Report: OpenFunds, press release May 2018

Kroma Capital Partners Ltd. (‘Kroma’), OpenFunds Investment Services Ltd. (‘OpenFunds’) and Finenza Inversión Alternativa SL (‘Finenza’) announced today a strategic partnership with TriLinc Global (‘TriLinc’), whereby they will advise their clients and network of professional investors in Europe, the Middle East and Central and Latin America about TriLinc’s ESG investment funds.

Founded in 2008 by CEO and Chairman Gloria Nelund, on the belief that significant private capital is needed to help solve some of the world’s pressing economic, social, and environmental issues, TriLinc is a private investment sponsor dedicated to creating innovative impact funds with the potential for competitive market-rate financial returns and positive, measurable impact.
Since the launch of its first fund in June 2013 TriLinc has provided debt financing (Senior Secured Loans and Trade Finance) of approx. USD 1 Billion to growth stage small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) that operate primarily in developing economies throughout Latin America, Southeast Asia, Developing Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa
TriLinc’s impact tracking and reporting is designed to demonstrate that capitalism can be used as a force for good. The Global Impact Investing Network’s Impact and Reporting & Investing Standards (“IRIS”) metrics are built into the TriLinc system to promote consistent terms, definitions and measures. Additionally, TriLinc is a B-Corp certified firm, a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing (UN PRI), a founding member of the EMPEA Impact Consulting Council and of the Global Impact Investing Network and is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

After a successful cooperation in raising assets for TriLinc’s flagship fund, Kroma will be leading the distribution partners in marketing TriLinc’s new Institutional fund. The new fund is a developing economy private debt fund focused on making private loans to private growth stage SMEs that are committed to responsible, sustainable management and to the creation of positive, measurable impact in their communities. The fund targets regular distributions and a low double-digit IRR.

Kroma, based in Dubai, is licensed and supervised by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (‘DFSA’) as an advisor and arranger of investments to professional investors. The company was founded by two Man Investments veterans, Kamlesh Bhatia and Wolfgang Landl, the latter a previous CEO of BlueOrchard Finance, a pioneer in Microfinance investing, and a co-founder and Director at OpenFunds. Since the incorporation of the firm in April 2017 its partners have raised approx. USD 500 Million in the private markets space.

OpenFunds’ is licensed and supervised by the Swiss Financial Markets and Supervisory Authority as legal representative and distributor of funds. The principals and team members have raised over USD 2 Billion in assets, in particular in the alternative investment space. The firm is a recognized pioneer in the area of private debt, having seeded and raised over the years over USD 1 Billion of both open-ended and closed-ended funds. Founded in 2013, with offices in Zurich, Geneva and Lugano, the company employs 15 finance professionals, of which 8 are actively involved in the distribution of investment funds, making it the largest independent distributor in Switzerland.

Finenza is an investment banking boutique, specialized in capital raising, with a strong presence in the Iberic peninsula and South America. Finenza’s principals focus on two main areas: sourcing for their investor base of HNWI and Institutions superior alternative investment solutions; advising companies and private equity funds on specific deals. Finenza is a pioneer in the field of socially responsible investments since 2006 having provided comprehensive advice on the development of microfinance investment programs. Headquartered in Madrid, it has offices and partners in Italy and France, Chile, Perú, México and Miami (US).

Kamlesh Bhatia, co-founder and Director of Kroma, said “We are very pleased to work with Gloria and her team. We share the Credo of the company that positive and sustainable impact can go hand-in-hand with interesting returns for investors. We see an increased demand from our Middle Eastern network of investors looking at investment solutions that have a true social and environmental impact achieving at the same time good returns. The offering of TriLinc, which originates and services the loans through a network of local investment partners with combined transaction experience of over USD 24 Billion, allow for geographical diversification, which is well seen and definitely a plus for our clients.”

Siro Zanovello, co-founder and CEO of OpenFunds and Francisco ‘Paco’ Neri, Managing Partners of Finenza added “The partnership with TriLinc will allow us to offer our clients an excellent product in the growing ESG/Impact space. As pioneers in private debt strategies, TriLinc’s new fund fits perfectly into the offering of OpenFunds. TriLinc has an experienced team with a track record that has attracted notable investors, including one of the global asset manager/investment banking leaders. A strong message of confidences for us and our clients!”

Gloria Nelund, CEO of TriLinc added “We are delighted with our strategic partnership with Kroma, OpenFunds and Finenza. Together with the investment of private capital, we can help address social, economic and environmental issues while offering investors positive and measurable impact.

 About TriLinc: www.trilincglobal.com
About Kroma: www.kromacp.com
About OpenFunds: www.open-funds.ch
About Finenza: www.finenza.com

 For additional information:

Kroma Capital Partners – Kamlesh Bhatia, Head of Distribution, e mail: info@kromacp.com, T. +971 4 323 18 10

OpenFunds Investment Services, Ltd – Norbert Schmitz, Sales and Business Manager, nschmitz@open-funds.ch, T. +41 44 500 31 07

TriLinc Global – Robert Kronman, Director of Marketing, rkronman@trilincglobal.com, T. +1 424 200 6202

Finenza Inversión Alternativa – Francisco Neri, Managing Partner, f.neri@finenza.com, T. +34 91 402 0204

 

The information set for herein should not be construed as an investment recommendations. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States. Interests in the Fund have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities law, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

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