IFU

🍃New solar project generates green electricity to over 150,000 Brazilian households🍃 Brazil’s energy sector is one of the least carbon-intensive in the world. However, drought has challenged Brazil’s reliance on hydropower, creating energy shortage and price volatility. To help diversify Brazil’s energy mix, Scatec ASA, a leading renewable energy provider, is constructing a solar plant in the state of Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil. We are contributing to the project with an💰EUR 25 million debt facility. The solar park will generate 307 GWh renewable energy per year, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 150,000 households 👨👩👧👦. Furthermore, the construction of a solar plant requires staff. So, this investment not only strengthens Brazil’s energy supply; it also creates jobs, committing to gender empowerment by training and employing female workers. Read full story in comments 👇 Natalia Svejgaard I Andreas Austrell #SDGs #Impactinvestments #greentransition #cleanenergy #Brazil #dkpol

🩺NEW INVESTMENT WILL PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE TO 8 MILLION PATIENTS IN BANGLADESH EACH YEAR🩺 Pharmacies are often the first place the population in Bangladesh meets healthcare professionals. So the expansion of pharmacies is crucial to improving health in the country. Therefore, IFU is investing 💰 USD 12.5 million into AKS Khan Pharmaceuticals (AKPL), Bangladesh’s leading chain pharmacy operator. The investment will support AKPL’s vision to increase access to world-class healthcare throughout Bangladesh. With the funding in place, AKPL will be able to expand their retail pharmacy chain to 80 locations and roll out 30 new diagnostics centres throughout Bangladesh. This will not only increase the population’s possibility to receive qualified healthcare, but also create jobs and drive sustainable economic growth. In the photo from the left: Samanzar Khan, Managing Director, AKS Khan Pharmaceutical Ltd., Dr. Niti Pall, board member, AKS Pharmacy, Lars Bertram, CEO of IFU, Rokeya Sultana, COO, AKS Khan Pharmaceutical Ltd., Klaus Prebensen, Investment Director, IFU, Andrew Smith, board member, AKS Pharmacy Read full story in comments 👇 #SDG #impactinvesting #dkpol #healthcare #Bangladesh

⚡ IFU INVESTS USD 15 MILLION IN PROMOTING ACCESS TO CLEAN AND RELIABLE ELECTRICITY IN AFRICA ⚡ Access to affordable and reliable electricity remains a big challenge in Africa. Especially in the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where 570 million people currently live without connection to power. This challenge is also addressed in the Danish government’s recent Strategy for Africa pushing for more Danish climate investments on the African continent. Aligned with that, IFU is investing 💰 USD 15 million in PowerGen Renewable Energy as part of a joint investment with the The Private Infrastructure Development Group, EDFI ElectriFI - The Electrification Financing Initiative, and the African Development Bank Group (SEFA). PowerGen is a leading distributed renewable energy (DRE) company striving to provide clean, reliable and affordable power across Africa. The joint investment will support PowerGen to scale their business, targeting deployment of up to 120MW portfolio of renewable mini-/metro-grids and commercial and industrial (C&I) power solutions, inclusive of battery energy storage. The deployment is expected to increase access for more than 68,000 households and reduce the cost of power for 7,000 businesses, with an initial focus on Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Sierra Leone. Besides supporting Africa’s green transition, the increasing of access to reliable and affordable electricity is also expected to enhance business productivity, create indirect jobs, drive sustainable economic growth and improve livelihood in rural Africa. Henrik Henriksen, Aaron Cheng, AMINE AMAR, Luke Foley, Juliette Bulté, Benjamin Curnier, Magnus Nilsson, Jean-Denis Collin, CFA, Thomas Hougaard #africa #renewableenergy #impactinvesting

🌍 Uniting for a sustainable future: Mobilising capital for climate investments 🌍   The World Economic Forum’s Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) initiative is leading a transformative approach to climate investments by mobilising USD 200 billion in impact capital. The Danish SDG Investment Fund II (SDG Fund II), managed by IFU, is highlighted as a prime example of how to mobilise capital for climate initiatives. GAEA’s 4P model - public, private, and philanthropic partnerships - addresses market failures, accelerates decarbonisation and mobilises institutional finance to scale green markets. As Jon Johnsen, CEO of the Danish pension fund PKA states: “Four Danish pension funds collaborated with IFU to establish the Danish SDG Investment Fund. This is an example of how to bridge the gap and mobilise financing for climate and nature solutions in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies. This is how we drive systemic change, transforming market inefficiencies into opportunities for sustainable growth.” 🔗 Read more about the GAEA initiative and how it's shaping the future of sustainable finance: https://lnkd.in/gT-qkiaR Read more about the Danish SDG Investment Fund II here: https://lnkd.in/grJm6pkR #Sustainability #ImpactInvestment #ClimateAction #GAEA #IFU #CollectiveImpact #GreenFinance #SDGInvestmentFund

🏘️ IFU INCREASES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FURTHER GROW SUSTAINABLE HOUSING IN MEXICO 🪴 The Mexican company Vinte has become the largest domestic homebuilder after its friendly takeover of Javer, another large Mexican homebuilder. The deal was financed by a large funding round of private and public capital exceeding USD 114 million. IFU has been an investor in Vinte since 2020. In the current financing round IFU contributed with an equity investment of an additional 💰 USD 20 million. Vinte is building affordable houses for low and middle-income families in Mexico. The company is focused on building sustainable houses reducing the use of building materials, water and energy and was the first company to build World Bank EDGE certified homes in Mexico. The takeover of Javer will increase the number of EDGE certified homes in Mexico significantly. 🍃 EDGE certified homes contribute to both reduced water consumption and lower power consumption, thereby leading to reduced CO2 emissions. “Vinte has a demonstrated track record of being a clear leader in the sustainable housing sector and has thereby set a new industry benchmark. We are proud to support Vinte in this growth trajectory. Mexico has both a critical shortage of affordable housing and needs more energy and water efficient housing to cope with rapidly depleting water resources,” said Alexander Wisse, Investment Manager in IFU. The investment is made on behalf of the Danish SDG Investment Fund, which is backed by large Danish funds and private investors. Reik Haahr Müller, Oliver Stanek Villsen, Karoline Lund, Rikke Carlsen, Magdalena F., Proparco, SURA Investments #impactinvestment #sustainablehousing #mexico #SDG

🌍 PRIVATE CAPITAL IS KEY TO SOLVING THE CLIMATE CRISIS🌍 Denmark is leading the way with an innovative model that the world should learn from to secure the necessary funds to tackle major global challenges, including the climate crisis. This is the key message from the CEOs of the pension funds PFA, PKA, PenSam, and P+, Pensionskassen for Akademikere and IFU’s CEO Lars Bertram in today’s JyllandsPosten.  The Sustainable Development Goals Fund II, launched by the four pension funds and IFU, combines public and private capital to invest in green transition projects in developing countries. With a goal to raise DKK 5 billion by 2025 and DKK 2.7 billion already secured, this fund is a testament to Denmark's commitment to sustainable development. By reducing risks for private investors, the model has gained attention in the EU and could inspire larger economies to adopt similar approaches. The fund aims to achieve both sustainable development and financial returns for pension fund members. Let's work together to create a more sustainable and prosperous future! 🌱💼 #Sustainability #ClimateAction #PrivateCapital #GreenTransition #DenmarkLeads #BlendedFinance #GlobalGoals (link to the Danish newspaper JyllandsPosten – text is only in Danish) https://lnkd.in/dVpaAbGk

Highlights from an impactful year in investing! As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on a year of our noticeable achievements in impact investing. Our investments in impactful companies have played a pivotal role in driving greener, more inclusive, and equitable societies. Through catalytic capital from IFU, we've mobilised private sector financing while making a tangible difference for underserved communities. From increasing access to healthcare and nutritious food to expanding financial services and green energy solutions, our work this year has left a lasting impact. Swipe through the pictures to explore some of our most notable 2024 impact investments. #SDGs #impactinvestments #greentransition #verdensmål #dkpol

Highlights from an impactful year in investing! As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on a year of our noticeable achievements in impact investing. Our investments in impactful companies have played a pivotal role in driving greener, more inclusive, and equitable societies. Through catalytic capital from IFU, we've mobilised private sector financing while making a tangible difference for underserved communities. From increasing access to healthcare and nutritious food to expanding financial services and green energy solutions, our work this year has left a lasting impact. Swipe through the pictures to explore some of our most notable 2024 impact investments. #SDGs #impactinvestments #greentransition #verdensmål #dkpol

💡HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR SEMINAR ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN NAIROBI💡 Recently, IFU had the privilege of hosting an engaging and insightful seminar on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for our investees and partners across Southern and Eastern Africa. The seminar brought together a diverse group of companies, offering a rich opportunity for learning and sharing. Discussions ranged from driving DEI change management to fostering women entrepreneurs, and addressing gender-based violence in the workplace. Key takeaways included the importance of understanding cultural context, integrating DEI in policies and procedures, and ensuring the sustainability of initiatives through tailored strategies and collaborative efforts. One standout theme was the power of slow, deliberate progress: As we continue to work on creating more inclusive environments, we were reminded that even small steps matter in the pursuit of long-term change. A special thanks to all the speakers for their fantastic insights and contributions – and a huge thank you to Birgitte Bang Nielsen, the team and Sex & Samfund / Danish Family Planning Association for organizing this meaningful event. Together, we are building a more just and inclusive future🌍 Louise Pors I Kathrine Gammelby Lodberg I Kristine Himmelstrup #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #GenderEquality #SDG

🍃NEW INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT THE GREEN TRANSITION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA🍃 One of the Danish government’s main priorities in the new strategy for Africa is supporting Africa’s sustainable economic growth and green transition. At this year’s COP29, it was agreed that the world’s richest countries are obliged to support the developing countries with at least💰300 billion USD in climate financing by 2035. Southern African countries have a major power supply deficit and lack risk capital for renewable energy investments. Therefore, IFU and the Swedish Development Finance Institution, Swedfund International, have partnered with Sturdee Energy. The company develops renewable energy projects across Southern Africa. “IFU’s investment in Sturdee Energy is a perfect match with our ambition to support the green transition and improve living conditions in Africa. We believe that Sturdee Energy is a solid company with a professional management playing an important role in increasing renewable energy supply, which is a driver for sustainable economic growth,” says Thomas Hougaard, Senior Vice President and Head of Green Energy & Infrastructure in IFU.  👇Read full story in comments👇 Koushik Rajagopalan ,CFA I Muktar Mahdi I Rikke Carlsen I Karoline Lund I Oliver Stanek Villsen I Jonas Kolijn I James White I Andrew Johnson #COP29 #SDG #impactinvesting #renewableenergy #dkpol