AfricInvest, a Pan-African mid-cap-focused private equity firm, has invested in Les Centaures Routiers (LCR), the largest independent transportation company in Côte d’Ivoire.

Hichem Ghanmi, Senior Partner at AfricInvest, said: “Les Centaures Routiers has managed to establish a strong brand and an excellent reputation in Côte d’Ivoire where it is recognized for its reliability and expertise. AfricInvest will draw on its experience in the logistics sector to provide the company with all the needed active support to deploy its new projects.”

AfricInvest Fund III, the firm’s third generation Pan-African fund, will provide LCR with €12.2 m of financing. 

The company will use the proceeds to (i) grow the existing business by reinforcing the company’s fleet of trucks (ii) invest in a new site that will consolidate all the freight transport and logistics activities by including a new state of the art logistics platform and (iii) meet the increasing working capital needs of the group.

Founded in 1953 by Jean-Jacques Delsuc, LCR is a leading transportation company mainly present in road freight transport in Côte d’Ivoire. 

LCR moves a wide variety of goods such as oil & gas, palm oil, sugar, beverages, and containers. The company also offers basic logistics services such as warehousing, handling and space rentals. 

LCR operates a fleet of 350 trucks as well as other transport and handling equipment spread over different sites in Côte d’Ivoire.

Through its investment, AfricInvest aims to support LCR’s ambition to become one of the main independent local logistics platforms in Côte d’Ivoire and to contribute to filling the current gap in the logistics sector in West Africa.

Cheikh-Souleymane Diallo, Senior Manager at AfricInvest, said: “We are proud and happy to support LCR and the Delsuc family in deploying a new strategic vision as well as enhancing its governance to achieve it projected growth in the region and bring a key support to the private sector in the region.”

Bertrand Delsuc, CEO of Les Centaures Routiers, said: “We are pleased to partner with AfricInvest to take our company to the next level. We believe that the trusting relationship we have built will foster the development and growth of our new organization.”

Anne-Marie Delsuc, Chief Administrative officer and Partner, said: “The arrival of an institutional investor with a solid experience in logistics on which we can capitalize, will certainly contribute to the growth and sustainability of our activities.”

Olivier Delsuc, Deputy CEO, added: “ This important step in LCR’s transition and transformation process is highly welcome. This partnership will foster the development of the company by reinforcing its strong foundation.”