What are the most promising markets and sectors for African investors? Which factors will drive capital markets and PE performance in 2017? What are the best investment strategies? Find out what experts have to say on these questions and more
Lucid Ventures, an approved FSB -Section 12J Venture Capital Company, has recently completed new investments in the South African hospitality sector. The firm that was launched in early 2016 has been very active in the deal-making scene. It finds no shortage of opportunity in its core focus sectors in South Africa. Africa Global Funds catches up with Jordin Borer, Investment Officer at Lucid Ventures, to discuss new deals and plans for 2017.
AGF catches up with Phatisa’s East African Partner, Yida Kemoli, to discuss the African Agriculture Fund and how PE can drive African GDP through enhancing farm yields and input
In August, the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) announced it had closed a deal with Helios Towers Africa (HTA). Three elements of the closure gave me particular pleasure. First, it’s the fifth time EAIF has helped HTA grow its business and bring its entrepreneurial drive and commercial acumen to offering better and more competitive telecommunications products to its markets. Secondly, it was the first deal to be closed by Investec Asset Management since it won the mandate to manage EAIF earlier this year. Thirdly, and by far the most important reason is that the investment will help transform lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where HTA has acquired some 950 towers that it will upgrade to improve reach and capacity.
AGF speaks with Nonnie Wanjihia, Executive Director at EAVCA (The East Africa Venture Capital Association) about the private equity environment in East Africa and the role of EAVCA
EMPEA has released 1H 2016 Industry Statistics for emerging markets private equity, private infrastructure and real assets and private credit. AGF speaks with Jeff Schlapinski, Director, Research, EMPEA, about trends in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (IPPF) is a multi-donor trust fund managed by the African Development Bank on behalf of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). IPPF supports the development of regional and continental infrastructure with grants to African governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and African infrastructure-related institutions to prepare high-quality viable trans-boundary projects in energy, trans-boundary water resources, transport and ICT. Shem Simuyemba of NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility talks about the facility and how it address one of the weaknesses of infrastructure development in Africa.
According to the latest Morningstar South African Rating Analysis of unit trusts, Foord Unit Trusts has been the country’s top asset manager, based on both equal-weighted and asset-weighted ratings. AGF speaks with Nick Curtin of Foord, who is responsible for the firm’s institutional investor relationships.
AGF’s Anna Lyudvig speaks with David Kitawi Mwakitele, Director in charge of Business Development and Strategy at Seriani Asset Managers, on the state of the Kenyan pension fund industry
Following the success of its flagship trade finance fund, Barak Fund Management has recently announced the launch of additional investment vehicles to fulfil the needs of their current investors. AGF sits down with Giles Hedley, Investor Relations Officer, to learn about new funds and opportunities in the trade finance space in Sub-Saharan Africa
SAVCA spoke to Justin Stanford, co-Founder and MD of the 4Di Capital, about the state of venture capital in South Africa, and the outlook for deal-making and fundraising
For Emerging Capital Partners’ (ECP) co-Founder, Managing Director and co-Chief Executive Hurley Doddy, there is no lack of opportunity in Africa and no oversupply of capital. With 16 years of experience investing in Africa, the Pan-African private equity firm has raised over $2bn for investment across the African continent, has made 62 investments and completed 39 exits.
A trailblazer for some of the less explored frontier markets, the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) has invested $5.4bn in private equity funds in emerging markets since 2000. So what does it take for a private fund to partner with the IFC? Frontera’s Managing Editor Gavin Serkin asked Maria Kozloski, Chief Investment Officer of the IFC’s private equity funds group, in our latest.
Africa’s population boom is creating demand for residential property. In 2013, Phatisa, an African firm with deep roots in private equity, introduced an eastern and southern African investment initiative in response to the ever-increasing housing shortage - the Pan African Housing Fund (PAHF). AGF speaks with Jan van der Merwe, Fund Partner, PAHF, about investment opportunities, challenges in the housing space and why ESG matters
