This investment was made when British International Investment was named CDC Group.
Our investment
In 2014, CDC backed the AE3 fund with a $70 million commitment. Our commitment helped Actis raise a total of $1.15 billion for AE3 and the fund has made investments of between $50 million and $150 million in both established and growing energy businesses. Our capital is exclusively used for investment in projects in Africa and South Asia.
Expected impact
Emerging markets such as Africa and Asia have seen a rapid rise in demand for electricity, but it remains a scarce commodity. Providing a reliable source of energy helps businesses to develop and grow, creates new and better jobs and improves the lives of millions of people.
Our investment in AE3 enabled the fund manager to make investments in Cameroon’s national grid and renewable energy projects across Africa and South Asia.
In 2014, the fund manager invested in Ostro, a renewable energy platform in India. Construction of the platform started the same year and by 2018 it was producing 800 megawatts (MW) of wind energy and 200MW of solar energy. In March 2018, Actis sold the company to ReNew Energy, creating India’s largest renewable energy company
Environmental and social aspects
We worked closely with the fund manager to develop and implement an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) that has the capacity to manage the higher level of environmental and social risk associated with this sector.
Key facts
- Status:
- Active
- Region
:
Since 2012, we’ve only invested in Africa and South Asia. Investments outside these regions are from our pre-2012 portfolio.
- Africa
- Sector
:
We have seven priority sectors. However, we continue to invest outside these sectors, largely in the most challenging regions, as new investment supporting any sector helps to underpin the private sector, and create jobs and livelihoods for people. For funds, the sectors listed here are those the fund has invested in so far.
- Infrastructure, Manufacturing
- Website:
- https://www.act.is/
- Investment type
:
We provide capital in three broad ways: direct equity, debt, and intermediated equity (principally through investment funds).
- Intermediated investment
- Fund manager:
- Actis LLP
- Start date
:
For direct investments, this is the date British International Investment committed capital to the business or project.
For funds, this is the date that British International Investment committed capital to the fund.
For underlying fund investments, this is the date that the fund invested capital into the business.e
- September 2013
- Amount
:
For direct investments, this is the total amount that British International Investment has committed to the business or project (it may be a combination of equity and debt).
For funds, this is the total amount that British International Investment has committed to the fund.
- $70m
- Domicile
:
This is the investee company’s place of incorporation; or a fund’s jurisdiction.
- Scotland
Investments made by this fund
- Active
- Exited
| Investment name | Country | Region | Sector | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aela Energia | Chile | Rest of the World | Manufacturing | August 2013 | Active |
| Atlantic | Brazil | Rest of the World | Manufacturing | September 2013 | Active |
|
Eneo (Formerly Sonel)
Eneo Cameroun SA is the monopoly transmission, distribution and generating company in Cameroon and began operations in 1973. |
Cameroon | Africa, Central Africa | Infrastructure | June 2014 | Active |
|
Ostro
Ostro Energy is an 800 megawatt renewable energy platform in India (the first project is a 50.4 megawatt wind platform under construction in Tejuva in Iaisalmer, Rajasthan). |
India | South Asia | Infrastructure | August 2014 | Exited |
|
Lekela Power
Lekela Power is a power platform which will eventually own over 700 megawatts of wind and solar energy installed capacity across Africa. The initial three projects, Khobab, Loeriesfontein and Noupoort, are all located in the Northern Cape of South Africa and will deliver a combined 360 megawatts of wind energy capacity. |
Africa | Infrastructure | February 2015 | Active |
