News and Insights
Bringing Banking Services to Rural Vietnam with MFast
In the Mekong River Delta, where clean water is scarce, Mr. Duy, a factory worker in his mid-forties, faced health issues due to kidney stones. With a modest income of 9 million VND ($380 USD) per month, he could not afford the 17 million VND ($720 USD) water purifier...
Growing Divergences Amidst Easing Headwinds
As 2024 approaches midway, the global economic environment maintains resiliency, furthering expectations for continued central bank easing in the quarters ahead and the path to a relatively soft landing still intact. Despite elevated interest rates, particularly...
Sarona Shared Services – Empowering Impact Fund Managers
With a global financing gap of 5.2 trillion dollars for Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) it is evident that access to finance is limited (source). Yet, more than 70% of jobs worldwide are created by these firms, with even higher numbers for firms in...
New 2X Challenge Announces US$20 Billion Target for Investments for Women
Milestone as Private Sector Players Join DFIs and MDBs for 2X Challenge 2024-2027 June 17, 2024 - A multilateral coalition of public and private sector investors yesterday pledged to invest US$20 billion (bn) in women’s economic empowerment over the...
The Canadian Task Force on Impact Investing
Montreal, May 13, 2024, 7 AM – Some of the country’s leading impact investors working as the Canadian Impact Investing Working Group are publishing today a report “Scaling Impact Investing in Canada Through...
Earth Day Spotlight: India’s Climate-Focused Companies Making an Impact Today
As we celebrate Earth Day, let's take a closer look at India, a dynamic economy where innovative companies are leading the way with climate-focused business models. Some of these enterprises are financed by GEF Capital Partners, a Sarona fund manager, investments are...
Global resilience shapes constructive outlook
As 2024 unfolds, the global economic environment continues to remain resilient, raising expectations for central bank easing in the upcoming quarters and increasing the probability of a relatively soft landing. While interest rates stay elevated, particularly across...
Investing in Women and Inspiring Inclusion: Strategies That Work
Sarona and 2X Global team at the GLI networking event in Toronto, Canada Every March 8th, on International Women's Day, we are reminded of the ongoing gender inequalities and the obstacles women encounter in business and the workplace. This year's theme, "Investing in...
Spotlight on SAM Shared Services Inc. – Sarona’s Next Endeavor
It has been said that one can go faster alone, but farther when together with others. In the impact investment world, going alone isn’t an option. For Sarona, it’s all about partnerships. We are delighted to showcase our pivotal and...
Sarona Asset Management’s Climate Journey: Navigating Risks and Building Resilience
As a signatory to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)1, Sarona Asset Management, Inc. (Sarona) is dedicated to aligning its impact measurement, management, and reporting systems with evolving industry standards. In a strategic collaboration...
Spotlight on ESG success stories of Colombian portfolio companies
Panoramic view of Medellin, Colombia, as seen from the Commune 13 district. Integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into business strategies improves performance. This article showcases Tropi and Mareauto-Alivo, two Colombian companies that,...
Sarona SGGM Impact Report
We are proud to present the Sarona Global Growth Markets (SGGM) Private Equity (PE) Program 2022 Impact Report. The data in this report represents nearly half a billion individuals and organizations who have benefited, more than 220,000 jobs sustained (of which 39%...
EMIIF is Empowering Australia’s Development Future: Unveiling Australian Development Investments (ADI) for Enhanced Global Impact
Unlocking Australia's Global Development Power: Introducing Australian Development Investments (ADI). Learn how ADI is reshaping finance for impactful climate and gender initiatives in the Indo-Pacific. Read more at EMIIF
EMIIF plays a pivotal role in advancing Gender Lens Investing in the Indo-Pacific region
In Australia’s recent federal budget, the Australian Government announced that it would lift the finance cap of its Emerging Market Impact Investment Fund (EMIIF) from AUD40 million to AUD 250 million. EMIIF is a development financing mechanism for...
TEKY: Empowering Vietnamese Youth through STEAM Education
Sarona is delighted to showcase Sweef Capital’s recent investment in TEKY Alpha JSC (TEKY), a prominent Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) academy in Vietnam. This investment is intended to fuel the expansion of TEKY's...
Emerging Markets Impact Investment Fund (EMIIF) Impact Study 2021-2022
The Emerging Market Impact Investment Fund (EMIIF) contributes to inclusive, gender equal and sustainable economic development in Asia and the Pacific by providing much-needed financing to early- and growth-stage SMEs while shaping the impact investing and gender lens...
Earth Day 2023
Every year, on April 22nd, the world celebrates Earth Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices to protect our planet. This year’s theme, “Invest in our...
In Unison – A conversation with our Private Equity partners around the world.
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Q4 2022 – Sarona Emerging Markets Monitor
The global economic outlook continues to remain challenging, particularly given the effects of higher inflation, as a result of supply side imbalances following covid-19 and subsequently the war in Ukraine. Energy and food prices remain major contributors to this surge with prospects of further rises in interest rates going into next year. With recessionary warning signs flashing, a flight to safety has strengthened the US dollar, with the index (DXY) peaking above 13% before softening to 4.6% YTD. Despite emerging markets facing higher import costs and stronger inflationary pressures as a result, including the prospects of depleted currency reserves, economic growth forecasts remain positive for this year, albeit at more moderated levels.
The 2X Challenge: Insights from Sarona’s Portfolio
Sarona recently became a member of the 2X Global Initiative, a global membership association dedicated to advancing gender smart investments. We assessed if and how Sarona and our fund and company investees are aligned with the 2X Challenge objectives. Download the...
Sarona Becomes a Member of the 2X Collaborative
To solidify our ongoing commitment to advancing a greater number of gender smart investments, Sarona recently became a member of the 2X Collaborative, a growing community dedicated to this ambition. The 2X Collaborative is a leading industry body for gender lens...
Sarona announces the promotion of three internal leaders to its partnership
New parters (L-R): Serge LeVert-Chiasson, Ralitsa Rizvanolli, Mat LeRoux, and Patrick Hergt We are very excited to announce that we have invited three team members to the firm’s partnership. Partnership is reserved for leaders –...
Sarona thanks its founder for many years of service
Gerhard Pries, our Founder and Managing Partner for the last dozen years, has announced his retirement from his executive role at Sarona. Gerhard will remain as Chair of the Board and member of the Sarona Investment Committee, while his long-time colleague, Serge...
Sarona Asset Management’s Theory of Change seeks prosperity for all
Sarona Asset Management's Theory of Change seeks prosperity for all - for all today and all tomorrow. This goes beyond a 'do no harm' mandate; it demands that we seek to improve the earth so that future generations can prosper better than we have. Leave it better than...
For Sarona Asset Management, Gender Equality is about empowering women
For Sarona Asset Management, Gender Equality is about empowering women. Yes, we invest in women-led companies and partner with women-led investment firms, but our Theory of Change demands that we seek to be an agent of change - helping move the world from status quo...
Apis Partners Announces Exit
Sarona Asset Management is pleased to announce another exit from our SGGM private equity programme. Apis Growth Fund I has entered into an agreement to sell the whole of its interest in payment solutions provider Q Link Holdings Ltd to Sanlam Private Equity ("SPE")....
Patrick Hergt earns the Chartered Financial Analyst designation
Patrick Hergt Sarona is happy to announce that Patrick Hergt has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation (CFA® charter) that he has worked on while supporting our investment and business development teams fulltime. Patrick Hergt has...
Sarona and Accial announce senior debt financing for Pintek, Investree and Equity Link
The Sarona Accial private debt team is proud to announce senior secured debt financing to: Investree - an Indonesian fintech lender focused on small business,Pintek – an Indonesian fintech platform that provides credit to students and their families,...
Sarona Asset Management and Accial Capital Management launch joint fintech investment strategy for emerging markets
Sarona Asset Management and Accial Capital Management are pleased to formally announce the launch of a joint fintech investment strategy for emerging markets. Sarona and Accial have partnered on several investments in fintech lenders over the last few years. Building...
Sarona Asset Management and Crowdfunding Platform Lendahand Collaborating with USAID to Provide Financing for Women-Led Funds and Enterprises
For Immediate Release Monday, December 20, 2021 Sarona Asset Management, a pioneering private equity firm focused on frontier and emerging markets and Lendahand, an innovative crowdfunding company, have announced partnerships with the U.S. Agency for International...
OnImpact Features Sarona and EMIIF
It was announced last year, Sarona Asset Management would be tasked with managing the Australian Government’s Emerging Markets Impact Investment Fund (EMIIF), which is the Federal Government’s first foray into fund-of-fund impact...
Sarona Asset Management recognized as one of the Best for the World™ B Corps of 2021
We are beyond happy and incredibly proud about being recognized as one of the Best for the Worldâ„¢ B Corps of 2021 in the categories for Community and Governance! The Best for the World are B Corps whose scores in one or more of the five impact areas...
Sarona announces Ralitsa Rizvanolli and Patrick Hergt as new Directors
We are pleased to announce two changes within Sarona, both a valuable addition and a promotion. Ralitsa Rizvanolli joined Sarona in September 2020 as Director of Investments, responsible for investments in the Emerging Markets Impact Investment Fund (EMIIF) trust....
Sarona named to 2019 Best For The World: Overall list by B Lab
Sarona is proud to receive recognition for our on-going efforts in creating extraordinary positive global impact with a spot on the Certified B Corporation 2019 Best For The World: Overall list. The list is a comprehensive assessment administered by B Lab, a...
2019 Annual Values Report: Value-Driven Leadership for Collaboration
We are delighted to launch our 2019 Annual Values Report, which is now available for download. The report is a comprehensive assessment of the progress we are making toward achieving impact. We are encouraged by our findings—Sarona is making a...
Gerhard Pries interviewed for Real Leaders magazine: “4 Lessons from an Impact Investor”
Sarona founder, Gerhard Pries recently spoke to Amy Bennett (Impact Assets) for Real Leaders Magazine. Pries describes how he went from working as a financial advisor for PricewaterhouseCoopers to the managers of an impact investment firm, and Bennett draws on four...
Sarona/MEDA Global Investor Survey: Limited Partner Perspectives on Private Credit and Trade Finance in Frontier & Emerging Markets
Sarona/MEDA Global Investor Survey: Limited Partner Perspectives on Private Credit and Trade Finance in Frontier & Emerging MarketsIn spring 2019, Emerging Markets Development Partners (EMDP), in partnership with Sarona Asset Management and MEDA, undertook a...
Menno Derks interviewed for Financial Investigator magazine: Sarona has something to offer for long-term investors
Menno Derks was interviewed for issue 1 2019 of Financial Investigator magazine. Below is an English translation of the original article by Rene Boogaarts. We have attempted to provide an accurate translation of the original material in English, but due to the nuances...
Sarona is selected to the eighth annual IA 50 impact investment fund manager showcase
“The IA 50 is built to filter out the noise that is growing louder in impact investing and help investors focus on deep, meaningful impact.†Sarona is delighted to once again be selected to the ImpactAssets 50 this year. The IA...
Gerhard Pries featured on EisnerAmper’s alternative investments intelligence blog
Sarona CEO Gerhard Pries is featured on the 6 December 2018 issue of EisnerAmper LLP’s Trends Watch blog. Trends Watch is a weekly entry to EisnerAmper's Alternative Investments Intelligence blog, featuring the views and insights of...
Serge LeVert-Chiasson quoted in WSJ Pro Private Equity (The Wall Street Journal)
Serge LeVert-Chiasson, Partner and MD Impact Investment Advisory, was recently quoted in WSJ Pro Private Equity, The Wall Street Journal's exclusive propriety news source that provides specialised insight on private equity trends. In the article,...
2018 Annual Values Report: Delivering Prosperity for All
Today, Sarona is pleased to release its 2018 Annual Values Report. It is Sarona's belief that in applying ethical, social and environmental values to each investment decision, we build a better world for the current generation and future ones. Sarona's core beliefs...
Sarona named to 2018 Best For The World: Overall list by B Lab
Sarona is proud to receive recognition for our on-going efforts in creating extraordinary positive global impact with a spot on the 2018 Best For The World list. The list is a comprehensive assessment administered by B Lab, a non-profit-making organisation that serves...
Trade finance in frontier and emerging markets: mobilizing capital for impact at scale
Across Frontier and Emerging Markets, access to finance is a persistent obstacle to sustainable growth. Nowhere is this truer than trade finance – without access to trade finance, many SMEs would simply die. While trade finance is a thriving global...
Sarona co-publishes final report: “Expanding Institutional Investment into Emerging Markets via Currency Risk Mitigation” with USAID, EMPEA and Crystalus
Currency risk is a persistent problem in emerging market private equity. The fear of precipitous currency loss keeps billions of private equity dollars firmly on the sidelines – capital that could otherwise play a game-changing role in promoting...
Sarona co-publishes final report: “Expanding Institutional Investment into Emerging Markets via Currency Risk Mitigation” with USAID, EMPEA and Crystalus
Currency risk is a persistent problem in emerging market private equity. The fear of precipitous currency loss keeps billions of private equity dollars firmly on the sidelines – capital that could otherwise play a game-changing role in promoting...
Sarona honoured as ‘Best for the World’ for exceptional positive social and environmental impact
Sarona was recognized by B Lab as Best for the World for the third year in a row! In 2012, the inaugural list was sourced from approximately 500 B Corps. This year, Sarona has again been recognised in the Overall Best for the World category by scoring in the top 10th...
Sarona awarded top scores by United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment
Sarona has received top scores from the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), following the assessment of its latest Transparency Report. We have received the highest score of A+ for Strategy and Governance as well as for integrating...
2017 Annual Values Report: How our capital is creating impact and making progress towards the SDGs
We believe that applying ethical, social and environmental values to each investment decision builds a better world and helps us generate attractive returns for our investors. We strive to influence the investment industry to incorporate best practices and work with...
Sarona becomes signatory to the Stockholm Declaration showing a commitment to setting standards for measurement and reporting standards for the SDGs
The investment community, including large institutional investors, is increasingly adopting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for sustainable investing. According to a recent report, the SDGs present a $12 trillion investment opportunity....
Sarona co-publishes report with USAID, EMPEA and Crystalus: Expanding Institutional Investment into Emerging Markets via Currency Risk Mitigation
Sarona joined forces with USAID, EMPEA and Crystalus to seek innovative solutions that, by mitigating FX risk, could catalyse private capital flows into developing economies, resulting in a research report in our co-published report: Expanding Institutional Investment...
John Hoffmire, Director at SaÏd Business School at Oxford University, writes about Sarona’s unique investment approach in Deseret News
(PRNewsfoto/Deseret News) August 9, 2016 - John Hoffmire, Director at SaÃd Business School at Oxford University, writes about Sarona’s unique investment approach targeting high financial returns based on ethical, social and environmental...
Sarona is highlighted in “Sizing Up ‘Blended Finance’: A Guide to a New Financing Approach to Fuel Sustainable Development” by Joan Larrea for ImpactAlpha
Sarona’s pioneering role in Blended Finance was highlighted in a recent article by Joan Larrea CEO of Convergence published on ImpactAlpha, Sizing Up ‘Blended Finance’: A Guide to a New Financing Approach to Fuel...
OPIC commits $100mm to Sarona’s Global Growth Markets Fund programme
For the second time, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, selected Sarona to deliver “Growth that Mattersâ€. In June 2016, the OPIC board...
Convergence completes case study on Sarona Global Growth Markets PE Fund Programme
Convergence, a platform that connects public and private investors to participate in Blended Finance deals in Frontier and Emerging Markets, has published a case study on Sarona's Blended Finance approach. Released as part of Convergence's knowledge library, the case...
Gerhard Pries delivers speech on Blended Finance at UN High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS Heads of State Reception
In a speech to a UN Heads of State reception at the 2016 High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS Sarona founder and CEO Gerhard Pries declared that we won’t solve the SDGs without private-public partnerships. And Blended Finance is, without hesitation, the...
Sarona founder and CEO Gerhard Pries interviewed for The Guardian | “Blended finance may not be the work of the devil after all”
Sarona founder and CEO Gerhard Pries engaged in a lively discussion with Deborah Doane, writer and consultant on international development and sustainably, for The Guardian to explore the issues of public and private capital investment in driving change. Read the...
Sarona participates in the inaugural Financing & Innovation in Global Health Forum coinciding with the IMF-WBG Annual Spring Meetings
How can the world possibly meet its commitment to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #3 – Good Health for All – by 2030? In mid-April, at the inaugural Financing & Innovation in Global Health (FIGH) Forum, private,...
Sarona selected ImpactAssets50 Manager for fifth year
ImpactAssets has released its 2015 impact investing showcase, the ImpactAssets 50 (IA 50), a free online resource for investors and financial advisors. The fifth annual guide features fund managers representing private debt and equity investments that deliver social...
Sarona’s Blended Finance work recgonised at UN Conference on Financing for Development
Sarona Asset Management was recently showcased for its successful Blended Finance approach at the United Nations conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, where countries reached a historic agreement to finance a new sustainable development agenda....
Sarona Asset Management Inc. honoured as ‘Best for the World’, creating most overall positive social and environmental impact
April 14, 2015: Kitchener, Canada & Amsterdam, the Netherlands Today, Sarona Asset Management Inc. was recognized for creating the most positive overall social and environmental impact by the non-profit B Lab with the release of the fourth annual...
Sarona closes second private equity fund of funds with $150mm
Kitchener, Canada & Amsterdam, the Netherlands – 12 December 2014 Sarona Asset Management held its final close for the Sarona Frontier Markets Fund 2 on 12 December 2014. The company raised a total of $150mm from a mixture of leading...
Sarona recertified as B Corp
B Corps are certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. As part of the recertification, Sarona scored well above the average for a developed market B Corp and within the top...
Sarona contributes to World Economic Forum report on impact investing
How can mainstream institutional investors design visionary and pragmatic investing strategies that target high risk-adjusted returns while creating a measurable positive impact? Find out in the latest report by the World Economic Forum Investors Industries, prepared...
Sarona showcased at World Economic Forum-OECD event on blended finance
The World Economic Forum, the group most notable for their annual gathering of economists and business leaders in Davos Switzerland, is promoting a new Blended Finance model of economic growth. Together with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development...
OPIC President Applauds Sarona’s progress
Monday, May 12th, 2014 WASHINGTON – Speaking today at Sarona Asset Management’s Investor Day 2014, Elizabeth Littlefield, President and CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S....
Canadian Government announces investment to support Sarona’s private equity program
On 17 April, during the first High-Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation in Mexico, the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development announced a CAD$ 15 million investment in a fund managed by Sarona Asset...