XSML Capital is an independent private equity fund manager, with a focus on the Central African region. While building and managing funds for these markets, XSML, eXtra Small Medium Large, provides so much needed finance and management expertise to SMEs in post-conflict countries. The impact investor, which is managing the Central Africa SME Fund, is currently fundraising its second fund: the African Rivers Fund. AGF catches up with Jarl Heijstee, Managing Partner at XSML Capital, to discuss details.
Industry veteran Dr. Mark Mobius, Executive Chairman, Templeton Emerging Markets Group, Franklin Templeton Investments, has been investing in global emerging markets for more than 40 years. He joined Templeton in 1987 and currently directs the Templeton research team, which is based in 18 global emerging markets offices, and manages emerging markets portfolios including Africa. AGF sits down with Dr. Mobius to discuss his career, the Templeton Africa Fund and opportunities that he sees in the “Last Frontier”.
The Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund) is the government’s main instrument for combatting poverty through private sector development. Established by the Norwegian Parliament in 1997, Norfund provides risk capital to companies where businesses lack access to sufficient capital to develop and grow. At the end of 2014, the Fund had NOK9bn ($1.12bn) invested in Africa (72% of total investments). Africa Global Funds’ Anna Lyudvig sits down with Mark Davis, Head of Clean Energy Department at Norfund, to discuss why the renewable energy is of particular focus for Norfund.
Hendrik du Toit, Chief Executive Officer at Investec Asset Management, shares his thoughts on Africa, his asset management company and what excites him about African businesses
The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, speaks with Africa Global Funds’ Anna Lyudvig about his tenure at the CBN, his book on Africa and his consulting and advisory firm
AGF catches up with Erika van der Merwe, CEO of the South African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA) to discuss the organisation, its role and private equity landscape in Southern Africa.
STANLIB, a South African-based and pan-African multi-specialist investment company, has recently reached a final close of its first private equity infrastructure fund, raising R1.2bn ($104.8m) in total commitments. Africa Global Funds speaks with Andy Louw, Principal, Infrastructure Investments, STANLIB, about the fund’s strategy, renewable energy and fundraising for the second fund.
Nicholas Piquito, Group Chief Investment Officer for African Alliance Asset Management, talks about the Group’s investment capability and growing trends in African asset management.
Sven Richter, Managing Director of Frontier Markets at RenAsset Management, discusses Kenya and Nigeria and gives his outlook for 2015. He speaks with Africa Global Funds’s Anna Lyudvig.
Africa Global Funds catches up with Fulvia D’Ippolito, Director for Africa at Global Real Estate Institute to learn more about forthcoming Africa GRI 2015 conference in Johannesburg.
Eczellon Capital has recently launched its first West Africa-focused private equity fund with a target size of $250m. Lami Adekola, Head of Investment Banking, tells Africa Global Funds about the firm and the fund's strategy.
Africa Global Funds catches up with Stuart Bradley, Senior Partner at Phatisa, to discuss the African Agriculture Fund (AAF) and opportunities in the African food value chain. The AAF is a food and agri focused pan-African private equity fund, managed by Phatisa. The fund final closed at $246m and has a current portfolio of 16 investments (including follow-on) across 12 African countries.
