A fund offering private debt finance to growing African businesses has announced a final close at $156 million. BluePeak Private Capital Fund SCSp is an alternative asset manager supporting the growth of scalable businesses in Africa through privately negotiated flexible capital solutions, similar to and including debt, to entrepreneurs.
Latest investors are African Development Bank (AfDB) and South African private investor Sango Capital, They join other backers for BluePeak: British International Investment (BII, the UK’s development finance institution), European Investment Bank (EIB), US Development Finance Corporation (DFC), FMO (the Dutch entrepreneurial investment bank), SwedFund (Sweden’s development finance institution), and “Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations” (CDC) Tunisia.
In the 3 years since the fund’s first close, it has built a diversified portfolio of 6 pioneering businesses operating in more than 30 countries across Africa, employing over 7,500 people and impacting the lives of millions. BluePeak was set up in 2019 and has presence in Tunis, Nairobi and London. It proactively identifies areas where positive impact can be achieved and believes that environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors positively contribute to investment performance, as well as to help build a more stable, sustainable business and inclusive global economy.
According to a press release “The closing signifies the emergence of private debt as an attractive asset class, offering superior risk adjusted and a compelling alternative for African SMEs. The rapid deployment of conscious capital in several industries demonstrates the range of growth opportunities available in the region.”
Walid Cherif, BluePeak Co-Founder and Managing Partner said: “We are excited about the next phase, partnering with ambitious entrepreneurs to boost operational excellence, drive growth, strengthen ESG practices and unlock positive impact across Africa.”
BluePeak works closely with its partners to encourage growth, employment, and opportunities to balance gender equality. The fund is committed to the 2X Challenge initiative, a flagship initiative under 2X Global, first launched at the G7 Summit 2018 as a joint commitment by the Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), with a target of $3billion over 3 years, and with a more ambitious target at the G7 Summit 2021 to invest $15bn in private sector investments that provide women with improved access to leadership opportunities, quality employment, finance, enterprise support, and products and services that enhance economic participation and access. Both targets were overachieved and total invsetments under the 2X Challenge are $27.7bn.
A 2017 report from the International Finance Corporation estimates the SME “finance gap” at $245bn in sub-Saharan African and $138bn for the Middle East and North Africa. The AfDB says the gap for SME finance is estimated as $421bn in Africa. (Paper International Finance Corporation (2017): MSME Finance Gap, World Bank Group, Washington D.C. accessible here; AfDB paper 2021 African SMES Through COVID-19 Challenges, Policy Responses and Recommendation available here).
4 responses
I am very interested in your products. We are are construction firm based in Ghana but with operations in Cote d’ivoire. We are currently undertaking a water project in Cote d’ivoire. We are looking for some funding of $5M to supplement our working capital. We would prefer a facility in the form of an instrument which can be used as a collateral to enable us borrow against it, since our contract proceeds are in CFA.
Hi Frank, great to hear about your firm Core Construction and congratulations on an impressive website. I sourced the article from a press release, to make financial inquiries it would be good to contact Blue Peak Private Capital directly, you can find their email and other details on their website. Good luck with the project and raising the supplementary capital.
Hello Investors,
We are thrilled to introduce PowerBox, an innovative project focused on manufacturing and distributing off-grid energy solutions locally in Nigeria. As an early-stage company, PowerBox is dedicated to meeting the increasing local demand for reliable and sustainable energy while also positioning ourselves for export opportunities.
Our locally manufactured PowerBox units provide efficient, affordable, and renewable energy solutions to households and businesses in off-grid areas. This not only addresses the critical energy needs of underserved communities but also promotes economic growth and environmental sustainability.
We are seeking a $500,000 debt investment to scale up production, enhance our technology, and expand our market reach. The funds will be allocated towards increasing manufacturing capacity, improving product features, and executing targeted marketing strategies to drive adoption.
Key Highlights:
1. Locally manufactured, cost-effective off-grid energy solutions
2. High demand in local and international markets
3. Strong potential for positive social and environmental impact
4. Repayment plan structured to ensure timely returns
Join us in our mission to bring reliable energy to off-grid areas in Nigeria and beyond. Your support will enable us to make a significant difference in the lives of many and contribute to sustainable development.
Thank you for considering our proposal. We look forward to your support.
Best regards,
AbdulmalikBadamasi
Powerbox Energy Systems Nigeria
This website, AfricanCapitalMarketsNews.com, does not give investment advice and we do not endorse or support any investment options for our readers. However, we are happy for people to share news of their projects and we are always impressed at the energy, entrepreneurship and drive of so many great projects across Africa. If you are thinking of investing in any project, we suggest you find out and weigh all the risks and you should also get professional advice from your qualified advisers.