AFRICA – Shell Foundation, a UK-registered charity, together with FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, announced the launch of the US$120 million Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund (EEGF), with an initial close of US$45 million.
The Growth Fund will be providing catalytic financing for growth stage companies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) operating in the access to energy ecosystem.
Triple Jump, an Amsterdam based leading impact-focused investment manager, will act as a portfolio manager and Persistent while a Zurich based venture and private equity firm with expertise in the off-grid sector, will serve as investment advisor to the fund. Enclude, a Palladium company, advised on the structuring and execution of the fund.
The fund is designed to provide patient, flexible capital combined with technical assistance that is currently lacking in the off-grid energy ecosystem.
It will finance more than 25 companies and predominantly provides mezzanine structures as well as equity and debt investments through tailored solutions to meet the changing needs of growing energy companies.
With a fund life of 12 years, EEGF provides a longer investment holding and support period, recognizing the inherent need for such businesses in emerging economies to unlock value creation to their stakeholders.
“To reach the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 and deliver universal energy access, an additional 300+ companies will require funding of US$10M on average to become cashflow positive and grow to sufficient scale to deliver energy services to millions of consumers in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Sam Parker, Director, Shell Foundation.
“The EEGF will help to bridge the funding gap which today prevents early stage, growing energy companies from accessing the range of risk capital and business support they need to develop to the next stage and ultimately attract commercial capital.”
“We are excited to announce the EEGF partnership to help boost and scale innovative companies providing off-grid solar power in Africa.
“EEGF strives to close this gap. In addition, through the unique partnership between Triple Jump and Persistent, EEGF’s investee companies will be able to benefit from hands-on operational support and advice in order to help them transition into the next stages of development,” said Frederik van Pallandt, director Energy at FMO.
FMO’s contribution to the EEGF is partly funded by Building Prospects (US$7.5 million) and the Access to Energy Fund (US$7.5 million), which FMO manages on behalf of the Dutch government.
“The access to clean energy space is still a rather small but fast-growing industry, and one that is certainly relevant to Triple Jump’s mission to empower people and improve lives in emerging markets,” states Jan-Henrik Kuhlmann, Head of Sustainable Energy for Triple Jump.
