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 |
|---|
Arkam aims to improve the quality of life for underserved low-income beneficiaries, by investing in companies that are either providing good quality jobs in sectors such as manufacturing, or providing access to essential products and services across sectors such as financial inclusion and agriculture. |
|
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How?
| How? |
|---|
|
Arkam aims to invest 30-40 per cent of capital in companies working in financial services and agriculture sectors. Arkam aims to invest 20-30 per cent of capital in companies creating good quality jobs for un-and semi-skilled workers. |
Who?
| Stakeholder | Geography | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Low-income beneficiaries that were previously unserved or under-served in terms of access to essential products/services. |
Pan-India |
Fund I track record: Low-income reach, disaggregated by sector: 40 per cent in financial services; 69 per cent in agriculture. |
| Blue-collar workers who are predominantly un-or semi-skilled. |
Pan-India |
Fund I track record: Low-income reach, disaggregated by sector: 70 per cent in skilling-tech; 69 per cent in agriculture. |
How much?
| Scale | Depth/Duration |
|---|---|
|
Fund I track record: impacted over 82 million lives. We expect Fund II to impact over 100 million lives. |
We expect a significant portfolio of beneficiaries to improve incomes and quality of life because of Arkam’s companies. |
Contribution/additionality
| Contribution/additionality |
|---|
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Risk
Evidence RiskThis risk pertains to lack of availability of aggregable impact data, especially data pertaining to depth of impact. We are in discussions with the manager to conduct external verification of impact at least once through the fund life. This risk will be mitigated by instituting robust measures that allow routine measurement of impact. Execution Risk30-50 per cent of the portfolio will invest in sustainability which is a relatively new investing pillar for the fund manager. This risk will be mitigated by hiring quality teams. |
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 focused on the improvement of the ESMS regarding roles and responsibilities, dynamic risk management, training, and reporting.
Environmental and social risk
Low
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 reportsandcomplaints@bii.co.uk or by mail. See more details on our Reporting and Complaints Mechanism here.
For any other general enquiries contact us at enquiries@bii.co.uk
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Key facts
- First published
:
When the investment was first published on the website database.
- December 2024
- Last updated
:
When the last quarterly update of the website database occurred.
- December 2024
- Project number
:
An identifier number shared by investments in the same project.
- D6315
- Status
:
The current status of the investment (green flag for active and red flag for exited).
- Active
- 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.
- South Asia
- Investment type :
- Fund
- Start date :
- August 2024
- Amount :
- $10m
- Currency of investment :
- USD
- Fund manager:
- Unitary Investment Management LLP
- Domicile
:
The company or investment fund’s place of incorporation.
- India
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.
- First published
