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
As CBO Investment Management seeks to raise a $150m fund dedicated to investing in the under serviced SME space in West Africa, AGF’s Anna Lyudvig catches up with Managing Partner, Bex Nwawudu, to learn more
Acorn Private Equity has recently announced that its maiden fund, focused on SMEs in Southern Africa, completed its final exit and achieved lucrative returns for investors. AGF catches up with Gerhard Visagie, Investment Director at Acorn, to learn more about its success story and future plans
Andreas Schonning of Global Real Estate Institute speaks with Carlo Matta, CEO at Laurus Development Partners about the West African real estate market and how it will look like five years from now
Paris-based Amethis Finance stands out from the African private equity crowd. Its overwhelmingly private shareholder base is certainly a rarity in a universe heavily dependent on development finance institutions (DFIs), whilst the management team’s long-term dedication to the African continent has led them to design their very own investment and impact philosophy. We met with managing partner Luc Rigouzzo (pictured) in Cape Town to find out what that might be.
Actis, an emerging markets investor, focuses on investments in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The firm has a strong track record of backing high-quality businesses in Africa with over $3bn invested in 23 countries across the continent to date. AGF’s Anna Lyudvig speaks with David Cooke, Director at Actis, about the firm’s investment strategy in Africa, opportunities and challenges.
AGF’s Anna Lyudvig sits down with Stuart Bradley, Senior Partner at Phatisa, to discuss ESG (environmental, social and governance) principals and how to apply them to a private equity portfolio
Despite the vast economic growth in Africa, the need for development impact on the continent is still huge. As the majority of Africans live below $8 a day, they struggle with existential challenges on a daily basis, including extreme poverty, hunger, disease and unemployment. Eytan Stibbe (top), Founding partner of Vital Capital, and David van Adelsberg (bottom), Chairman of Impact Capital Strategies, tell AGF how the fund is delivering both social and financial returns
Africa Global Funds catches up with Yannick Lefang, Founder of SOKO Insight, an internet-based information platform that empowers business leaders and organizations with reliable data and actionable insights from Africa.
The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM), the development finance institution of the Swiss Confederation and a cornerstone of Swiss development cooperation, aims to promote long-term, sustainable and broad-based growth in developing and emerging countries. SIFEM, which has around $600m and a 30% allocation to Africa, is advised by Obviam, a privately owned advisory group. AGF speaks with Andrea Heinzer, Chief Investment Officer and Partner at Obviam, about Africa strategy, private equity and recent deals.
