The encyclopedia · Finance & Accounting · Financial decision · 2012–2017
The UK Green Investment Bank used a little state money to crowd in private capital
A government-owned investor co-invested £1.6bn in green projects and mobilised £5.6bn of private capital alongside.
UK Green Investment Bank · UK government · private investors
the move
Green infrastructure projects were profitable over the long run but carried risk no private investor would take first.
The UK Green Investment Bank invested public money commercially in such projects rather than giving grants.
By taking hard first positions it de-risked projects and attracted private co-investment.
A £1.6bn of direct investment had mobilised £5.6bn of private capital by mid-2015.
why it works
- Investing, not granting, keeps commercial discipline and returns.
- Going first reduces the risk that blocks private capital.
- Co-investment multiplies the public money rather than substituting for it.
- Demonstrated returns made follow-on projects self-financing.
what transfers
When a market refuses to start, a patient co-investor that goes first and proves the return can bring private capital in behind it.
what came after
By 2017 the bank had committed about £3.5bn across roughly 100 projects and mobilised further private capital. It was sold to Macquarie for £2.3bn, returning taxpayer funding with a gain of around £186m.
references
- Examining the Effects of the UK Green Investment Bank
- The green bank went south; let's hope Sunak's new version succeeds
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