The MDIF Portfolio Review 2017 presents an overview of the performance of our investment portfolio, including visualizations of allocations by geography, press freedom ranking and corruption perceptions. It also offers insight into our clients’ critical work providing the news, information and debate that people need to build free, thriving societies and describes our various initiatives to support independent media around the world. See the interactive Portfolio Review presentation.
$4m
in new investments in 2017
$72m
assets under management
48
media companies invested in
26
countries worked in
Looking back on our work in 2017, two trends stand out – one positive and one negative. On the positive side, MDIF as an organization had a successful year, increasing investments from our two new funds and launching several major initiatives. On the negative side, our achievements were set against a global backdrop of growing authoritarianism and declining press freedom.
Harlan Mandel
MDIF Chief Executive Officer
The key metrics from the Portfolio Review include:
- We ended December 31, 2017 with over $71.7 million total Assets Under Management, invested in 48 companies in 26 countries.
- In 2017, MIDF provided $5.6 million in media financing, extending $3.7 million in loans and equity and $1.9 million in technical assistance and TA grants.
- We approved 11 investments for 10 companies across 8 countries, welcoming 4 new clients to our portfolio.
- The largest share of our investments — 53.9% — was in South East and Eastern Europe, followed by Africa at 19.0% and Asia at 11.0%.
- At the end of 2017, 91.8% of MDIF’s outstanding investments were in countries where the media environment is partly free or not free — that is those categorized as “problematic,” and “bad” and “very bad” by The World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders.
- Half of MDIF-supported media organizations surveyed as a part of our annual questionnaire reported receiving awards in 2017. Out of those presented with prizes, 73% were recognized with national awards, 20% with local awards and 20% with international awards.
Want to know more about our portfolio?
View our interactive Portfolio Review presentation.