This investment was made when British International Investment was named CDC Group.
We have now exited this investment. This is what we achieved.
Achieved impact
This information will appear shortly
Expected impact
BII’s investment in the company (also known as Sun King Kenya) is expected to improve quality of life for customers by financing the growth of solar home systems' sales. It will help improve access to clean and affordable energy, and financial services. The investment will reach primarily low-income peri-urban and rural consumers in Kenya. BII has supported the company through several loan facilities starting in 2020. BII’s current support for the company is through both direct lending and to Sun King Financing Limited as part of a receivable securitisation transaction (see dedicated page).
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 |
|---|
Improve quality of life by extending access to affordable reliable and modern energy services and financial services (SDGs 7.1, 7.2 and 1.4) |
|
|
How?
| How? |
|---|
|
Our investment will help to finance sales growth, by providing debt capital to fund GreenLight Planet's receivables book for Pay-as-you-go solar home system products, enabling more affordable access to energy services and unbanked customers to establish credit histories. |
Who?
| Stakeholder | Geography | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Consumers |
Kenya |
Primarily (80 per cent) rural and peri-urban consumers. 77 per cent of current customers are low-income, living on less than $5.50 a day. 49 per cent live in relative poverty, living on less than $3.20 a day. |
How much?
| Scale | Depth/Duration |
|---|---|
|
The new facility is expected to reach up to c.3.2 million households in total. |
Around 77 per cent of Greenlight Planet's customers are accessing off-grid solar power for the first time. On average, surveyed Greenlight Planet customers reported a 102 per cent increase in hours of light and a 75 per cent reduction of kerosene consumption after acquiring a solar home system. |
Contribution/additionality
| Contribution/additionality |
|---|
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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 an ESAP with Greenlight Planet which included the development of a formal ESMS, occupational health and safety measures, supply chain management and electronic waste management.
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
- Last updated
:
When the last quarterly update of the website database occurred.
- June 2024
- Project number
:
An identifier number shared by investments in the same project.
- D3349
- Status
:
The current status of the investment (green flag for active and red flag for exited).
- Exited
- 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.
- East Africa
- Country
:
The countries where the investment delivers impact. Where impact is delivered in multiple countries, this is indicated.
- Kenya
- Sector
:
We prioritise those sectors that facilitate development and need our capital the most. Our priority sectors contribute towards many of the Sustainable Development Goals. They range from investing in the power infrastructure that will provide people with better access to electricity, to investing in financial institutions that direct capital to the individuals and businesses that need it the most.
- Infrastructure
- Investment type :
- Debt
- Start date :
- September 2021
- End date :
- June 2023
- Amount :
- $19.99m
- Currency of investment :
- KES
- Domicile
:
The company or investment fund’s place of incorporation.
- Kenya
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.
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.
- Climate finance type:
- Mitigation
- 2X Gender Finance
:
Indicates whether the investment is ‘2X qualified’ using the 2X Challenge criteria. You can find out more here. It only applies to investments made from 2018 onwards, when the 2X Challenge was first launched.
- Fully qualified
- Last updated
Related investments made by BII into this company:
| Investment name | Commitment | Region | Sector | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment 02 | $10m | East Africa | Infrastructure | June 2023 | Active |
