Our offer

Swedfund offers risk capital and competence for investment in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe (non-EU members). Our vision is to contribute to the development of profitable companies and thereby stimulate sustainable economic development in the countries in which we invest.

We invest together with strategic partners

These are primarily Swedish companies wishing to establish themselves in a new market or to expand their operations. Our strategic partner must be prepared to share the financial risk with Swedfund and to take the operative responsibility. Swedfund offers risk capital in the form of share capital, loans, guarantees and part-financing of leasing agreements. Our decisions regarding investments are based solely on business principles.

Large international network

After soon 30 years’ experience of investing in emerging markets we have developed a large international network. We can where needed call in other parties such as international and local banks, private investors and other financial institutes. Swedfund is a member of the Association of European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI). EDFI is a network of our counterparts in Europe.

Investments in 33 countries

At the end of 2008 our investments consisted of 69 portfolio companies in 33 countries. Since the start of operations in 1979 Swedfund has made more than 200 investments in over 60 countries. Swedfund is owned by the Swedish state.

Swedfund’s collaboration

When we invest it is quite natural that the operative responsibility lies with the strategic partner. Swedfund participates actively in the development of the joint company through our representation on the board of directors.

Swedfund is a minority investor. In the normal case our investment does not exceed one-third of the total investment. The financial risk Swedfund assumes is balanced against the other parties’ risk exposure. The size of our investments varies from about SEK 5 million to up to SEK 100 million.

Long term but time-limited involvement

Swedfund’s investments represent a long-term but time-limited involvement. Normally our investments have a lifetime of between five and ten years, depending on where in the life-cycle the company is when the investment is made.

For this reason it is important, right at the start of the involvement, to have a common goal for what is to be achieved during the partnership period. Exit often coincides with the point at which the joint-owned company enters a new development phase.