last year, providing access to DKK 20 billion (EUR ~2.7bn) towards 2030, which will contribute to investments in climate and Africa, for example. It is now up to the new board to set the course for this achievement,” said Dan Jørgensen.

“I look forward to cooperating with the new board, IFU’s executive management and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are delivering on a very ambitious agenda. One objective is to increase IFU’s contribution to mobilising climate financing from DKK 2 billion (EUR ~270m) annually to DKK 6 billion (EUR ~800m) annually towards 2030. We also hope to play a significant role in delivering on the upcoming Africa strategy. Towards 2030, we expect to invest more than DKK 8 billion (EUR ~1.1bn) in Africa,” said Michael Rasmussen.

The new board will have the following members:

Chairman: Michael Rasmussen, CEO of Nykredit 
Deputy Chairman: Anette Eberhard, former managing partner in Institutional Investment Partners and CEO of EKF
Birgitte Qvist-Sørensen, former secretary general of Danish Church Aid 
Emilie Damm Klarskov, Head of Analysis, The Economic Council of the Labour Movement
Fleming Voetmann, Vice President for External Relations and Sustainability, Velux
Hanna Line Jakobsen, Associate Director, Novo Nordisk
Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, former chairman of the Liberal Party of Denmark (Venstre) and former deputy prime minister and minister for economic affairs 
Jarl Krausing, International Director, Concito
Thomas Bustrup, Deputy CEO in Danish Industry
Tommy Ahlers, chairman of Concito, entrepreneur and former minister for higher education and science 
  
👇 Read full story in comments

🌱 HOW WE CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE REFORESTATION IN THE AMAZONIA REGION 🌱 

Large areas in the Amazon region of Colombia have been transformed from native grasslands and/or gallery forest into low-productivity pasturelands for cattle or agricultural activities, leading to land degradation and soil erosion.
A new afforestation and reforestation project, Amazonia Nativa, is set to revert the development and plant an area of up to 7,500 hectares with native species in the form of hard wood and acai palms.

Together with the Dutch Development Finance Institution, FMO, IFU is co-financing the first phase of the project of 550 hectares that aims to prove the project design concept and be ready for the scale-up.

“The Amazonia Nativa project is very interesting and fits well with IFU’s aspiration to support climate action and greening the economy. We hope to see it evolve and become at project that can be commercialised and attract other investors as well,” said Jesper Kaspersen, Senior Investment Manager in IFU.

Watch the video and learn more about the project

#Impactinvestment #reforestation #dkpol

🎓 AFRICA’S LARGEST SINGLE PHASED STUDENT HOUSING IS OPEN 🎓 

About 90% of South African students need accommodation near their educational institutions. But the lack of capacity and high rental prices force many into long commutes, unsafe living conditions, or even dropping out of school. Especially students from low-income families suffer from the deficit, which is estimated to be of more than 500,000 beds. 

Now SASAII, a platform investing in and owning student accommodation in South Africa, has constructed and opened Africa’s largest single phased purpose-built student accommodation facility in Cape Town, providing housing for up to 3,000 students, primarily from low-income families.

“Rise Student Living Cape Town offers an exceptional living experience with a wide range of facilities. As a resident on the 11th floor, I appreciate the study labs and collab lounges available on all floors, providing excellent spaces for individual and group study,” said Olwethu Khanyile.

SASAII has also opened student housing facilities in Johannesburg and Pretoria and has additional projects in the pipeline. All co-financed by the Danish SDG Investment Fund managed by IFU.

“By providing students with quality housing in a safe and secure environment close to their place of study, we are contributing to making access to education more equal in one of the world’s most unequal countries. SASAII focuses on students from disadvantaged backgrounds, aligning perfectly with IFU’s investment and impact strategy to foster more just and inclusive societies in developing countries,” said Emil Sierczynski, Investment Director at IFU.

👇 Read the full story in comments 

Eris Property Group (Pty) Ltd, Johan Janse van Vuuren #Southafrica #impactinvesting #SDGs #dkpol

🎓 BACK TO SCHOOL - IFU IS LOOKING FOR STUDENTS
IFU has open positions for students within Finance & Accounting, Communication and Strategy & Business Development. We are looking forward to reading your applications!
See the job ads on Jobteaser:
Finance & Accounting: https://lnkd.in/dAefZVdS
Communication: https://lnkd.in/d-HWYMWD
Strategy & Business Development: https://lnkd.in/d_ggw9ct
Read more about working in IFU: https://www.ifu.dk/en/job/

🚀 NY CEO LARS BO BERTRAM SÆTTER KURSEN FOR IFU 🚀 

I det første større interview efter sin tiltrædelse understreger CEO Lars Bertram , at IFU går en spændende fremtid i møde. 

IFU får mere end fordoblet sin 💵 kapital fra ca. 15 til 35 mia. kr.  mod 2030

Der skal rejses en ny Verdensmålsfond II på fem mia. kr. i samarbejde med                   danske pensionsselskaber og private investorer 

IFU skal som organisation udvikles til at kunne fordoble sine årlige investeringer 

I interviewet med FinansWatch understreger Lars Bo Bertram, at skiftet til IFU ikke er tilfældigt. 

”Det er heller ikke helt tilfældigt. Jeg har altid syntes, at det var sjovere at bygge op end at vedligeholde. Og så har jeg jo en forholdsvis stor forkærlighed for udviklingsøkonomier,” siger Lars Bo Bertram, som også sidder som næstformand i bestyrelsen i SOS Børnebyerne.

Dialogen med nye potentielle investorer i Verdensmålsfond II er sat i gang, og det forventes, at de første underskrifter kan blive sat i løbet af efteråret. 

”Vi ser frem til dialogen og håber meget på, at danske pensionsselskaber, fonde, familiekontorer m.fl. igen vil stå på listen over investorer i den nye Verdensmålsfond II, når den er færdigtegnet i løbet af det næste års tid,” siger Lars Bo Bertram. 

Den første Verdensmålsfond er fuldt investeret i 27 selskaber i Afrika, Asien og Latinamerika. Indtil videre har investeringerne bl.a. bidraget med behandling af 1,2 millioner patienter i 2023, etableringen af samlet 1.800 megawatt vedvarende energi og understøttet knap 100.000 småbønder i at omlægge til økologisk produktion. Forventningen er, at fonden samlet giver investorerne et årligt afkast på 10 – 12 % netto i danske kroner.   

Læs hele interviewet hos FinansWatch (kræver abonnement) 

#impactinvestment #SDG #dkpol

🌍 For the next four days, IFU Senior Vice President Reik Haahr Müller, Senior Vice President Thomas Hougaard and Investment Director Henrik Henriksen are ready to discuss energy investments at the Africa Energy Forum in Barcelona. Meet IFU and the other Nordic DFIs at stand A124.

♀ BANCOSOL ISSUES FIRST GENDER BOND IN BOLIVIA ♀ 
 
BancoSol, the largest microfinance bank in Bolivia, has issued the first gender bond in the country. The bond called “Bonos Sociales Avanza Mujer BancoSol 1 was sold in the Bolivian Stock Market ending at a total sales amount of 💵 USD 30 million. 
 
The proceeds will go towards financing micro and small enterprises led by women (MSE Women) in Bolivia, with the goal of financing at least 4,500 MSE Women.
 
The project seeks to increase access to credit for MSEs in Bolivia, strengthening BancoSol's “Avanza Mujer” strategy, a programme that has a differentiated value proposition, which promotes the inclusion and growth of businesses led by women. Additionally, the project seeks to encourage the growth of BancoSol's portfolio with underserved clients in the Amazon region, promoting social and rural development.
 
The Danish SDG Investment Fund, managed by IFU and backed by large Danish pension funds and private investors, is an investor in Bancosol. 

“A big congratulations to Bancosol for a successful launch of the first gender bond in Bolivia. This is a perfect match with our impact strategy to provide financing for small businesses and empower women,” said Morten Elkjær, SVP, Head of Financial Services at IFU. 

Bancosol has provided microfinance in Bolivia for more than 30 years and has significantly impacted million of lives in the country. Two of those are Soledad Garcia and Felipa Mamani who are portraited in a book that pay tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit of the many Bolivian women who have made their own paths challenging barriers, breaking paradigms and building bridges towards a more inclusive and equitable future.
 
👇 Read the full story and more about Soledad Garcia and Felipa Mamani in the comments

#bolivia #impactinvesting #2Xcahllenge

🚀 ABOVE AND BEYOND - A NEW 2X CHALLENGE TARGET OF USD 20 BILLION FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT 🚀 

The 2X Global Challenge has set a new target of mobilising USD 20 billion between 2024 – 2027. This is by far the largest commitment made by development finance institutions and multilateral banks after the initial initiative was launched in 2018. For the first time the initiative is also joined by private investors. 

“We are very proud to be part of 2X Challenge putting a strong focus on our effort to empower women and improve their job and career opportunities. Last year, half of IFU’s investment had a gender lens equality focus and we intend to keep up the pace, going forward,” said Birgitte Bang Nielsen, Sustainability Director at IFU. 

About the 2X Challenge
The 2X Challenge was founded by the G7 Development Finance Institutions as a call to action to shift more capital towards investments that empower women in developing countries to access entrepreneurship and leadership opportunities, quality jobs, and products and services that enhance their economic participation. Since then, the flagship initiative has raised gender lens investments totalling USD 33.6 billion. 

👇 Read more about 2X Challenge in the link in comments

Det er ikke sikkert, du ved det. Men dine pensionspenge er med til at gøre en forskel i udviklingslande. Dit pensionsselskab er nemlig en del af Verdensmålsfonden på i alt fem mia. kr., der har investeret i private virksomheder i Afrika, Asien, Latinamerika og Ukraine. 

Udover sundhedsbehandling har fondens investeringer bl.a. også bidraget positivt til 100.000 småbønders liv og installeringen af 1.800 megawatt grøn energi. Og samtidig skaber investeringerne afkast, der gør din opsparing større. 

Mød os til debat om, hvordan vi kan gøre mere i Afrika. Det sker på Folkemødet i dag kl. 11.00 i FN-byen C41. 

Deltagere: Torsten Fels, Lotte Machon, Henrik Fredborg Larsen og Lars Bertram. Moderator er Kirsten Larsen

Du kan også læse mere om Verdensmålsfondens mange resultater på www.ifu.dk

🚀 PÅ VEJ TIL FOLKEMØDE

Igen i år deltager IFU i Folkemødet. Denne gang er det vores nye administrerende direktør Lars Bertram og vicedirektør Søren Peter Andreasen, der tager afsted for at bidrage, lytte, diskutere og blive klogere på, hvordan vi kan skabe en mere bæredygtig verden.

Du kan bl.a. møde en af dem eller begge til følgende debatter:

· På Klima- og energiscenen torsdag mellem klokken 13:00 og 13:30 omkring Danmarks fremtidige indsats i Afrika

· På Europabevægelsens scene torsdag mellem 14.00 – 14.45, hvor det handler om genopbygningen af Ukraine

· I FN-Byen (C41) fredag mellem kl. 11.00 – 11.45, hvor vi har vores eget arrangement i samarbejde med UNDP og UNEP, hvor vi diskuterer, om Danmark overhovedet kan gøre en forskel i Afrika

· Hos Nordisk Ministerråd (B12), hvor det handler om miljøet og indsatsen i Ukraine

Og så er der jo alle de mere uformelle arrangementer. 

Vi glæder os til at deltage.

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Board Member; Lifesciences, Business Development

Helle Bechgaard

Banking and Wealth Management

Anders Frigaard

Anders Paludan-Müller

Finance and Administration

Annelise Boysen

Annemette Ditlevsen

Arent Christian Kjaer

Barbara Marcussen

Chris Maranga

Emil Sierczynski

Sales and Support

Henrik Henriksen

Niels Gravgaard Laursen

Anette Eberhard

Deputy Chair

U Gro Capital is a business lending fintech platform offering customized financial solutions to MSMEs.

CleanMax is an Indian rooftop solar developer.

Daystar Power specialises in providing solar power and energy efficiency solutions for businesses.

Saraf Foods manufactures various freeze-dried products, including freeze-dried fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Polygenta Technologies Limited (PTL) is a leading manufacturer of Polyester Filament Yarn

Government Offices

Investors Active in Ile-de-France

Investors Active in Plaines Wilhems

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Provider of advisory services & risk capital to Danish companies wishing to do business in developing countries and emerging markets

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Krogsgaard to return to his role as IFU’s CIO

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Energy solutions company Smart Joules raises funding from IFU

Blue Planet receives IFU funding to boost key operations in India

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