Pinsent Masons, an international law firm, has successfully advised Zebu Investment Partners on the closing of its investment fund.

Zebu Investment Partners is a specialist investment manager focused on improved food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

The multi-million dollar Africa Food Security Fund (AFSF) has been capitalised by a number of established African investors including key Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). 

The fund is set up to invest in potential high-growth SMEs operating in the food and agriculture value chains across the continent.

Dennis Matangira, Senior Managing Partner at Zebu, said: “Given the quality of opportunities that we continue to identify in the SME space, the combination of patient capital from our investors and technical assistance helps to complete the funding gap that we experience in sub-Sahara Africa."

The fund closing builds on the increasing portfolio of significant mandates Pinsent Masons' funds team has advised on in Africa and elsewhere.

The team has grown significantly over the last 18 months, with a number of strategic hires including David Young and Oliver Crowley.

Ian Warner, Partner at Pinsent Masons, said, “We've been delighted to help Dennis and the rest of the team at Zebu on this really important fund raising. The contribution of funds like AFSF to the agriculture and food sector in Africa is crucial and we enjoyed working with Zebu and the first close investors on reaching this significant milestone.” 

“We've developed a real focus on African funds work where both managers and investors alike are creating value as well as investing in an impactful way that we are happy to be a part of."