Stamford, CT, USA
Jul 1, 2020
Developing World Markets (DWM) is pleased to announce commitments of USD 90.4 million from three of the largest insurance and pension providers in the Nordic region – Skandia Mutual Life Insurance Company, Kåpan Pensioners and Nordea Life & Pensions – to a DWM impact investment strategy focused on sectors and themes aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Through this investment strategy, DWM – a U.S.-based impact asset manager – will provide local currency debt financing to benefit low-income communities and micro, small and medium enterprises in emerging and frontier markets. The loans will be extended via “inclusive” financial institutions for on-lending to SDG-aligned sectors, or in some cases directly to companies providing SDG-aligned products or services. Target beneficiaries of the capital will include micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and women and minority-owned and operated businesses across sectors/thematic areas including sustainable agriculture, education, housing, health, renewable energy, displacement and water & sanitation.
The USD 90.4 million in anchor investment in DWM’s impact strategy comes as the health and economies of many emerging and frontier markets are under stress from COVID-19, and demonstrates the commitment of Skandia, Kåpan and Nordea Life & Pensions to – and the growing interest across the Nordic region in—impact investing, which targets both investment returns and social or environmental benefits.
Peter Johnson, Co-Managing Partner of Developing World Markets, says “DWM is very pleased to work with our partners, Skandia, Kåpan and Nordea Life & Pensions, to support productive investment, at a moment of critical need for the economies and people of the developing world to help build more resilient and equitable societies. DWM’s impact investment strategy aims to do so, with measurable results.”
About DWM
Developing World Markets is an impact asset manager with over two decades of experience in emerging and frontier markets. Through DWM Asset Management, LLC, the firm’s SEC-registered investment advisor, DWM has originated and managed over $2 billion of private debt and private equity in impact-oriented enterprises, including over 600 loans and 25 private equity stakes in more than 40 emerging and frontier countries. The firm operates from its headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, USA, and is supported by offices and team members in Delhi, Lima, Managua, Nairobi, Quito, San Jose (Costa Rica) and Singapore as well as in Japan, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
As a non-EU AIFM, with vehicles regulated by Luxembourg’s CSSF and Germany’s BAFIN, longstanding partnerships in the Netherlands and Germany, and relations with institutional investors across the continent, DWM is dedicated to serving its European investor partners, with a shared commitment to impact.
Press Contact
Courtland Walker, Partner, Head of Products & Partnerships