OPIC Finances High-Impact Investing through Unitus Impact's Livelihood Impact Fund
March 24, 2016
(OPIC)
WASHINGTON – The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S.
Government’s Development Finance Institution, today announced financing of $12.5
million to support the Livelihood Impact Fund (LIF), a fund managed by Unitus
Impact, a venture capital firm that invests in scalable companies working to
increase incomes and improve the livelihoods of the working poor in Southeast
Asia and India.
“As an agency that is committed to helping the private sector enter into
emerging markets, OPIC is delighted to support LIF as the fund invests in some
of the world’s largest and fastest growing markets that are often overlooked by
private investors,” said Elizabeth Littlefield, OPIC’s President and CEO. “LIF’s
unique approach of investing in companies that empower the working poor to
become stronger market participants will have a long-lasting impact on the
underserved communities in these regions.”
“We are thankful to have the support of a marquee investor like OPIC who
believes that strong social impact can be generated by investing in scalable,
profitable companies focused on serving traditionally disadvantaged populations.
We look forward to making investments in innovative, high-growth companies in
Southeast Asia and India that can create lasting social change and generate
risk-commensurate returns for our investors. Our goal at Unitus Impact is to
demonstrate the commercial viability of investing into companies focused on
livelihoods,” said Unitus Impact CEO Geoff Woolley.
LIF makes investments in early stage companies that link underserved populations
to formal markets, build innovative supply chain or distribution platforms,
and/or provide underserved consumers with products and services that improve
their lives. Such investments provide, low income communities opportunities for
economic growth and stability to which they would otherwise not have access,
allowing LIF to generate real and measurable development impact.
OPIC support to LIF is the first through the institution’s Innovative Financial
Intermediaries Program (IFIP), a pilot program launched to support smaller-scale
financial intermediaries and vehicles investing with a specific focus on impact
and innovation. LIF proposal was submitted to OPIC’s IFIP review committee as
part of a competitive, open process. Investment funds or vehicles interested in
working with OPIC through IFIP should visit www.opic.gov.
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