Obviam has committed $8m on behalf of SIFEM to Catalyst Fund II, a $175m private equity fund that will make investments in SMEs and other fast growing companies in East Africa. 

SIFEM is the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets, a development finance institution of the Swiss Confederation and a cornerstone of Swiss development cooperation.

“SIFEM benefits from Catalyst’s experience and deeply embedded networks in East Africa, as well as its active value-add role and commitment to deliver both financial and developmental returns,” said Obviam.

The Fund has recently completed its first close at $103m.

The Fund will make investments 8-12 investments in companies operating in the following sectors: consumer goods, financial services, industrials and healthcare.

The main objectives of Catalyst II are to foster economic growth, support sustainable job creation, and promote the integration of target countries into the world economy.

The Fund Manager, Catalyst Principal Partners, seeks companies to invest where it can take an active value-add role and enhance growth by i) professionalizing management, ii) regionalizing the business, and iii) upgrading operations (for example driving the implementation of best practice reporting, governance, health, safety and environmental standards).

Catalyst Principal Partners is an independent East African private-equity fund manager based in Nairobi, Kenya. 

The Manager is composed of a cohesive and well-aligned team of East African nationals that have been working together since 2009.