January 24, 2012 – For Immediate Release

Waterloo, ON, Canada/Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Sarona Asset Management has recently completed commitments into three funds – a life-focused private equity fund in India and two global financial services funds.

The Sarona Frontier Markets Fund 1 LP has allocated $2,000,000 to Ventureast Fund III LP, a private equity fund that invests in small and mid-market companies in India with a focus on the healthcare, clean technology and agribusiness sectors. Sarona is very pleased to be able to participate in Ventureast’s strong track record of investing in solutions to the healthcare needs of the Indian market. Ventureast manages over $300,000,000 in private equity investments.

The MEDA Sarona Risk Capital Fund has committed $1,500,000 to Women’s World Banking (WWB) Isis I LP Fund, and $250,000 to MicroVest+ Plus Fund LP.

WWB’s Isis Fund will invest in microfinance institutions across the globe that have a significant emphasis on servicing female clients, or being governed and managed by women. WWB aims to expand the economic assets, participation and power of low-income women by helping them access financial services, knowledge and markets.

The MicroVest+ Plus Fund will globally invest in low income financial institutions (LIFIs), including those with microfinance offerings. MicroVest facilitates the flow of private capital to LIFIs to help build capital markets serving the entrepreneurial poor at the base of the pyramid while providing market-rate returns to its investors.

Sarona invests in small to mid-market companies that serve the large and growing lower middle class in emerging and developing country markets. These markets have been growing faster than developed countries. Sarona believes investment returns in these markets are further strengthened by a focus on progressive business strategies that target ethical, social, environmental and governance excellence.

Sarona Asset Management is based in Waterloo, Canada, and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It is a co-founder and/or manager of numerous investment funds, including the Sarona and MicroVest groups of funds. Together, these funds have over $180 million in assets under management in emerging and developing country markets around the world.

For further information please visit our website: www.saronafund.com or contact

Gerhard Pries
Managing Partner and CEO
Sarona Asset Management
gpries@saronafund.com
+1.519.883.7557

November 18, 2011 – For Immediate Release

Waterloo, ON, Canada – Sarona Asset Management and Deer Isle Capital are pleased to announce that they have entered into a partnership where Deer Isle will represent Sarona’s offerings in North America.

Sarona Asset Management is a private equity investor, investing in small and mid-market companies in frontier markets. Sarona invests in sectors such as housing, agribusiness, education, financial services, healthcare, information and communications technology and renewable energy. Sarona’s investee companies  are market leaders in business excellence as well as social and environmental values.

Deer Isle Capital is an advisory firm that focuses on growth and catalyst capital.  With an extensive track record in raising capital, especially for emerging markets, Deer Isle is well positioned to complement Sarona’s offerings. 

“Sarona is pleased to work with Deer Isle Capital, a firm whose values and integrity have enabled it to build a solid track record in the capital markets,” says Gerhard Pries, Managing Partner and CEO of Sarona. “The Deer Isle team will significantly enhance our presence in the North American market. We have been very impressed with the intellectual capital they bring to their work.”

Dianna Raedle, CEO and Founder of Deer Isle says “Deer Isle is excited to be working with Sarona and believes, given their extensive track record, since 1953, of value investing  in emerging and frontier markets that they are well positioned to continue to lead the market with a fund of funds product”

Sarona Asset Management is based in Waterloo, ON, and is a co-founder and/or manager of a number of impact investment funds, including the Sarona and MicroVest groups of funds. Together, these funds have over $180 million in assets under management in emerging and developing country markets around the world.

Deer Isle Capital LLC is based in New York City and has advised and/or raised over $5 billion in international assets with a focus on emerging markets since its founding in 2007.

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For further information please visit our website: www.saronafund.com or contact

Gerhard Pries
Managing Partner and CEO
Sarona Asset Management
gpries@saronafund.com
+1.519.883.7557

October 24, 2011 – For Immediate Release

Waterloo, ON, Canada/Amsterdam, The Netherlands– Sarona Asset Management, the leading manager of a number of private equity impact investment funds, has officially established a presence in Europe and appointed Vivina Berla as a Senior Partner and European Managing Director.

Sarona Asset Management is based in Waterloo-ON, Canada, and is a co-founder and/or manager of a number of impact investment funds, including the Sarona and MicroVest groups of funds. Together, they represent over $180 million in assets under management in emerging and developing country markets around the world.

With over 15 years’ experience in institutional and alternative asset management acquired at Merrill Lynch and Gartmore Investment Management in London, Vivina’s breadth of experience and industry knowledge is a key addition to the Sarona team.  She complements the strengths of the existing partners and her long involvement in private equity is particularly relevant to Sarona’s current efforts to broaden its investor base around the world.

Vivina will contribute to the future growth of Sarona Asset Management, the formulation and implementation of its strategy, and have a particular role to play in Europe, Middle East and Africa.  She will also be a member of the investment committee.  Sarona’s European activities will be managed from its Amsterdam office.

“Strengthening Sarona’s presence in Europe means that we can facilitate greater dialogue with investors and industry professionals around deploying greater amounts of capital into small/mid-market companies within frontier markets.” says Gerhard Pries, Managing Partner of Sarona. “With Vivina’s experience and passion for private equity in emerging economies, Sarona is confident it will attract greater interest to invest in regions, sectors and companies that will provide attractive market rate returns, as well as support local communities and protect the environment.”

October 14, 2011 – For Immediate Release

Waterloo, ON – Sarona Asset Management proudly announces that it has officially joined the growing international community of Certified B (benefit) Corporations. B Corporations represent a new breed of company which uses business solutions to address social and environmental problems – views Sarona has espoused for nearly 60 years.

In order to become a Certified B Corporation, Sarona had to demonstrate its corporate purpose to create a material positive impact on society and the environment; confirm its corporate responsibilities included consideration of the interests of employees, community and the environment; and publicly report annually on its overall social and environmental performance using a comprehensive, credible, independent, and transparent third party standard.

The B Corporation movement has been building momentum as several US states have recently passed legislation that creates a new class of corporation that are legally required to pursue the creation of a positive impact on society and the environment, while meeting higher standards of accountability and transparency. As of July 2011, there were over 425 Certified B Corporations from over 50 industries, representing $2 billion in revenue and $6.5 billion in capital under management.

“Becoming a Certified B Corporation just makes good business sense. Sarona has already been using comprehensive and transparent performance standards,” says Gerhard Pries, President of Sarona. “Now, Sarona joins the community of Certified B Corporations to not only continue to improve on its own performance, but also encourage others to see the immense positive effects – including financial – good business solutions can have on social and environmental concerns around the world.”

Sarona Asset Management is based in Waterloo, ON, and is a co-founder and/or manager of a number of impact investment funds, including the Sarona and MicroVest groups of funds. Together, these funds have over $180 million in assets under management in emerging and developing country markets around the world.

For further information: Jonathan Hera, Investor Relations, Sarona Asset Management: 1.519.883.7557

Contact:
Jonathan Hera
Investor Relations
Sarona Asset Management
jhera@saronafund.com
1.519.883.7557

August 12, 2011 – For Immediate Release

Waterloo, ON – Sarona Asset Management announced today that its Sarona Frontier Markets Fund I LP has committed $3,500,000 to the Aureos South-East Asia Fund II LP, a private equity fund that invests in small and medium sized companies across South-East Asia.

Aureos is a leading private equity fund management company specialising in investing in small and medium sized businesses in emerging markets.
Sarona’s latest commitment provides significant backing to the growing healthcare, education, consumer finance, food and beverage, technical services and logistics businesses of the region. With the strong economic development of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam, Sarona is confident in its ability to provide premium rate financial returns to investors while supporting the rapidly growing lower middle class these businesses serve.

“We have witnessed and can feel the dynamism of each country throughout the region. We know that we will witness impressive financial results, while also seeing improved social, environmental and governance outcomes,” says Alex Hartzler, Chairperson of Sarona. “With the experience that Aureos brings to the region, we are excited to know that our impact investment will assist South-East Asian small and mid-sized companies serve the increasing demand of the lower middle class, leading to improved health, wellness and prosperity for a countless number of South-East Asians.”

Sarona Asset Management is based in Waterloo, ON, and is a co-founder and/or manager of a number of impact investment funds, including the Sarona and MicroVest groups of funds. Together, these funds have over $180 million in assets under management in emerging and developing country markets around the world.

For further information: Gerhard Pries, President, Sarona Asset Management: 1.519.883.7557

Contact:
Gerhard Pries
President
Sarona Asset Management
gpries@saronafund.com
1.519.883.7557

July 14, 2011 – For Immediate Release

Waterloo, ON – Sarona Asset Management announced today that its Sarona Frontier Markets Fund I LP has committed €1,250,000 to Pera Capital Partners Fund I LP, a private equity fund manager that invests in Turkish small and medium sized companies.

With its commitment in Pera Capital, Sarona is able to assist and grow businesses focused on sectors such as agribusiness, education, environmental technology, healthcare, food products and consumer goods. In turn, these Turkish businesses, much like the rest of the frontier market small and medium sized companies in which Sarona has invested, will lead the charge in serving the needs of the growing lower middle class.

“Turkey has been at the nexus of East-West trade for centuries. With the recently opened trade opportunities to the east, and the country’s current drive to qualify for EU membership, the business climate is improving quickly,” says Gerhard Pries, President of Sarona. “Pera Capital is one of very few fund managers investing growth capital in small-mid market companies in the country. Because Pera also includes a strong social and environmental focus, we expect to deliver outstanding financial results to our Sarona investors, along with improved social and environmental outcomes to Turkey.”

Sarona Asset Management is based in Waterloo, ON, and is a co-founder and/or manager of a number of impact investment funds, including the Sarona and MicroVest groups of funds. Together, these funds have over $180 million in assets under management in emerging and developing country markets around the world.

For further information: Gerhard Pries, President, Sarona Asset Management: 1.519.883.7557

Contact:
Gerhard Pries
President
Sarona Asset Management
gpries@saronafund.com
1.519.883.7557

June 14, 2011 – For Immediate Release

Waterloo, ON – Sarona Asset Management has today been named to the ImpactAssets 50 – a global index of the top 50 private investment managers that deliver social and environmental value in addition to financial returns. Sarona was recognized for its success in bridging the gap between private capital and the impact investment opportunities in frontier markets.

Inclusion in the ImpactAssets 50 list speaks to Sarona’s commitment to building a world where all capital is invested for optimal financial, social, and environmental impact. It also highlights Sarona’s transparency in reporting its impact investing performance indicators to its investors and the public.

ImpactAssets 50 is part of a broader initiative by the Cordes and Calvert foundations to create a comprehensive impact investment platform, unleashing $2 billion of new capital to help solve the world’s most pressing challenges by 2016.

“We invest in companies that not only serve the demands of the rapidly growing middle class in developing countries, but also seek to be leaders in how they deal with people and the environment,” says Gerhard Pries, President of Sarona. “This is the best of both worlds – stellar financial returns, together with ethical, social and environmental excellence.”

Sarona Asset Management is based in Waterloo, ON, and is a co-founder and/or manager of a number of impact investment funds, including the Sarona and MicroVest groups of funds. Together, these funds have over $180 million in assets under management in emerging and developing country markets around the world.

For further information: Jonathan Hera, Investor Relations, Sarona Asset Management: 1.519.883.7557

Contact:
Jonathan Hera
Investor Relations
Sarona Asset Management
jhera@saronafund.com
1.519.883.7557

Sir Bob Geldof’s latest incarnation says something about Africa’s changing place in the world. Not for the first time, the Irish rock star turned campaigner for aid and debt relief in Africa has been seeking to raise as much as $1-billion. This time, however, he hopes to champion investment in a continent that he had tended to portray as a basket case in perennially urgent need of alms.

His transformation into private equity guru has not been seamless. The former Boomtown Rats and Band Aid frontman has struggled since the global financial crisis to raise sufficient financing to close his fund, 8 Miles, named after the distance between Europe and Africa at the straits of Gibraltar. But Sir Bob’s journey nevertheless chimes with a turnround in global perceptions.

The full Globe and Mail article can be viewed online here.

Over the past decade mobile phones have helped to transform African countries like Kenya, giving the financially excluded a cheap way to access credit through mobile banking. It has also been Africa’s most successful growth story: the mobile payment market is forecast to be worth $60bn by 2015. Today, information and communication technology (ICT) companies are building the infrastructure for what investors believe will be Africa’s next big growth story – PayTV.

On Monday Wananchi Group, a Kenyan media operator, announced that it raised $57.5m of growth capital to continue building fibre infrastructure for its triple-play service in Kenya.

The full Financial Times article can be viewed online by clicking here.