FMO signed for a USD 7.8 mln investment (out of IDF) in the high impact Energy Access Fund managed by ResponsAbility investments AG. Other initial partner investors are a.o. IFC, Shell Foundation (first loss) and Anthos. The fund is open ended and a first of its kind in the energy access market and truly pioneering.
The fund will start with USD 34 mln of capital and intends to scale up to USD 70 mln once it builds trackrecord. The Fund is dedicated to providing working capital debt financing solutions to fast-growing companies which offer decentralized modern energy solutions such as solar home systems and solar lanterns primarily in Africa and Asia. The market for off-grid energy and lighting is expected to grow into a USD 50 bn market per annum in the long term and in dire need for access to debt finance.
ResponsAbility is a professional fund manager with over EUR 2 bln of assets under management, committed to energy access and well known to FMO. Formal close is expected end next week The transaction is fully inclusive and further contributes to FMO’s (and DGIS’) commitment to contribute to scalability and bankability of the fast growing off-grid energy access market and to be a leading impact investor.
