BlueOrchard, the pioneer in Microfinance and Impact Investing, closed 2016 on a very positive note. Besides the launch of the Japan ASEAN Women Empowerment fund, endorsed by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the company attracted new investors in Switzerland but also increasingly outside its home market. Further, with its Microfinance funds, BlueOrchard reached a record number of micro entrepreneurs amounting to 30 million. Financial performance exceeded the benchmark again significantly.

Reflecting on the continuous strong demand in Emerging Markets for financing and the further increasing interest from investors in Impact Investing, BlueOrchard continues to appoint top industry talents to its global leadership team. As of February, the company’s COO Felix Hermes is appointed to the Senior Management Team. Christophe Grünig, former CIO of Vontobel Private Bank and Harcourt Investments, joins BlueOrchard as Head of Investment Solutions. Normunds Mizis and Yolanda Chenet, both with a long-standing track record with BlueOrchard’s investment team, are appointed Regional Director Eurasia and Middle East and Regional Director Latin America and Africa, respectively.

Peter A. Fanconi, Chairman of the Board of BlueOrchard says: “BlueOrchard’s mission is to include the excluded. With its talented team, social competences and strive for innovation we will see many more attractive investment opportunities in 2017.”

Patrick Scheurle, CEO of BlueOrchard adds: “It’s a privilege to work with such a great leadership team and I am proud of the great talent we have at BlueOrchard. We will continue our hard work to creating ever more positive social impact and attractive returns for our investors.”

For further information, please contact:
Ebony Satti
+41 44 441 55 50
ebony.satti@blueorchard.com
www.blueorchard.com

BlueOrchard Finance is a globally leading impact investment manager, specialized in fostering inclusive finance and sustainable growth. BlueOrchard was founded in 2001 by initiative of the UN as the first commercial manager of microfinance debt investments worldwide. To this day, the company has invested USD 3.5bn in institutions across 70 emerging and frontier markets, providing access to financial and other services to 30 million individuals at the bottom of the pyramid. BlueOrchard-managed funds drive attractive double-bottom line returns to private and institutional investors, supranational institutions as well as renowned foundations. BlueOrchard Finance Ltd is an asset manager licensed by the FINMA and its Luxembourg entity is a licensed alternative investment fund manager (AIFM) by CSSF.