LeapFrog Investments, a profit-with-purpose investor in emerging markets, has invested $180m in Ghanaian financial services provider, Enterprise Group. 

The transaction draws from a $350m separately managed account, LeapFrog Strategic African Investments (LSAI), which was established in 2016 to access high growth markets in Africa.

The Enterprise Group commitment represents LeapFrog’s largest investment to-date and marks the first investment of LSAI, a fund in which Prudential Financial is the primary investor. 

LSAI will manage the EGL investment to the Enterprise Group business, increasing efficiencies, offering product development opportunities and helping expand the business in Ghana and other growth markets in the region. 

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Enterprise Group financial services include insurance, life cover, and pensions for emerging consumers. 

Enterprise Group’s life insurance arm, Enterprise Life, is Ghana’s leading provider of life insurance, controlling gross premiums of over $50m. 

The Company has reported a market-leading compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26% in premiums between 2013 and 2015.

“Enterprise Group is a pioneer in delivering vital financial services to emerging consumers in Ghana. Its leading position in financial services, as well as dominance in insurance with over 28 per cent of the market, is a testament to the quality of the financial services it provides,” said Doug Lacey, who co-led the transaction with Norm Kelly on behalf of LSAI.

“We are extremely pleased to enter into this strategic relationship with Enterprise Group,” said Norm Kelly of LeapFrog Investments. 

“Enterprise Group’s management team has built a robust platform for growth in West Africa. With the capital and expertise of our team behind the business, we are confident that it will scale to provide millions more people with access to essential financial services.”

With the new investment, Sanlam Emerging Markets will exit its holding in three of Enterprise Group’s subsidiaries companies; namely Enterprise Life, Enterprise Insurance and Enterprise Trustees for $130 million. 

A further $50 million will be invested to fund Enterprise Group’s future growth.

Keli Gadzekpo, Group CEO of Enterprise, said: “We at Enterprise are delighted to welcome LeapFrog Investments into the Enterprise Family. They bring an incredible network of global insurance contacts and experience, and also the capacity to provide growth capital towards the realisation of our very ambitious strategic objectives. We are pleased they have chosen to partner with us.”

The rapid expansion of the Ghanaian economy, projected at 8.7% in 2017, is creating substantial demand for financial services among emerging consumers in the country. 

The investment positions Enterprise Group to further seize that vast market opportunity.