Impact

FOUNT offers a broad range of Strategic Advisory and Investment Management Services. We also offer hands-on support to our clients to enable them to generate optimal, measurable impact with business models that target the lower-income segment of the population.

We create impact by leveraging our Strategic Advisory and Investment Management expertise, combined with our international networks to help scale sustainable solutions responding to key environmental and social challenges that have the potential to generate lasting positive environmental and social impact whilst delivering sustainable financial returns.

SECTORS

FOUNT is currently active in the field of Strategic Advisory and Investment Management for the sectors listed below, with a focus on the lower-income segment of the population.

Affordable Housing

Clean Energy - Cookstoves

Clean Water Purification Systems

Financial Inclusion

Healthcare

Sustainable Apparel

Textile Supply Chains

Sustainable Agriculture

Forest Protection

Impact map

Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Whilst we support all of the SDGs, these are the most relevant to our current Strategic Advisory and Investment Management activities:

RVO

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO is part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

FOUNT acts as lead advisor focusing on:

In March 2021, FOUNT started a follow-on assignment for RVO on the Maraza project, an affordable housing project in Beira. The Maraza project is part of a long-term partnership between the Government of the Netherlands and the Municipality of Beira, Mozambique. In the coming months, FOUNT will further finetune the business case for investing in the Maraza project and engage into discussions with potential financiers, project developers and other parties. The assignment includes a strong focus on attracting project finance and end-user finance. We look forward to contribute to this valuable initiative.
Previous assignments for the project were quite successful and included building a business case for providing end-user finance for affordable housing purposes in Mozambique. Very recently, the first loan by a commercial bank was provided to a pilot project in Beira, thus financing the purchase of an affordable home. This is a great step forward for the Maraza project.

Read more in the interview of June 2021
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BEIRA: EVERY STEP IS A MILESTONE

Rabobank

FOUNT supported Rabobank as Strategic Advisor on the design of the AGRI3 Fund including amongst others the following elements: investment strategy and approach, funding structure, governance, investment processes and a high level financial model.

FMO

FOUNT acted as a Strategic Advisor to FMO on the NL Business Risk Portfolio and Fund Management team with a focus on strategy, investment processes and governance.

FOUNT was mandated by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review the MASSIF Fund which is managed by FMO. MASSIF provides financial resources to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s) by supporting the local financial intermediaries and institutions that can contribute to their development.

Fashion for Good

FOUNT acted as Advisor to Fashion for Good (FGG), an innovative platform and convenor to change the fashion industry for good. FOUNT worked on the design and implementation (up to initial close) of the Good Fashion Fund and was subsequently selected and approved by GFF's initial investors to become the Fund Manager.

Cordaid

FOUNT acts as a Strategic Advisor to Cordaid.

Oxfam Novib

FOUNT acted as strategic advisor to Oxfam Novib.

IDH

FOUNT advised IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative on developing a proposition including strategy and business cases for an agricultural fund, as well as defining the operation set-up of the Fund.

PPAF

FOUNT advised the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) on several assignments. FOUNT developed a strategic plan including a financial model for a new microfinance investment company. FOUNT also advised on the transition plan and the design of the investment process and delivered several manuals and guidelines and support for operations (HR, treasury policy, ESG, credit process). The new entity (PMIC) with shareholders PPAF, KfW and Karandaaz/DFID is operational as from 2016.

Reall

FOUNT is an Advisor to Reall, an innovator and investor in climate smart affordable housing in urban Africa and Asia for those at the bottom 40% of the income pyramid. FOUNT has advised on the development of the financial model and Investment Memorandum and has supported Reall in their fundraising processes.

ILX

Cardano Development is the incubator of a new institutional impact investment initiative, the Impact Loan eXchange (ILX). ILX aims to provide an innovative impact investment platform through which leading institutional investors, such as European pension funds, can co-invest with the global Development Finance Institutions, in sustainable long-term loans in developing countries.

FOUNT was part of the project team setting-up this initiative.

Oikocredit

FOUNT advised Oikocredit. Oikocredit is a cooperative and social investor which provides funding to the microfinance sector, fair trade organizations, cooperatives and small to medium-sized businesses.

Africa Agribusiness Academy

FOUNT advised the Africa Agribusiness Academy (AAA), a pan-African business platform for small and medium-sized agrifood enterprises (SMEs). The objective was to support AAA on setting up of a small-scale financing pilot in Uganda.

ifha

FOUNT advised the Investment Funds for Health in Africa (IFHA), an Amsterdam-based private equity fund (over USD 200m) that invests in private healthcare companies in African countries. A feasibility study was performed with regard to the medical education sector in selected African countries.

Berendina

In 2014, FOUNT was appointed by Berendina Stichting, jointly with FMO, to perform a capacity development study with regard to the optimal strategy of the microfinance operations of the Berendina Microfinance Institute in Sri Lanka (BMI) and to write a strategic plan allowing BMI to grow in the coming years.

FOUNT developed a new Strategic Plan for BMI in Sri Lanka. The 3-year strategic plan encompasses the steps required for the future organizational model and governance required to gain access to additional funding. This is based on international best practices and an in-depth market assessment.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

FOUNT was appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advise them on the Investment Strategy for the newly established Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) focusing on enhancing access to finance for local SME’s in Development Countries (track 2).

The DGGF is a EUR 750 million revolving fund, which offers tailored funding arrangements for entrepreneurs (particularly small and medium sized enterprises) that have solid business or investment plans and relevance to development.

FOUNT provided the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the following advisory services:

Investment strategy for the Fund;
Investment guidelines – terms and restrictions;
Potential portfolio investments and allocation;
Financial model;
Fund Manager selection.

kfw

For the Development branch of the German bank KfW, FOUNT prepared a feasibility study regarding financing of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Ghana.

SolarNow

FOUNT supported SolarNow in preparation of their business plan for scaling up activities in Uganda. SolarNow is a for profit social business, providing solar energy and financing solutions in East Africa

Function: Partner
Contact: bernadette@fount.eu

Bernadette has around 25 years structured finance and strategic advisory experience of which around 20 years experience in impact investing. Bernadette is co-founding partner of FOUNT since 2011. Within FOUNT, Bernadette has been leading several strategic advisory assignments focusing on designing, implementing and evaluating various impact investment initiatives in different sectors and geographies. Bernadette has set-up several impact investment funds, is currently Director of BIX Capital and Director and IC member of the Good Fashion Fund. Additionally she is Advisory Board member of Berendina Micro Finance.

She has worked with different type of clients and investors in various countries in Africa, Asia, CEE and Latin America.

Before establishing FOUNT, Bernadette co-founded Corporate Connect, a financial advisory firm with a focus on impact investing in emerging markets, and worked at Accenture, BTMU investment banking (London) and ABN AMRO Bank’s investment banking division (Amsterdam).

Function: Partner
Contact: bob@fount.eu

Bob is Managing Partner and co-founder of FOUNT. He has over 20 years of investment experience and a wealth of experience in setting up and managing funds. Bob is currently Fund Director of Good Fashion Fund, Board and IC-member for BIX Capital as well as Board and IC-member for AGRI3 Fund Manager. Additionally, he is Advisory Committee-member for the Mergence Renewable Energy Debt Fund in South Africa.

Within FOUNT, Bob has been leading in the long-term assignment for portfolio management and refinancing of a social housing loan portfolio in 17 emerging countries and played a key role in ‘investment readiness’ assignments for several clients. Prior to FOUNT, Bob worked for impact investment organisations FMO, Triodos Investment Management and ProCreditBank and gained hands-on experience in general management and SME banking. He has a vivid interest in sustainable business operations and has been on assignments in numerous countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Central- and South Eastern Europe.

Function: Investment Advisor DIGH
Contact: mattijn@fount.eu

Mattijn is an associated partner for FOUNT since early 2015. Mattijn has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and worked for large financial institutions like ING, ABN AMRO and RBS. Mattijn started off his career with ING as a financial analyst at ING, where after Mattijn worked for ABN AMRO as BU controller. From 2005, Mattijn worked on a wide range of financial restructuring transactions for ABN AMRO, and later RBS. In this role, Mattijn developed outstanding strengths in balance sheet analysis, financial restructuring and deal management, gained through experience and exposure to complex situations with client across Europe.

Within FOUNT, Mattijn is working on restructuring, managing and refinancing of the DIGH portfolio.

Function: Senior Investment Advisor
Contact: gerard@fount.eu

Gerard has more than 20 years of work experience, including 6 years of direct impact investing experience in Africa. From 2006-2015 he worked for two different private equity firms: HAL Investments (2006-2009) and the Investment Fund for Health in Africa (“IFHA”, 2009-2015, investors including IFC, APG and FMO). Both funds are well-respected investment organisations with an international focus. Through his broad work experience, Gerard has developed a keen insight into the entire investment process, from the first contact with a potential investment candidate to portfolio management activities.

He joined FOUNT in early 2015 as a Senior Investment Advisor. Since then, Gerard has worked for Reall (affordable housing investor in Africa and Asia, based in the UK), PMIC (microfinance organisation in Pakistan), IFHA (healthcare PE fund focused entirely on Africa) and BIX Capital (clean energy, main focus on Africa and Asia), amongst other. Assignments included performing a market study, financial modelling, compiling an Investment Memorandum as well as deal execution.

Gerard obtained his Master’s degree in Macroeconomics at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, the Netherlands.

Function: Investment Advisor GFF
Contact: ravid@goodfashionfund.com

Ravid Chowdhury has been an Advisor with FOUNT since 2018 supporting as an investment specialist with experience in the apparel sector, as well as in South and Southeast Asia investments.

Prior to FOUNT, Ravid worked for TAU Investment Management (Hong Kong), a textile and apparel focused private equity fund as an Investment Associate supporting transactions in South and Southeast Asia. He has consulted on apparel projects and assessments for Betterwork (Jordan), IDH (Netherlands), Innovations for Poverty Action (Bangladesh) and Impact Economy (Switzerland).

Following TAU, he worked as the CFO of Pathao, Bangladesh and Nepal’s first ride-sharing company, leading the company through four equity and mezzanine financing rounds totaling USD 20 million. He is additionally on the board of three VC-backed tech companies with operations in South Asia.
Ravid is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Function: Managing Director BIX
Contact: jeroen@bixcapital.nl

Before founding BIX Capital, Jeroen was deputy-director of the Shell Foundation. In this role he was among others responsible for the Breathing Space (Access to Energy) programme and setting up Shell Foundation’s carbon based pre-finance cookstove investments. With this experience, Jeroen created the investment concept of “Impact-based pre-finance” for BIX Capital. Previously, he worked for FMO, the Dutch development bank as investment officer private equity in Eastern Europe and Subsahara Africa and at KPMG transaction services on wide ranging due diligence engagements, mainly for European Financial Institutions.

Function: Legal Counsel BIX
Contact: caroline.noothoven@bixfund.com

Caroline is a finance transaction lawyer who has been involved in lending and private equity transactions in emerging markets for over 15 years. She started her career in private practice with focus on capital market transactions, but subsequently worked in-house with the Dutch Development Bank FMO, the Investment Fund for Health in Africa, DOB Equity and, since 2015, BIX Capital. Caroline is also involved with another Cardano Development initiative, the Water Finance Facility. During a period of 4 years Caroline was located in Lagos, Nigeria.

Function: Controller
Contact: sabien@fount.eu

Sabien has worked in finance positions for various profit and non-profit organisations for over 20 years. Besides having a masters degree in General Linguistics, she is a Qualified Business Controller (QC). The seven years she spent working and living in Botswana and Ghana acquinted her with development issues and sparked her interest in impactful busniness models. Sabien joined FOUNT as of 1 October 2019 and is already somewhat familiar with the firm thanks to her work for Goodwell in 2012-2013. Prior to joining FOUNT she worked for Porticus CV as a business controller.

Function: Investment Advisor
Contact: samira@fount.eu

Samira started her career at the Commercial Bank of Africa in the risk management department and thereafter offered pre-investment support to various Small and Medium Sized companies in East Africa. Prior to joining FOUNT, she was a Senior Analyst at Ernst and Young LLP where she worked on various transactional advisory assignments in infrastructure, financial services, retail, and hospitality. She has supported various projects in due diligences, financial modelling, feasibility studies and data analysis. Samira is passionate about building communities in developing countries through impact financing and was Project Manager to a social impact green bond in Kenya sponsored by Cardano Development B.V and Water Finance Facility.

She holds a Master’s with Distinction in Development Finance from the University of Manchester and a Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Economics from Strathmore University.

Function: Investment Advisor
Contact: casper@fount.eu

Casper joined FOUNT in August 2020. He has over 12 years of experience in development finance covering all stages of the investment process. Before joining FOUNT, Casper developed his career at Dutch development bank FMO, where he gained experience in different roles in front office and credit risk departments. From 2012-2016 he contributed to the development of FMO’s Agribusiness portfolio as Investment Officer focusing on debt transactions throughout Latin America. From 2017-2020 he worked in FMO’s Special Operations department where he managed restructuring and recovery of distressed investments in, amongst others, agribusiness, renewable energy and real estate sectors in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Function: Administration and Communication Assistant
Contact: liane@fount.eu

Liane joined FOUNT in September 2020. She has an extensive background in providing administrative and operational support at non-profit organizations such as Oxfam Novib, Wilde Ganzen Foundation and the Department for Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Antilles. Besides she has more than fifteen years of experience in (multilingual) communication, and in writing and in (web) editing in her mother tongue Dutch.

Liane studied Latin American Studies at Leiden University. She lived in several Latin American countries as a tour leader and in other roles on Curacao, her island of birth.

Function: Investment Advisor
Contact: christiaan@fount.eu

Christiaan joined FOUNT in October 2020. Prior to this, Christiaan was active as strategy consultant at Eden McCallum. In his previous role, he worked on a wide range of strategic business challenges, ranging from international growth strategies, commercial due diligence and operational improvement initiatives, for SMEs and multinational corporates across a variety of sectors. Key responsibilities included project management, financial modeling and market analysis. Before this, he gained investment experience as analyst at PGGM Private Equity and Kempen Investments.

Christiaan holds a Master’s degree in Quantitative Finance from the Erasmus University Rotterdam, and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Econometrics & Operations Research cum laude.

Function: Analyst
Contact: buck@fount.eu

Buck joined FOUNT in May 2021. Prior to this, Buck did research on sustainability in the beef sector at the Ministry of Agriculture. After that he did an internship at the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO where he worked on the sustainability framework for agricultural investments. During his studies he focused on international sustainability challenges, and he went to Spain and Senegal for a couple of months to look into sustainable entrepreneurship.

Buck holds a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the Wageningen University, with a bachelor’s in Development Economics.

No Poverty

Eradicating poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice and the key to unlocking an enormous human potential. Still, nearly half of the world’s population lives in poverty, and the lack of food and clean water is killing thousands every single day of the year. Together, we can feed the hungry, wipe out disease and give everyone in the world a chance to prosper and live a productive and rich life.

No Hunger

Hunger is the leading cause of death in the world. Our planet has provided us with tremendous resources, but unequal access and inefficient handling leaves millions of people malnourished. If we promote sustainable agriculture with modern technologies and fair distribution systems, we can sustain the whole world’s population and make sure that nobody will ever suffer from hunger again.

Good Health

Over the last 15 years, the number of childhood deaths has been cut in half. This proves that it is possible to win the fight against almost every disease. Still, we are spending an astonishing amount of money and resources on treating illnesses that are surprisingly easy to prevent. The new goal for worldwide Good Health promotes healthy lifestyles, preventive measures and modern, efficient healthcare for everyone.

Quality Education

Education liberates the intellect, unlocks the imagination and is fundamental for self-respect. It is the key to prosperity and opens a world of opportunities, making it possible for each of us to contribute to a progressive, healthy society. Learning benefits every human being and should be available to all.

Gender Equality

Gender bias is undermining our social fabric and devalues all of us. It is not just a human rights issue; it is a tremendous waste of the world’s human potential. By denying women equal rights, we deny half the population a chance to live life at its fullest. Political, economic and social equality for women will benefit all the world’s citizens. Together we can eradicate prejudice and work for equal rights and respect for all.

Clean Water and Sanitation

One in three people live without sanitation. This is causing unnecessary disease and death. Although huge strides have been made in increasing access to clean drinking water, a lack of sanitation is undermining these advances. If we provide affordable equipment and education in hygiene practices, we can stop this senseless suffering and loss of life.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy solutions are becoming cheaper, more reliable and more efficient every day. Our current reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable and harmful to the planet, which is why we have to change the way we produce and consume energy. Implementing these new energy solutions as fast as possible is essential to counter climate change, one of the biggest threats to our own survival.

Good Jobs and Economic Growth

Economic growth should be a positive force for the whole planet. This is why we must make sure that financial progress creates decent and fulfilling jobs while not harming the environment. We must protect labour rights and once and for all put a stop to modern slavery and child labour. If we promote job creation with expanded access to banking and financial services, we can make sure that everybody benefits from entrepreneurship and innovation.

Innovation and Infrastructure

A functioning and resilient infrastructure is the foundation of every successful community. To meet future challenges, our industries and infrastructure must be upgraded. For this, we need to promote innovative sustainable technologies and ensure equal and universal access to information and financial markets. This will bring prosperity, create jobs and make sure that we build stable and prosperous societies across the globe.

Reduced Inequalities

Too much of the world’s wealth is held by a very small group of people. This often leads to financial and social discrimination. In order for nations to flourish, equality and prosperity must be available to everyone - regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs or economic status. When every individual is self sufficient, the entire world prospers.

Sustainable Cities and Communities

The world’s population is constantly increasing. To accommodate everyone, we need to build modern, sustainable cities. For all of us to survive and prosper, we need new, intelligent urban planning that creates safe, affordable and resilient cities with green and culturally inspiring living conditions.

Responsible Consumption

Our planet has provided us with an abundance of natural resources. But we have not utilized them responsibly and currently consume far beyond what our planet can provide. We must learn how to use and produce in sustainable ways that will reverse the harm that we have inflicted on the planet.

Climate Action

Climate change is a real and undeniable threat to our entire civilization. The effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now. Through education, innovation and adherence to our climate commitments, we can make the necessary changes to protect the planet. These changes also provide huge opportunities to modernize our infrastructure which will create new jobs and promote greater prosperity across the globe.

Life on Land

A flourishing life on land is the foundation for our life on this planet. We are all part of the planet’s ecosystem and we have caused severe damage to it through deforestation, loss of natural habitats and land degradation. Promoting a sustainable use of our ecosystems and preserving biodiversity is not a cause. It is the key to our own survival.

Partnerships for the Goals

The Global Goals can only be met if we work together. International investments and support is needed to ensure innovative technological development, fair trade and market access, especially for developing countries. To build a better world, we need to be supportive, empathetic, inventive, passionate, and above all, cooperative.

Rabobank

FOUNT supported Rabobank as a Strategic Advisor on the design of the AGRI3 Fund including amongst others the following elements: investment strategy and approach, funding structure, governance, investment processes and producing a high level financial model.

Sustainable Agriculture

AGRI3 Fund

About AGRI3

FOUNT is an Investment Advisor to the AGRI3 Fund, together with Cardano Development and Mirova.

The Fund aims to mobilise public and private capital globally and at scale, by working with commercial banks, development finance institutions (DFIs), impact investors and institutional investors and provides credit enhancement tools and Technical Assistance to projects which actively prevent deforestation, stimulate reforestation, contribute to efficient sustainable agricultural production and improve rural livelihoods.

The AGRI3 initiative was created by the UN Environment Programme and Rabobank, together with partners IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative and the Dutch development bank (FMO) to support the transition to sustainable agriculture. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands is a donor to the AGRI3 Fund.

FOUNT also acted as lead consultant to Rabobank for setting up the AGRI3 Fund before the Fund was established.

Case Study on Carvalho Dias Group

The Carvalho Dias investment is a 10 year USD denominated loan to the amount of USD 5m with a 40% guarantee and tenor extension by AGRI3. The loan finances forest replanting and the protection and renovation of degraded pastureland, in line with recognised E&S guidelines.

The Carvalho Dias Group is a traditional Brazilian farm run by the family. They rare cattle and produce sugarcane and grains in Matto Grosso State. The family is committed to investment in forest renovation but it is difficult to finance as it is non-cash generating and thus, the support of AGRI3 creates high-impact.

AGRI3's support has accelerated the Group's compliance with Brazil’s strict Forest Code through forest replanting and protection. The Group has seen improved usage of existing pasture land through renovation and sustainable intensification. There has been an 80% reduction of chemical fertilizer usage by using natural manure. Knowledge sharing with other farmers via training will also boost other farmers in the region.

For further information see AGRI3 Fund.

Affordable Housing

Reall

About Reall

FOUNT is an Advisor to Reall and has provided Strategic Advisory support to this initiative, through the development of the financial business case and marketing materials to support fundraising activities.

Reall’s mission is to build an affordable homes movement that improves the lives of 100 million people in urban Africa and Asia by 2030. Reall is an innovator and investor with unparalleled experience in affordable homes for the bottom 40% of the income pyramid, building an affordable housing movement through partnerships with local housing developers in Africa and Asia. Reall has set ambitious goals for 2025 and 2030 and aims to raise commercial funding to scale up their investment reach.

For further information see Reall

Financial Inclusion

Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund

FOUNT advised the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) on several assignments. FOUNT developed a strategic plan including a financial model for a new microfinance investment company. In this respect, FOUNT also advised on the transition plan and the design of the investment process and delivered several manuals and guidelines and support for operations (HR, treasury policy, ESG, credit processes). The new entity (PMIC) with shareholders PPAF, KfW and Karandaaz/DFID is operational since 2016.

IDH

FOUNT advised IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, on developing a proposition including strategy development and a business case for the Farmfit Fund, an agricultural Fund for smallholder farmers.

FMO

FOUNT acted as a Strategic Advisor to FMO on the NL Business Risk Portfolio and Fund Management team with a focus on strategy, investment processes and governance.

FOUNT was mandated by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review the MASSIF Fund which is managed by FMO. MASSIF provides financial resources to small businesses and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s) by supporting the local financial intermediaries and institutions that can contribute to their development.

Circular Textile Supply Chain

Good Fashion Fund

About the Fund

The Good Fashion Fund is a unique initiative to create systemic change in the textile and apparel industry by financing the implementation of highly impactful and disruptive production technologies in Asia. FOUNT is the Fund Manager and works with Fashion for Good (FFG) as a Sub-Advisor. The Fund combines FOUNT’s investment and fund management expertise with FFG’s unrivaled industry network and technological expertise. Laudes Foundation was an Initiator and is an Anchor Investor. The initial close took place in September 2019, with a target size of USD 60 million.

Case Study on Pratibha Syntex LTD.

Good Fashion Fund's investment in Pratibha Syntex will be a five year, USD denominated loan to the amount of USD 3.2 million. This will provide Pratibha Syntex with financing for 18 types of production machinery. Additionally, part of the funds will be used to construct a rural factory in Jhabua, India.

The Company is a vertically integrated textile and garments producer which employs over 5,000 people and has a production capacity of around 60 million pieces of garments annually. Pratibha Syntex is a front runner of various sustainable production initiatives.

In terms of impact, the new technology will be responsible for a 50% reduction in water consumption due to the new continuous tumble dryer. The elimination of chemicals will be made possible due to the installation of a bio-based membrane bioreactor. There will be an increase in the production of green energy due to installation of solar panels. On the ground, local communities will be strengthened through the construction of this local factory.

For further information see Good Fashion Fund
See also the latest GFF Investor Factsheet

Impact Receivable Finance

BIX Capital

About the Fund

FOUNT is a strategic partner and co-initiator of BIX Capital. BIX provides debt financing to SMEs through an innovative result-based finance structure, creating access to high impact products such as cookstoves or water purification systems for low-income households, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa. FOUNT was first an Advisor to BIX and since 2017 FOUNT is part of the Management Team and has a role in the Investment Committee and Supervisory Board.

Case Study on C-Quest Capital

BIX provided C-Quest Capital with an Impact Receivables Finance Facility, to the amount of USD 3.55 million - with a first investment of USD 0.8 million in 2016 and a second investment of USD 2.75 million in 2020.

C-Quest Capital is a diversified impact-investment enterprise which provides clean and sustainable cooking solutions and devices. The beneficiaries are rural poor in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Uganda and Kenya.

There are three million stoves in the pipeline and the impact is expected to support 150,000 end-user households, which is around 750,000 people. It is anticipated that there will be 15 million tCO2e in certified emissions reductions as a result.

For further information see BIX Capital.

Affordable Housing

DIGH

FOUNT advises and supports DIGH with portfolio management, restructuring of debt and refinancing its portfolio. In cooperation with Dutch housing corporations, DIGH provides financing for social housing projects for the lower income segment. DIGH funds projects around the world, and is particularly active in three regions: South Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Netherlands Enterprise Agency

RVO

FOUNT advised the Dutch government on affordable housing financing in Mozambique. To begin, the workshop ‘Finance for Affordable Housing’, part of the Beira Investment Conference 2018 was organised by FOUNT and successfully delivered. The audience included a strong representation from local banks who gained interest in the Maraza Affordable Housing Project. Secondly, FOUNT engaged in discussions with Mozambican banks on providing end-user financing, with a specific focus on the Maraza and Inhamizua Housing projects in Beira (10 houses delivered in 2018). The Dutch Embassy in Maputo played an important role in setting up a round table discussion during which conclusions were drawn on the best business model for affordable housing as well as the key conditions for attracting end-user finance.

Cyclone Idaï resulted in damage to the houses (mainly the roofs), with repairs being reimbursed by the project financier. After the cyclone, individual property titles for the first houses have been obtained by the property developer Casa Real, which is an important milestone. The impact of the cyclone has increased the need for affordable housing in Mozambique.

Going forward, FOUNT will further fine-tune the business case for investing in the Maraza project and engage in discussions with potential financiers, project developers and other parties.

Read more in the interview of June 2021
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BEIRA: EVERY STEP IS A MILESTONE

Impact

SECTORS

Impact map

Sustainable Development Goals

BIX Capital - Impact Receivable Finance

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