BIO - Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries

Avenue de Tervuren 188A-b4
B-1150 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32(0)2778 99 99
Fax: +32(0)2778 99 90
Email: info@bio-invest.be
www.bio-invest.be

General Information

BIO is a Development Finance Institution (DFI) established in 2001 in the framework of the Belgian Development Cooperation to support private sector growth in developing and emerging countries.

BIO finances the financial sector, enterprises and private infrastructure projects. Endowed with capital worth EUR 465 million, BIO provides tailored long-term financial products and finances technical assistance programmes and feasibility studies. BIO also encourages its business partners to implement environmental, social and governance standards.

BIO operates as an additional partner to the traditional financial institutions and looks for projects with a balance between return on investment and development impact.

Instruments

Equity and quasi-equity stake

New companies or those who wish to expand their activities or strengthen their financial base can benefit from BIO's support in the form of an equity stake. BIO always takes a minority stake, generally tied to a seat on the Board of Directors, intended to be ceded to other shareholders, third parties or on the financial market once the company has reached a sustainable maturity level. BIO also uses quasi-equity (mezzanine capital, subordinated loans, convertible loans, etc.) to strengthen the financial resources of up-and-coming companies, without diluting the position of its shareholders.

Long-term loans

BIO offers a wide range of direct medium- and long-term loans at both fixed and variable rates. Their term can vary between 3 and 10 years, with a grace period of 3 years maximum.

Guarantees

BIO’s signature is a guarantee of solvability and facilitates the mobilisation of resources by private sector borrowers by guaranteeing certain obligations on their behalf.

Local currency

BIO can finance projects in local currency in order to reduce the risks linked to exchange rates and interest rates for its clients.

Technical assistance

BIO can also support technical assistance programmes upon request of its investee companies in order to improve performance, become more competitive and strengthen the impact on sustainable development through training, advice and skill transfers.