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Willow Impact Investors Announces Investment in Kenya

Investment in Bio Food Products will enable growth and expansion of operations whilst creating positive social and environmental impact

Willow Impact Investors Announces Investment in Kenya

Investment in Bio Food Products will enable growth and expansion of operations whilst creating positive social and environmental impact

Published 10-09-12

Submitted by Willow Impact Investors

Yoghurt production at Bio

In line with its objective of investing in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in East Africa and the Middle East that generate positive social and environmental impact, Willow Impact Investors is pleased to announce an investment in Kenya.

Willow has acquired a 35% stake in Bio Food Products Ltd. - the award-winning producer of the top ranked brand in the added-value dairy products sector in East Africa.

With the free trade area of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) community representing a population of over 400 million, Eastern Africa is a key emerging market for impact investing for Willow.  

Nicolas Farah, Managing Partner at Willow Impact Investors, said: “We recognize the value of investing for positive impact in SMEs such as Bio and in growth markets such as the Kenyan dairy sector.”

Willow’s investment will support Bio’s growth strategy and expansion into new markets by capital injection in its plant and extension of its supply chain. “We at Willow expect that Bio’s outstanding social and environmental practices can be scaled up to benefit an even broader range of suppliers and customers,” he added.

Willow intends for its investment to generate a broad range of impacts that will benefit farmers by increasing incomes and improving access to markets, create additional employment, support small enterprises, provide access to nutritional products for lower income populations and contribute to food and income security.

“Bio is an established, premium brand. Our commitment to producing quality products and services has earned Bio an exceptional reputation over the years and has enabled expansion in its market reach and customer base. We are delighted to have Willow Impact Investors on board. This investment will serve as a catalyst in creating positive impact for suppliers and dairy farmers and in bringing new products to market to serve an even wider section of the Kenyan and East African populations,” said Binoy Zachariah – Founder and CEO, Bio Food Products Ltd.

Willow’s key objective is to build dynamic and sustainable economies by providing capital to social entrepreneurs in small and medium sized impactful businesses.  The firm is pleased to witness this investment strategy gaining increasing interest from discerning and responsible investors such as Tamarisk Investments, underwriters of Willow’s investment in Bio. 

“Bio already meets Willow’s key impact objectives and we look forward to working with the company to generate additional impacts for all stakeholders,” concluded Farah.

About Willow Impact Investors

Willow Impact Investors was founded in 2010 as the first impact investing business for Eastern Africa and the MENA region. Willow invests in companies that are committed to delivering risk adjusted commercial returns while generating positive, sustainable and demonstrable social and environmental impact.

With offices in Dubai, Nairobi and New York, Willow Impact Investors is ideally positioned for proximity to investors and to the emerging economies that are home to many of the most exciting socially entrepreneurial investment opportunities.  For more information: www.willowimpact.com

Willow Impact Investors is a recognized trademark of Willow Management Limited.

Disclaimer

"This news announcement is released for information purposes only, and should in no way be construed as either a solicitation or an encouragement to enter into any specific investment or fund, listed or mentioned herein. All information available in this news announcement is provided on an “as is” basis. Any investment in financial instruments that are mentioned on this news announcement may involve risks and may therefore be unsuitable for some investors. Before considering any investment, investors should consult competent investment advisors.”

 

Willow Impact Investors logo

Willow Impact Investors

Willow Impact Investors

Willow invests in companies that are committed to delivering risk adjusted commercial returns while generating positive, sustainable and demonstrable social and environmental impact. With offices in Dubai, Nairobi and New York, Willow Impact Investors is ideally positioned for proximity to investors and to the emerging economies that are home to many of the most exciting socially entrepreneurial investment opportunities.

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