26 Sep 2019

DPI adopts the IFC’s Operating Principles for Impact Management

Download Full Article

London – Development Partners International (“DPI”), a leading pan-African focused investor, is pleased to announce it has become a signatory to the IFC’s Operating Principles for Impact Management (“the Principles”), an international market standard for impact investing.

The Principles are underpinned by five key elements – strategy, origination and structuring, portfolio management, exit, and independent verification – and establish a robust impact management system, enabling investors to generate positive impact for society alongside financial returns. The Principles bring greater transparency, credibility and discipline to the impact investing market and signatories will have to disclose annually how they are implementing them across their portfolios.

Becoming a signatory reaffirms DPI’s dedication to responsible investing and its continued focus on having a positive, long-lasting impact on the societies and economies its portfolio companies operate in, by embracing best-in-class ESG and impact practices.

DPI strongly believes firms have an obligation to leave a positive impact on the countries and communities they invest in and the introduction of this framework provides valuable and much needed consensus on how this can be measured.

Runa Alam, CEO and co-founder of DPI says: “DPI has long been committed to integrating best in class ESG standards across our entire portfolio, alongside the high returns generated for investors.“

“Working closely with our portfolio companies, we want to emphasise the positive long-term impact responsible investment can have on communities, developing sustainable companies, creating jobs, driving economies and improving quality of life. For DPI, signing on to the IFC’s Principles for Impact Management was a natural and important step to reinforce our long- standing commitment to delivering sustainable returns.”

ENDS

 

Press contact

Charles Harrison

Tel: +44 (0) 203 047 2528

Email: DPI@edelman.com

 

Notes to Editors

About DPI

Development Partners International LLP (DPI) is a Pan-African private equity firm that invests in companies benefiting from the fast-growing emerging middle class in Africa. DPI has invested in 21 portfolio companies operating across over 30 countries.

As a signatory to the UN PRI, DPI promotes high ESG and Impact standards and seeks to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. DPI’s investment process combines rigorous analysis with comprehensive due diligence. The firm seeks out compelling investment opportunities and aims to obtain exclusive terms, rational pricing and strong influence. The investment philosophy places great importance on working closely with the fund’s portfolio companies to create value while looking for attractive exit opportunities throughout the fund’s investment period. DPI invests in profitable or cash-flow positive companies which are growing either organically or through acquisitions or partnering with established corporations expanding into new regions in Africa.