ImpactAlpha, August 3 – The Zurich-based impact investment firm launched in 2001 to invest in microfinance debt globally. BlueOrchard invests through its flagship microfinance fund, which makes debt investments in microfinance institutions for up to three years at a time.
BlueOrchard now plans to launch a liquid microfinance fund. Its recently obtained UCITS license means the fund can be made available to investors across Europe. The license will allow BlueOrchard to address “increased demand for UCITS-compliant impact investing solutions,” BlueOrchard’s Patrick Scheurle said.
Calvert Impact backs $1 billion BlueOrchard microfinance fund
BlueOrchard has invested more than $5 billion in 350 financial institutions, which have supported more than 37 million emerging market micro- and small-business owners. It’s current portfolio amounts to about $250 million in loans. It uses its own, internally developed social impact measurement tool to report its investments’ impact.