More than half the world’s fastest-growing economies since 2000 have been in Africa. Future growth projections suggest that by 2030 Africa will be home to 1.7 billion people, 43% of whom will belong to the upper or middle classes.
Sven RIchter, Fund Manager at Drakens Capital Fund Managers, looks at China’s One Belt One Road Initiative and what it means for Africa
AGF’s Anna Lyudvig sits down with Ann Leepile, Head of Absa Asset Management, to discuss the firm, its franchise model and how to succeed as a female in a male-dominated industry
The need for energy and the case for investing in energy in the region has generally been well documented. The Southern Africa Community Development (SADC) secretariat’s Regional Infrastructure Development Plan estimates that only 5% of rural areas in the region have any access to electricity. The southern African region as a whole has low access to electricity of about 42 percent compared to around 36 percent for the East African Community and 44 percent for the Economic Community of West African States.
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa had regarded the recent elections as his opportunity to rehabilitate the country in the eyes of the international community. To what extent has that opportunity been lost? Here’s an assessment from Dr. Christopher McKee (pictured), the CEO of PRS Group, the biggest quant-driven country risk analysis firm, whose data feeds Transparency International, the IMF and many of Wall Street’s largest investment firms.
The interest rate risk of the All Bond Index has been systemically increasing over time. This is driven by persistently high fiscal deficits and the resultant issuance of longer term SA government debt. Many retirement fund investors use the All Bond Index (ALBI) as their benchmark for bond allocations. They should be conscious of the steadily rising volatility of bond returns and that such bond allocations are riskier than they have been historically. While the ALBI has been used as a proxy to match pension funds’ liabilities, the ALBI itself has probably grown more volatile than pensioner liabilities.
Goodwell Investments has recently launched Goodwell Microfinance Development Company IV (Goodwell IV), a new €20m fund for investments in the inclusive economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. AGF catches up with Wim van der Beek, Partner at Goodwell Investments, to learn more
The Global Impact Investing Network defines impact investments as investments which are made into companies, organisations and funds with the intention to generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. It highlights that impact investment has attracted a wide variety of investors, both individual and institutional, and that it is taking place all over the world and across all asset classes.
As far as legal and regulatory developments in Nigeria’s private equity industry goes, it appears that the dots are finally beginning to connect, writes Olubunmi Abayomi-Olukunle, Lead Transaction Counsel at Balogun Harold
African bankers are positive about the growth of trade finance, although considerable obstacles stand in the way of the continent reaching its full potential, explains Doina Buruiana, Project Manager at the ICC Banking Commission
AGF’s Anna Lyudvig speaks with Enitan Obasanjo-Adeleye, Head of Research, AVCA about infrastructure investments in Africa and whether there is the best template for infrastructure investing
There are many misconceptions about Africa and African investing. One of the more common remarks we hear when introducing Africa to potential investors is, “I know, this is a high-risk investment with a high potential return”. If we use the MSCI index for Africa excluding South Africa and compare the returns and volatility of this index to a range of other global indices, we can see that this is simply not true. The graph below shows US dollar data from June 2, 2002 (earliest available for Africa ex-South Africa) to April 30, 2018.
AGF’s Anna Lyudvig speaks with Keonethebe Bosigo (pictured) and Seth Boakye-Dankwah, Portfolio Managers of the Mazi Capital Prime Africa Fund, to learn more about the fund and the South African firm
Criterion Africa Partners (CAP) is an independent private equity management company that invests across the forestry value chain in select countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The firm was established by the former Global Environment Fund (GEF) forestry investment team in 2017. AGF’s Anna Lyudvig sits down for a one on one with George G. McPherson, Managing Director, to discuss the firm and opportunities in the forestry sector.
