Small Enterprise Assistance Funds

SEAF
Industry Impact Investing
Founded Washington DC, United States (1989 (1989))
Founder
Headquarters Washington DC, United States
Number of locations
27 offices (2013)
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Hubertus van der Vaart
(Executive Chairman)
AUM Increase $400 million (2012)
Number of employees
145 (2012)
Website seaf.com

SEAF is an international investment management group that provides growth capital and business assistance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging and transition markets underserved by traditional sources of capital. Through their network of offices around the world, SEAF invests in entrepreneurs that seek to build scalable successful businesses, hoping to realize both attractive returns for their investors and a measurable development impact in local communities.[1]

History

Founded in 1989 as the private equity investment subsidiary of the international development organization CARE, Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (“SEAF”) evolved in 1995 into an independent organization specializing in the sponsorship and management of investment funds targeting growth-oriented, emerging enterprises located in countries underserved by traditional sources of capital. SEAF has an extensive track record of establishing local private equity investment capabilities and investing in SMEs in emerging markets in Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia. As a global leader in SME finance, SEAF has managed or is managing 32 Funds across 30 countries with USD 658 million in aggregate committed capital, of which over USD 400 million has been invested through 378 investments in SMEs, with 214 completed exits (through December 31, 2012). Investors in SEAF-sponsored funds represent a cross section of public and private institutions, including multilateral financial institutions, private foundations, pension funds, insurance companies, family offices, banks and other independent financial institutions.

SEAF’s scale and geographic scope, as well as centralized, web-based system of accounting, control, information-sharing, and valuation services permits it to develop and work in a complementary way with full teams of largely local private equity personnel worldwide. As a global fund management organization with a focus on building strong local teams and more than 23 years of investing in early-stage, fast-growing companies, SEAF is uniquely able to monitor investments, provide management with hands-on operational support, comparable business experiences, benchmarks, valuations, legal structures, and the know-how and connections that accelerate the growth and profitability of portfolio investments. SEAF is able to apply its institutional knowledge and best investment and fund management practices, enforce effective oversight over its Funds, and provide regular and accurate reporting, compliance and disclosure functions to its investors. Additionally, SEAF goes beyond the role of fund manager as it works in many other functions. SEAF’s experience at the crossroads of developmental and financial investing allows it to excel as a thought leader. SEAF has published its own research reports and findings, and has been recognized by other organizations and academic institutions for its industry leadership.

In 2006, SEAF established the Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED). CEED’s mission is to develop, connect and mentor entrepreneurs so that they can strengthen their businesses, create jobs and accelerate economic prosperity. Building a trusted community of entrepreneurs is paramount in to CEED’s approach. CEED has become a recognized leader in cultivating the sustainable entrepreneur eco-systems that will help achieve this mission.

SEAF also has a well-regarded system of written policies and procedures in all areas of fund management, which forms the basis for the transfer of knowledge and training and gives all SEAF Funds a common benchmark for performance. The culture, systems and practices at SEAF place a high priority and importance on timely, accurate and transparent accounting and reporting and strong corporate governance that promotes accountability and encourages objective measurement of results. SEAF’s centralized performance measurement and investor-reporting capacity includes:

SEAF Management’s investment funds employ a full range of financial instruments including equity, quasi-equity, and structured debt, with a diverse and flexible set of features designed for each opportunity and context. Each fund is typically accompanied by an active technical assistance component, which allows targeted post-investment business development assistance to increase sales and improve operational efficiency. SEAF Management’s network of internal specialists and external consultants and industry advisors provide local portfolio companies with access to new customers and global market opportunities, insight into industry best practices, advanced training and strategic planning skills. Finally, SEAF is a world leader in managing funds that are focused on producing measurable development impact in addition to financial returns. SEAF has performed pioneering stakeholder-based research and analysis to quantify the social and economic impact of making commercially sound investments in SMEs. SEAF employs over 140 investment professionals worldwide within a network of 27 offices in 24 countries. [2]

SEAF International Funds

Below is a list of SEAF’s funds and the countries in which they operate:

Global


Central and Eastern European Funds [3]


Latin American Funds [4]


Asian Funds [5][6]


Impact on Development

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are often overlooked and therefore referred to as the “missing middle” in the developing world. Recent data results, analysis and case highlights (reports can be found below in the “Publications” section) demonstrate how SMEs can generate employment opportunities in their local communities, serve as links to regional and international markets for smaller local suppliers, and address market deficiencies and customer needs that would otherwise go unaddressed.[7][8]

SEAF and CEED

In 2005, the SEAF family grew larger with the creation of Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED), a legacy institution of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and SEAF, born out of USAID grant funding in SME equity investments made by SEAF throughout the Balkans, and EBRD in Slovenia. CEED centers provide business development training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs in emerging markets.[9][10]

Leadership

SEAF is led by a Corporate Board of Directors, an International Advisory Council, and a Management Team based in Washington, DC. The board and the council include business leaders, editors of periodicals, academics, and other international experts. Below is a list of senior management at SEAF:[11]

United States Headquarters


International Fund Managers


Publications

“From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding the Impact of Investing in Small and Medium Enterprises” A Data Survey and Case Study Analysis for SEAF Investments

“Defining SMEs: A Less Imperfect Way of Defining Small and Medium Enterprises in Developing Countries” A Brookings Global Economy and Development Report, co-authored by Chairman Hubertus van der Vaart

“The Development Impact of Small and Medium Enterprises: Lessons Learned from SEAF Investments” Volume 1: Main Report

“The Development Impact of Small and Medium Enterprises: Lessons Learned from SEAF Investments” Volume 2: Case Studies

“Social Investors on the Sidelines” Microenterprise Americas Report on SME Investors

"2011 development impact report" Showcasing the impact beyond the Investments

External links

Notes and references

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