ABP commits first investment to private equity microfinance fund
28 August 2008

Written by Sophie Baker

Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP (ABP) has placed US$75 million into microfinance investment manager BlueOrchard’s Private Equity Fund.

This marks the first investment by Dutch pension fund ABP into a private equity microfinance fund, and joins the US$40 million invested in BlueOrchard Debt Funds in 2005.

“These investments are particularly fit for a pension fund as a risk diversifier. They have so far proven to be relatively non-correlated with most other asset classes and it appeared natural to follow-up with an investment in private equity, a most needed form of financing in this industry,” commented Jan van Roekel, portfolio manager with ABP.

The BlueOrchard Private Equity fund is incorporated as a Special Investment Fund in Luxembourg, with a Fund target of US$220 million by the end of 2008.

Jean-Philippe de Schrevel, CEO at BlueOrchard Investments, added: “We are very proud to be working alongside ABP to fight poverty in the world through microfinance, a grassroots sustainable market-based approach for delivery of financial services to the working poor.”