As a leading impact investor, FMO supports sustainable private sector growth in developing countries and emerging markets by investing in ambitious projects and entrepreneurs. FMO believes that a strong private sector leads to economic and social development and has a 50+ year proven track-record of empowering people to employ their skills and improve their quality of life. Each month we give an overview of the transactions we have signed.
FMO signed a loan facility with Socapursel, Cameroon’s leading salt processor. The group supplies locally processed staples into Cameroon, a fragile-and-conflict affect state, and the Sahel region. The transaction (EUR 10 mln) will be specifically used to finance a new line to refine salt waste and reduce food loss from >10% to <1%, thereby earning a 100% Green label. During the contracting process, FMO assisted the owner of Socapursel to transform his business from a successful local conglomerate to a company meeting international standards (incl. reporting, ESG and governance).
FMO signed its first Energy transaction in Vietnam with GreenYellow Vietnam, providing USD 4.5 mln in Vietnamese Dong (VND) via a syndicated transaction. The company specializes in developing and operating rooftop solar PV systems for commercial and industrial (C&I) enterprises. The transaction will finance a constructed portfolio of C&I projects with up to 30MW of installed capacity and off-takers such as large supermarkets and malls. The total project cost is USD 24 mln with the USD tranche provided by ADB and SocGen (USD 3 mln each) and the VND tranche is provided by FMO (USD eq. 4.5 mln) and responsAbility (USD eq. 3.2 mln).
FMO closed a USD 1.5 mln equity investment in Okra Solar Ltd (“Okra”) which sells mesh grid solutions to developers (B2B), energizing last-mile communities in Nigeria. This investment is part of a ~USD 7.5 mln series A round alongside other investors. The mesh grid utilizes cutting-edge off-grid technology that enables households and businesses in a community to share energy through a device called the Okra pod. This asset-light solution provides high-quality access to energy, with a potential market of 18 million households to be connected in Nigeria. This transaction aligns with FMO Ventures Program’s mandate to invest in innovative, scalable business models as well as its impact mandate, enabling electrification of underserved communities (100% Inclusive) with solar and battery power (100% Green).
