Sarona Asset Management is a private equity investor, investing in small and mid-market companies in frontier and emerging 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, social and environmental excellence.

The Sarona Risk Capital Fund has committed US$500,000 to Brazil+, a fund that finances the receivables of 17,000 small and medium-sized companies in Brazil.

“Sarona is pleased to support the work of Brazil+,” says Gerhard Pries, Managing Partner and CEO of Sarona. “This investment strengthens the ability of the firm to provide financing products to underserved SMEs and the working poor while targeting strong returns to our investors.”

Sarona Asset Management is based in Waterloo Canada and Amsterdam Netherlands, 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 $190 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

Sarona Asset Management has recently completed commitments into two global financial services funds. 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

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 and emerging 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 values 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

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 and emerging 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.”

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 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

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 and emerging 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 – positive 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 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

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.

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.

Waterloo, ON – Sarona Asset Management announced today that the MEDA Sarona Risk Capital Fund has invested US$500,000 in Mobile Transactions International (MTI).

Sarona is supporting companies that are leading the booming information and communication technology sector in East Africa. MTI links its clients through its electronic voucher, payment system and money transfer technologies. With better service, quality and pricing, these companies are already operational in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, and have expansion plans to Rwanda and Uganda in the works.

“We believe that our investments in these information and communication technology (ICT) companies will allow millions of East Africans the opportunity to transfer money to each other, conduct business through electronic cash methods and reduce inefficiencies and transaction costs in doing business in Africa,” said Gerhard Pries, President of Sarona. “These investments are part of our continuing effort to develop innovative initiatives in the field of impact investing. Building accessible and affordable information and communication pathways is critical to a society’s economic development.”

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