“Powering Africa” has been a hot topic for the past few years. As the continent experiences increased urbanization and GDP growth it is still constrained by a lack of access to reliable, affordable electricity. Both conventional and renewable technologies offer cost effective complementary power solutions, but building this infrastructure requires a significant amount of capital. Despite the sheer need, many investors find their real obstacles are not financial, but finding the right projects and management teams to deliver these projects.
In the months leading up to January 2015, the price of oil fell by 60% driven down largely by booming shale oil production, the drop in energy demands from emerging markets and the strengthening of the US dollar. By late-January of 2015, Brent Crude traded at around $50, hitting its lowest-levels since the global financial crisis in 2009. Prices however recovered to around $60-65 by the end of the first quarter of 2015 – but this still represents a major adjustment from the $90-110 average price levels we’ve seen over the last five years.
The diversity of Africa’s 54 unique countries is a fact which African experts and Africa-facing companies have been stressing for years. The varied effect of the global oil price decline on countries across Africa is simply a case in point, writes Paul Clark.
Over the past few months we’ve been busy collecting your votes on who should make our inaugural Africa Global Funds’ list of Top 40 institutional investors in Africa. With your help we have chosen institutions among banks, insurance companies and development finance institutions, as well as SWFs, endowments and foundations. While these investors differ widely in the strategies and philosophies, they have one thing in common – they commit substantial funds to Africa’s development, promoting job creation and supporting economic growth throughout the continent. The AGF Top 40 Institutional Titans is our recognition of these visionary investors who are shaping up the future of Africa.
The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, speaks with Africa Global Funds’ Anna Lyudvig about his tenure at the CBN, his book on Africa and his consulting and advisory firm
The major long-term economic trends have intensified the need for new infrastructure and emphasized the huge investment potential that exists across the African continent, finds Anna Lyudvig
Mozambique liquefied natural gas (LNG) stands to transform the country and entrench it as a leading player in the global LNG industry. Developing these reserves and scaling up the currently planned LNG facility to its potentially multi-train capacity, will establish Mozambique as one of the largest exporters of LNG, a commodity of increasing global prominence.
AGF catches up with Erika van der Merwe, CEO of the South African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA) to discuss the organisation, its role and private equity landscape in Southern Africa.
A new $918m deal with the IMF should alleviate some of Ghana’s fiscal pressures and help restore investor confidence ahead of a critical bond issue, but further reforms will be needed to balance the budget.
Private equity investors are taking into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, helping to drive best practice, attendees heard at the launch of the first Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA) Case Study Compendium in Sandton, South Africa last week.
Some of the lowest valuations in decades in the African mining sector are likely to spur a wave of deals in the sector, creating a window of opportunity for private equity players.
The US Federal Reserve is set to tighten its monetary policy for the first time after the 2008 global financial crisis. Anna Lyudvig analyzes the possible implications for African markets
Kenya in particular and East Africa as a whole are the real winners emerging from global market volatility, and 2015 will be a prosperous year for the region, says Anna Rosenberg of Frontier Strategy Group
