Navis VIII Cambodia Laos Myanmar Vietnam (CLMV) Sub-Fund

The Navis VIII Cambodia Laos Myanmar Vietnam (CLMV) Sub-Fund is a co-investment vehicle which will co-invest in well-established, mid-market companies across its designated target countries. Whilst the larger Parent Fund (Navis Fund VIII) primarily focuses on geographies across Southeast Asia and Oceania, the Sub-Fund will primarily invest in the SIFEM priority countries of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, and on occasion in neighbouring markets with strong economic ties. Over 50% of the Sub-Fund is expected to be invested in Vietnam, with the remaining capital allocated to Cambodia and Laos (investments in Myanmar are currently on hold given the current political climate). The Fund will focus on generalist yet competitive sectors, including education, healthcare, consumer goods and retail, as well as financial services. SIFEM’s co-investors in the Sub-Fund include Norfund (Norway) and the World Bank’s IFC.

The Southeast Asian countries which are targeted by the Navis VIII Sub-Fund have been facing a general funding gap, which has become even more acute with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Established in 1998, Navis Capital Partners is one of the few private-equity firms which is filling this gap by providing stable and long-term capital to local companies, which in turn can help boost economic growth and development in the region. Also, the co-investment structure with Navis VIII is a promising way to channel mainstream investors’ capital to higher risk geographies, particularly in LDCs.

The investment is expected to contribute to sustainable job creation across the region (SDG 8) and to strengthening the means of implementation of the goals (SDG 17), for example through private capital mobilisation effects. Also, the investment is expected to make a contribution to SDG 5 (Gender Equality).