African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) has acquired a 60% effective interest in DSM Corridor Group Tanzania (DCG), a specialist dry bulk terminal operator in the Port of Dar es Salaam. 

The deal was executed via a strategic holding company - African Ports and Corridors Holdings (APCH) - which will facilitate the acquisition of further terminals and other corridor expansions across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Jurie Swart, AIIM CEO, said that the Port of Dar es Salaam is forecast to grow to 41.5mtpa by 2028, which represents almost 3 times the current volume. 

The port and surrounding infrastructure is set to be refurbished under the lauded Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project, which is jointly funded by the World Bank, the UK’s Department for International Development and TradeMark East Africa. 

The port’s strategic location services multiple landlocked countries including Zambia, Uganda, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Malawi. Key dry bulk commodities flow through these corridors and the planned rehabilitation of the Central Corridor Railway project will further anchor the port as a critical East African hub.

Swart said that the combination of a critical requirement for greater efficiency in African ports and the development of private investment programmes is driving a strong pipeline of opportunities, particularly in the dry bulk cargo area. 

“This partnership represents an attractive opportunity to support the development of a pan-African infrastructure platform with a team which has demonstrated immense success in providing a world-class service to both regional and global clients, while ensuring a significant impact on economic and social development in our core markets,” he said.

Erik Kok, DCG and APCH CEO, added: “We are very pleased to enter into this partnership with AIIM and look forward to working together closely to pursue further growth opportunities along key regional transport corridors.”

“We believe that the combination of AIIM and DCG presents a compelling combination which brings together AIIM’s extensive experience in Sub-Saharan infrastructure with DCGs operational excellence in dry bulk and commodity logistics,” he said.

AIIM is a member of Old Mutual Alternative Investments (OMAI) that develops, advises and manages private equity infrastructure funds designed to invest long-term institutional equity in African infrastructure projects.

AIIM has circa $1.6bn of funds under management with a track record extending across six infrastructure funds, and over 16 years’ experience managing investments in 19 portfolio companies across the renewable energy, power generation, transport, port logistics and telecommunications sectors.