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
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.
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
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
Mediterrania Capital Partners is one of a handful of private equity firms investing in the Maghreb region (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia). AGF’s Anna Lyudvig speaks with Albert Alsina, Founder, CEO & Managing Partner, about the firm’s strategy, potential expansion and exit routes.
In 2015, Proparco, the private sector financing arm of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), earmarked 62% of its financing approvals, approximately €648m, for Africa. These results confirm its strong commitment on the continent, which is in line with the objective set by the French President to provide €20bn of financing to Africa by 2018. Support for renewable energy, tourism and the financial sector, which is essential to finance the local economic base, accounted for the bulk of its operations on the continent. AGF catches up with Jérémie Ceyrac, Deputy Head of Private Equity Division at Proparco, to learn more.
The founders of Agri-Vie, an African private equity firm focused on the food and agribusiness sector, and STANLIB, a pan-African asset manager with over R579bn AUM, have recently announced the formation of EXEO Capital, an Africa-focused private equity partnership.
There have been a few tough years for African markets, and for the Imara African Resources Fund in particular. Over the last 5 years, the Fund lost 28.4%, but so far this year it has appreciated by 26.3%. AGF catches up with Bruce Williamson, CIO at Imara Asset Management, to learn more about the Fund’s strategy, top holdings and opportunities in the resources sector
Ashburton Investments has recently acquired 100% of boutique Cape Town fixed income asset manager Atlantic Asset Management, which includes the Atlantic Specialised Finance division. The acquisition complements Ashburton Investments’existing new generation fixed income business by adding to its range of traditional fixed income funds as well as introducing Atlantic's expertise in managing social impact investments. Ashburton Investments’s CEO Boshoff Grobler (pictured) and Head of Fixed Income, Shalin Bhagwan, tell AGF about the acquisition and future plans
As we enter 2016, AGF’s Anna Lyudvig speaks with leading industry experts about potential trends and themes facing the African asset management during the next 12 months
