Assessment Criteria

A project must meet two criteria to be considered for funding under the WDC Investment Fund:

• It must be commercially viable and able to provide the WDC Investment Fund with an appropriate financial return for the risk undertaken.
• It must have social benefits for the area served by the project and the region as a whole as a result of the investment, including employment potential and enhancing quality of life.

The WDC invests in commercially sound business/community and flagship projects that show good growth potential. It also looks for a strong management team and committed personnel who have a proven track record and the relevant skills to make the venture a success. Finally, it is interested in investing in businesses that have a marketable product or service with a competitive advantage.

Return on investment

The WDC will look for a financial return on its investment over a period of time. In the case of equity investments, repayment can be achieved either by:

• Initial Public Offering (IPO).
• Trade Sale.
• Sale of the WDC Investment Fund shareholding to other shareholders.
• Sale back to the company/promoters.

In the case of loans, a financial return is achieved by the repayment of the principal and interest over a pre-agreed term.