The project consists of a 6-year ZAR600 million ($47.67 million) senior loan to Business Partners Limited (“BPL”). The IFC loan forms part of the SME Push Program and will strengthen BPL’s long-term funding position and support the expansion of its lending operations to underserved SMEs in South Africa.

The proposed investment consists of a 6-year senior loan of up to ZAR600 million (~US$48 million equivalent). The funding will be used exclusively for expanding BPL’s lending operations to SMEs, with a particular focus on women-owned SMEs.

There is often limited information publicly available about what development banks are funding through financial intermediaries. In 2021, the Early Warning System partnered with Oxfam International to incorporate information on high-risk projects being funded by financial intermediaries receiving funding from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Dutch Development Bank (FMO).

The information listed below describes the relationship between the different private actors linked to high-risk sectors and subprojects of IFC and FMO's financial intermediary investments and/or the financial intermediary's parent companies made from 2017 through 2020, including any associated ring fences.

The database, however, does not explicitly or implicitly imply that IFC or FMO have material exposure to or are contractually or legally accountable to the sub-projects financed by their financial intermediaries or the financial intermediary's parent companies. It only shows a seemingly financial relationship among the different private actors, the financial intermediaries, and IFC or FMO.

Business Partners Limited has a diversified shareholding composed of a mix of entities including government, local commercial banks, insurance companies, other corporate bodies and individuals. The principal shareholder is Eikenlust (pty) Limited, a subsidiary of Remgro Ltd, with a 42.8% stake.

Business Partners Ltd. 
Mark Paper 
Chief Operating Officer 
+27 0117136600 
mpaper@businesspartners.co.za 
37 West Street Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, South Africa 
www.businesspartners.co.za 

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF IFC

The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an IFC or MIGA- financed project. If you submit a complaint to the CAO, they may assist you in resolving a dispute with the company and/or investigate to assess whether the IFC is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. If you want to submit a complaint electronically, you can email the CAO at CAO@worldbankgroup.org. You can learn more about the CAO and how to file a complaint at http://www.cao-ombudsman.org/