ImpactAlpha, March 29 – Media Development Investment Fund has for 23 years invested in independent media outlets in places where a free press is challenged or threatened. A new bond issue from MDIF, Germany-based GLS Bank and its crowdfunding platform, GLS Crowd, is opening the investment opportunity to anyone in Germany.
Proceeds from the bond will support media companies in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe where there are too few independent media voices, opinions and news sources.
The investments will be made through Pluralis, a Netherlands-based investment entity managed by the nonprofit MDIF. Pluralis takes ownership stakes in media organizations in markets “where media pluralism is at risk.” It has so far invested in Petit Press in Slovakia and Gremi in Poland.
Noteholders of the new bond will get a 5% return.