As part of its initiative to maximise local currency financing, Celtel Kenya sought to raise Kenyan Shilling debt from the local capital market. However, in order to place debt in the local capital market, Celtel Kenya needed to obtain credit enhancement from an AAA-rated institution. GuarantCo’s involvement enabled FMO to arrange and underwrite the required credit enhancement for the debt issuance.

The facility provided a major boost to the Kenyan capital market due to the demonstration effect of a private sector non-financial institution’s successful bond listing.

Celtel Kenya needed to restructure its balance sheet by exchanging costly foreign currency shareholder loans with local currency debt. This allowed the company to run a more capital-efficient and competitive business and expand its network. This helped to reduce tariffs, thus making mobile services affordable to a greater proportion of the population.