Annual Report 2019

BIO has published its annual report for 2019.

14-07-2020

Annual Report 2019

BIO Story

We are BIO. We are responsible impact investors, driven by our quest to create both economic and social prosperity in developing and emerging countries. Our vision and objective are sustainable livelihoods for everybody on our planet. As such, we invest in entrepreneurs, financial institutions and funds in Africa, Latin America and Asia, allowing them to survive, thrive and create economic welfare in their communities.

Impact investing is how BIO supports and actively contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. We do not operate on our own: we create solid partnerships with our portfolio companies and other stakeholders. Together, we share a common objective, and that is to improve the lives of, especially, the poor.

The people of our portfolio companies are on a quest. As investors, we are determined to support them to realize the opportunities and deal successfully with the risks they are facing. We look beyond what is obvious. We do not limit ourselves to low-hanging fruit, but are relentlessly curious and open-minded, spending weeks, months or even years to explore and develop innovative solutions for our clients’ aims and challenges. Together with our clients, we are on a journey towards a decent livelihood for all.

Some 2019 highlights

  • BIO made 31 new commitments, totaling EUR 199 million. This brought the total net signed commitments up to EUR 783 million.
  • BIO signed up to the 2X Challenge, which calls for DFIs to join together to collectively mobilise USD 3 billion in gender-smart investments.
  • BIO made its first investments out of a new facility targeting projects with a particularly high development impact but with high risks and relatively lower expected financial return: Fairtrade Access Fund and Alterfin.
  • BIO launched the SDG Frontier Fund, enabling private individual and institutional investors to co-invest with BIO into private equity SME Funds.
  • BIO reached over EUR 1 billion in investment capital
  • BIO refreshed its baseline: “Investing in a sustainable future”, expressing our aspiration for sustainable livelihoods all around the globe.

More news

USD 40 M European Backing for Uganda Rural Telecom Expansion

 News

USD 40 M European Backing for Uganda Rural Telecom Expansion

06-03-2024

TowerCo of Africa Uganda has secured US$40 million long-term financing from European development finance partners, including the European Investment Bank, the Development Bank of Austria (OeEB) and Belgian Investment Company for Developing countries, to support new investment aimed at significantly improving mobile phone network coverage in rural areas of Uganda, unlocking digital empowerment and economic advancement.

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Reception 18 January 2024

 News

Reception 18 January 2024

12-02-2024

On the 18th of January, BIO organised a reception as a celebration of the New Year, the first edition of the Ubora Prize, and the handover of the position of CEO of BIO of Luuk Zonneveld to Joris Totté.

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BIO joins IFC and SIMA in Launching Solar Green Bond for Small and Medium Solar Developers in Africa

 News

BIO joins IFC and SIMA in Launching Solar Green Bond for Small and Medium Solar Developers in Africa

07-02-2024

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, in partnership with Social Investment Managers and Advisors LLC (SIMA Funds or SIMA) and other financiers have reached the first close of the $150 million SIMA Commercial & Industrial Solar Green Bond, which will finance small-scale productive-use solar projects throughout Africa.

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