Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high - risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high - risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more

Upowa - Issue 12: Cameroon - 7.75% Bond

18 months to mature 7.75% interest

UpOwa - Issue 12: Cameroon - 7.75% Bond

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invested £285 invested

Every £285 invested will enable upOwa to install one of their higher-end Solar Home System to a household previously living off-grid.

households 3,500 people will benefit

With an average household size of 5, 3,500 people with benefit from access to electricity through this campaign.

Founded in 2014, upOwa has a bold ambition:


“To make solar energy available to millions of households now living in the dark in Cameroon and across Central Africa.”

Since their incorporation, upOwa has becoming the leading ‘pay-as-you-go’ solar company in Cameroon and is on the way to become a leader of the solar sector in many Francophone African countries. upOwa have successfully installed over 40,000 solar home systems across Cameroon, with the aim to reach 1 million beneficiaries by the end of 2024.

About upOwa

  • Incorporated in 2014 in Grenoble, France
  • Offices in France and Cameroon
  • Installed over 48,000 units since incorporation
  • Turnover in 2021: EUR 3.8M
  • Winner of multiple awards including the Energy Access Challenge Award in 2016
  • Key product information

    Issuer: upOwa SAS

    Issuing Country: France

    Investment target: £200,000

    Minimum investment: £50

    Maximum investment: No maximum

    Maturity: 18 months

    Expected interest rate: 7.75% per annum

    Withholding tax rate: 0% (applicable to UK residents who do not invest within an IF ISA)

    Interest payment frequency: 6 monthly

    Capital repayment: 6 monthly 

    Financial instrument: Unsecured interest bearing bond

    Security: Unsecured


    Key risks

    This is a bond issued by a single company (rather than a saving product) and therefore it is recommended that you are careful with the amount you invest.


    You must read the offer document (provided below) where a statement of risks is presented, particularly in section 5 – Risk Analysis Overview

    Documents

    See what upOwa do

    What the project investment will enable

    Every £285 invested in this project will enable upOwa to install one of their a higher-end Solar Home System ('SHS') to a household that was previously off-grid. In total, the project will enable the company to purchase 700 SHS, providing 3,500 people with access to electricity.


    upOwa’s high-end offer is a solar home system comprising of a solar panel, control unit that includes a long-lasting lithium battery, a universal cell phone charger, 4 ceiling lamps and TV, and is provided on an 18-month PAYG plan, with a 10% upfront deposit. All products distributed by upOwa come from suppliers who are Lighting Global certified, and customers benefit from a two-year warranty.


    At the time of installation, upOwa field agents offer training to customers on how to make the most of their solar home system to maximise its lifetime. In upOwa’s call centre, operators pro-actively assist and train clients to both understand the pay-as-you-go mechanism and anticipate maturity dates, which assists in maintaining a low default rate.


    Another benefit of upOwa’s products is the mobile phone charging connection that comes with all products – being able to charge phones at home saves rural households time and money in travelling to town to charge their phones, which are a vital tool for communication and gaining information.

    upOwa

    The company aim to raise £200,000 from this bond issue and will use the funds to deploy 700 solar home systems across Cameroon, from regional hubs including Bafoussam and Yaoundé. In rural areas of Cameroon, as little as 32% of the population have access to electricity.


    Not only will your investment enable upOwa to provide electricity to off-grid communities – you’ll also be helping the company to grow and provide further local employment opportunities. By the end of 2024, upOwa aims to create 1,000 direct jobs, provide electricity to 1 million beneficiaries and to prevent 200,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere .



    Social and environmental impact

    Solar home systems and solar lanterns have been shown to have a significant impact on both customer’s lives, and the environment. upOwa has installed over 48,000 systems in Cameroon since their incorporation, impacting the lives of roughly 240,000 people.

    Social Impact

    Social Impact

    Social impact statistics taken from the 2019 report “Powering Opportunity in West Africa” by the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA)

    98%

    of customers report that they feel safer thanks to off-grid solar

    91%

    of customers say children have more time to do their homework

    $31

    additional income is created in the average household, thanks to solar electricity access

    Environmental Impact

    Environmental Impact

    Using industry recognised GOGLA research and impact metrics, the environmental impact of installing 700 solar home systems will be:

    3,500

    Number of people enjoying access to electricity

    86%

    Proportion of households reporting improved health thanks to clean energy access

    1.1tonnes

    Total CO2 emissions avoided per household over the lifetime of the product

    • pdf

      Offer Documents

      upOwa Issue 12: Offer Document (Log In to download)

     

    Frequently Asked Questions