Clinton Global Initiative 2014

Bamboo Finance, a leader in impact investment recently announced its 2014 Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action to move the field of impact investing towards a better understanding of how investing in companies that create access can lead to positive social impact by measuring outcomes in addition to people reached and jobs created. 

The field of impact investing has made significant strides towards measuring the goods and services produced and delivered as well as jobs created, but the question of the effect of the product or service on a client’s life has yet to be answered.

 “As impact investing evolves, it’s increasingly important to understand the effect of the product or service on the client’s life so that our intention to measure and track facilitates the allocation of capital towards models that have the greatest potential for impact as well as risk-adjusted returns,” said Jean-Philippe de Schrevel. “Further, we believe that recent innovation in pay-for-success models are demonstrating that it is possible to move towards investing based on outcomes through data sharing and partnerships with third-party evaluators.” 

Bamboo Finance currently manages a portfolio of 46 investments that provide access to essential goods and services to low-income communities, and these companies operate in more than 30 frontier market countries. Bamboo has consistently applied a proprietary impact output measurement and management system to these investments and has ranked in the top quintile of all rated funds in 2013 and 2014 by the third-party leader in impact measurement, GIIRS (Global Impact Investment Rating System).  The annual impact report produced by Bamboo Finance represents the best practices in private equity impact measurement today.

“For the second consecutive year we have published an impact report in line with our intention to invest in companies that create measurable social impact. In it you will find how we define impact and what we are doing to measure it. The report demonstrates our ongoing engagement to improve the collective knowledge of what constitutes effective impact investing.” said, Ximena Escobar de Nogales, Head of Social Performance and Impact Management.

Highlights from the 2014 report include:

• The total number of clients served by our Financial Inclusion Fund portfolio companies has grown to 8.5 million, a 10% increase since the previous report;

• The total amount of savings deposits has reached $3.2 billion, creating a more stable capital structure and addressing the challenges faced by end-users; 

• The latest investment into a network of primary care clinics in India has grown from 22 to 29 clinics in just six months, serving approximately 22,000 patients quarterly;

• Greenlight Planet, one of our energy sector investments, sold over 2 million solar products and has employed 3,962 direct-to-village business associates.

The full Bamboo Finance 2014 Impact Report can be downloaded here.

It is important to note that these metrics do not reflect the full scope of the impact of the investments. In order to understand the positive impact of the portfolio companies, it is necessary to look beyond output numbers. An improved understanding of the usage of products and services helps to increase capital efficiency and ultimately improve the positive impact on the end-customers. This is why Bamboo Finance believes outcomes are key to mapping the impact of the goods and services provided. This will distinguish our investment approach from others focused on job creation and other income segments.

About Bamboo Finance
Bamboo Finance is a commercial private equity firm specializing in investing in business models that benefit low-income communities in emerging markets with offices in Luxembourg, Geneva, Bogota, Nairobi and Singapore. Bamboo Finance uses a market-oriented approach to deliver social and environmental value and provide attractive financial returns to investors. Bamboo Finance launched in 2007 with a goal to demonstrate that private capital can be profitably deployed as a tool for effective change. Bamboo Finance manages 250M USD; representing two global funds and a combined portfolio of 46 investments operating in 30 frontier market countries. Bamboo has a track record of demonstrated commercial returns, and a portfolio of investments that have provided 16 million clients with access to services and created more than 20,000 jobs.

Bamboo Finance

Bamboo Finance

Bamboo Finance is a commercial private equity firm specializing in investing in business models that benefit low-income communities in emerging markets with offices in Luxembourg, Geneva, Bogota, Nairobi and Singapore. Bamboo Finance uses a market-oriented approach to deliver social and environmental value and provide attractive financial returns to investors. Bamboo Finance launched in 2007 with a goal to demonstrate that private capital can be profitably deployed as a tool for effective change. Bamboo Finance manages 250M USD; representing two global funds and a combined portfolio of 46 investments operating in 30 frontier market countries. Bamboo has a track record of demonstrated commercial returns, and a portfolio of investments that have provided 16 million clients with access to services and created more than 20,000 jobs

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