Our investment
Description of the investment.
Description of the investment.
Our investment in Helios Fund V is part of the first close. The fund focuses on four sectors: (i) Consumer non-discretionary, (ii) Financial services and fintech, (iii) Digital infrastructure, and (iv) Tech-enabled business services (TEBS) verticals. The investment is aimed at supporting access growth capital to African businesses, capital market development, and job creation.
Impact information
Applies to investments made from 2019 onwards. The tabs in this section define what we expect to achieve through the investment, assessing the potential impact of the investment against six dimensions of impact. You can find more details on our methodology of assessing impact here.
Applies to investments made from 2019 onwards. The tabs in this section define what we expect to achieve through the investment, assessing the potential impact of the investment against six dimensions of impact. You can find more details on our methodology of assessing impact here.
What?
| Impact |
|---|
BII’s investment in Helios V will support access to finance for businesses and capital markets development, which will, in turn, foster business expansion, job creation and increased economic opportunities. |
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How?
| Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|
|
Direct: Business growth and creation of employment and economic opportunities by providing capital and value add to 8-12 investments. |
Indirect: The Fund will invest a variety of projects and enabling technologies and services which are expected to have positive spillovers to the productivity of other firms, such as data centres, payment systems, and provision of financial services. |
Who?
| Stakeholder | Geography | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Stakeholders will be variable depending on portfolio company |
Africa |
The fund will prioritise investments in four key sectors: Consumer Non-Discretionary, Digital Infrastructure, Financial Services and Technology, Tech -Enabled Business Services, and others. Helios will aim to work with its portfolio investments on inclusive reach to women and local business owners. |
How much?
| Scale | Depth/Duration |
|---|---|
|
We expect material job creation based on track record of predecessor funds. The time if diligence, Helios IV investments directly employed 6,328 individuals (30% female). |
Duration of Impact will be contingent on the company performance and likely to vary across investees, although long lasting for successful investments. |
Contribution/additionality
| Contribution/additionality |
|---|
|
BII’s contribution to the fund is rated Medium at this stage in the context of substantial DFI capital required in the fund to reach the target optimal fund size and to deliver proportionally greater impact than would otherwise be possible. |
Risk
Alignment RiskAlignment risk may arise if the fund makes investments that do not align with BII’s impact priorities. Execution RiskIf the Fund fails to achieve target size leading to sub-optimal portfolio and impact. This is aligned with commercial risk and is mitigated by backing an experienced team with investment experience across Africa. |
Impact score
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Impact score (at point of investment)
The Impact Score is a tool to help us manage our performance against our strategic impact objectives. It is designed to incentivise investments that support our productive, sustainable, and inclusive objectives. The Impact Score shown is based on the 2022-2026 Impact Score methodology. You can find out more here. The Impact Score is published for investments made from 2022 onwards. The Impact Scores are calculated at the point of investment. We publish the Impact Scores of new investments annually, once the information has been externally assured by an independent third party. |
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8 |
Environmental and social information
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Environmental and social summary
A high-level description of the environmental and social aspects of the investment. This may include a summary of key environmental and social risks identified during environmental and social due diligence (ESDD); key elements of an environmental and social action plan (ESAP); or ways in which we plan to support the investee improve environmental and social standards, such as through their environmental and social management system (ESMS); as well as any other priority areas agreed with the investee.
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Environmental and social risk
A risk category rating, which indicates the level of environmental and social risk associated with an investment. For an explanation of the categorisations used, see here. We consistently provide an environmental and social risk category for all investments screened from 2023 onwards.
Environmental and social summary
We agreed on an ESAP with Helios that included revising its ESMS to meet our standards. The updated ESMS incorporates climate risk screening, contextual risk assessment (including supply chain), safeguarding measures, and enhanced internal capacity through training. Helios has also expanded their E&S team, strengthening their ability to drive improved E&S performance across portfolio companies.
Environmental and social risk
Medium-High
Reporting and Complaints Mechanism
The Reporting and Complaints Mechanism allows anyone outside BII to report alleged breaches of the business integrity or environmental and social provisions of BII’s Policy on Responsible Investing. This includes breaches made by BII, a BII investee, or a portfolio company of a fund in which BII has invested. The Reporting and Complaints Mechanism Rules are available here. Reports and complaints can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by mail. See more details on our Reporting and Complaints Mechanism here.
For any other general enquiries contact us at [email protected]
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Key facts
- First published
:
When the investment was first published on the website database.
- December 2025
- Last updated
:
When the last quarterly update of the website database occurred.
- June 2026
- Project number
:
An identifier number shared by investments in the same project.
- D7394
- Status
:
The current status of the investment (green flag for active and red flag for exited).
- Active
- Region
:
The geographical region where the country is located. We currently invest in Africa, South Asia, South East Asia and the Caribbean. In 2023, BII’s investment mandate was extended allowing it to invest in regional funds linked to Ukraine, with the majority of activity expected to begin post-war. Investments outside these regions were made prior to 2012 under previous investment mandates.
- North Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa
- Country
:
The countries where the investment delivers impact. Where impact is delivered in multiple countries, this is indicated.
- Africa
- Investment policy :
- Growth
- Investment type :
- Fund
- Start date :
- August 2025
- Amount :
- $30m
- Currency of investment :
- USD
- Fund manager:
- Helios Investment Partners
- Domicile
:
The company or investment fund’s place of incorporation.
- Guernsey
We provide capital in the following ways: directly – through direct equity, direct debt, guarantees and other non-intermediated financial instruments; and indirectly – principally through investment funds.
Type of investment portfolio that each investment is made under. Since 2014, we have run two investment portfolios: Catalyst and Growth. In addition, our Kinetic Portfolio enables us to manage concessional investment strategies.
For direct investments and fund investments, this is the date BII committed capital to the investments. This is typically the date on which legal agreements are signed by all parties.
For the portfolio companies of our fund investments, this is the date (either the month or the quarter) on which the fund committed capital to the portfolio company.
For direct equity investments, this is the date at which British International Investment exited the investment.
For debt investments, this is the date at which the final debt repayment was made.
For funds, this is the date at which the fund was terminated.
For underlying fund investments, this is the date at which the fund manager exited the investment.
The total amount committed, per financial instrument, per investment, on the date BII becomes subject to a binding legal obligation to provide funding or assume a contingent liability. This information is provided in US dollars.
For direct investments, this is the amount that BII has committed to the business or project. For fund investments, this is the amount BII has committed to the fund.
The currency in which the investment was made.
- First published
