Focus
Plusforall supports non-listed locally owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) active in the food sector.
Food against poverty
Why investing in food?
- For more than three quarters of the world’s poor living in rural areas farming is the main source of household income.
- According to the World Bank, growing the food and agriculture sector is 2 – 4 times more effective than growing any other sector.
- At the same time, the global food system requires urgent transformation if we want to avoid the sorts of planetary damage that awaits if we do nothing – loss of biodiversity, freshwater depletion, pollution of our rivers and oceans and enduring damage to our soils.
- Opportunity to invest in solution responding to the major environmental challenges facing the food sector.
Investment Principles
Sole investor
We believe we can add more value to SMEs by being the sole investor. We limit co-investments since this mainly helps big companies that need a large amount of money.
Pragmatic approach
To serve a large number of SMEs, Plusforall applies processes that are lean and mean, flexible, but accurate.
Market stability
Plusforall provides revenue-related products, longer terms, and non-collateral lending instead of straight debt to add more value to SMEs and prevent competition with local banks on the lowest interest rate.
Entrepreneur orientation
Plusforall considers local entrepreneurs and their stakeholders as its primary clients. Therefore, Plusforall drives growth instead of IRR.
Products are simple
Plusforall keeps agreements as simple as possible and always explains the terms personally to each client.
Real Stories
Plusforall always investigates the facts behind the stories. The better the story, the more curious we are about the reality. We are realistic about the impact we can expect from our investments.
Key elements investment strategy
GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE
Investments are focused in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Three regional hubs serve SMEs in West Africa (Nigeria), East Africa (Uganda) & Southeast Asia (Vietnam).
TARGET INDUSTRIES
Investments will be focused on sustainable agriculture, healthy food alternatives and products and services meeting the basic needs of people living in poverty and related industries.
INVESTMENT SIZE
€100K – €500K (average €350K) initial investment, option for follow-on investments of max. €1.5M. SMEs in “missing middle” segment typically require financing of €100K up to €2M.
INSTRUMENT
Initially, we invest through revenue-related debt products. Optional follow-on investments are tailored self-liquidating mezzanine structures. Our products give investors “downside protection” and “upward potential” while the entrepreneur has sufficient free cash flow to grow further.
PERIOD
The Fund engages in long-term commitments. The targeted investment horizon is 5–7 years, in line with evidence that shows that missing middle enterprises need more time to grow and to realise social impact.
SELF-LIQUIDATING EXITS
We offer out-performing portfolio companies quasi-equity investments. All these investments are self-liquidating (pay out periodic investor returns as a percentage of period revenues), avoiding the need for an IPO or forced exit.
Target Entrepreneurs
Our key investment criteria…
- An outstanding, socially dedicated entrepreneur
- A perfect fit with our impact focus
- A drive to create benefits for all stakeholders
- A willingness to enter into a long-term partnership and dialogue
- A legal, viable and scalable business model ready to grow
- Dedicated and excellent management team
We do not invest in…
- Start-ups, farmer groups, savings, credit and cooperative organizations, NGOs, private persons, listed companies or foundations.
- Project finance (water irrigation and power plants) or leisure (bars, restaurants).
- Sectors/products on our exclusion list because of the high risk of human and labour rights violations and/or negative impact on the natural environment and/or animal welfare (available upon request).