August 1st, 2016
The  weekly roundup of Africa's Private Capital news


 

Here's the latest weekly wrap of the most interesting Africa-related private equity, infrastructure and venture capital deal stories, market opinion articles and information pieces.  Thank you for being a reader and we look forward to continuing to keep you informed on the private capital investment themes, deals and fundraisings in Africa.

We'd be delighted if you shared it with any interested colleagues and/or partners.  If they would like to receive their own weekly copy, they're more than welcome to sign up here.  

As always, if you have any tips, suggestions or questions, please reach out to Allan Cunningham at [email protected]
This week's issue supported by...             
Fund Forum Africa 2016
The Week in Brief...
Deals were few and far between in Africa last week. In fact, there were only two notable transactions, one of which had already been announced in late June and closed last week.

The deal in question was the $177 million equity deal in Lekela Power, the renewable energy joint venture between private equity firm  Actis and developer Mainstream Renewable Energy. While we had covered this deal in late June, the formal close of the transaction revealed a new member of the investor consortium--the Rockefeller Brothers Fund--who, according to Bloomberg, are investing $10 million as part of the $117.5 million commitment from the investor group. Mainstream itself is proving the balance of about $60 million.

The second piece of deal news for the week concerned Mara Delta's plan to invest a further $110 million in acquiring four additional properties in Maputo. The property investment firm has invested in six landmark properties valued at $160 million since 2014 and continues to be confident in the long-term outlook for the country and wider continent.

There were no new fund launches or closings last week which might concern some. But not EY, who published their annual Africa Attractiveness Program last week, finding that investor confidence in Africa remains strong despite the slowdown in economic growth. Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the world's fastest growing regions, and though down year on year, capital investment in 2015 was still ahead of the average for 2010 to 2014.

In market perspective news, we found a couple of interesting pieces. Since the global financial crisis changed the rules of engagement for commercial banks, the traditional source of infrastructure finance, private asset managers have stepped in to fill the gap. Strategy + Business magazine finds that as the supply of infrastructure development opportunities expands and shows no sign of abating, more and more private capital managers are expected to take advantage of he returns on offer.

Meanwhile,  Institutional Investor reports that South Africa's Public Investment Corporation's formal economic development agenda has the Democratic Alliance, the country's largest opposition party, concerned. They're calling for a brighter spotlight on the state-owned fund managers development efforts, particularly those that involve its portfolio of unlisted investments.

Finally last week, a couple of promotions and news of an office opening. On the job front, Tahira Dosani and Vikas Raj have been named the new Managing Directors of Accion Venture Lab, the microfinance organization's impact investment initiative. Both have an extensive working knowledge of Venture Lab's work having served in other roles at the firm since 2013.

And CIM Global Business, the largest fund administration firm in Mauritius, is setting up its first permanent presence on Africa's mainland, opening an office in Johannesburg. The move allows the firm to get closer to it African clients as well as capitalize on the growing investment flows into the continent. The new office will be led by Willem van der Berg, who joined CIM Global Business in June.

As always, you can review these and other stories by scrolling down and clicking through to them below.  

Lekela Power
Rockefeller Fund joins consortium of investors backing Lekela Power
Image Credit: Lekela Power
Deal News...
Private Equity
Rockefeller participates in $177mln Lekela deal
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund joined the investor consortium backing Lekela Power, the renewable energy joint venture between private equity firm  Actis and developer Mainstream Renewable Energy, which was announce at the end of June. The investment, which has now received shareholder approval, totals $177 million with the consortium providing $117.5 million while Mainstream will be investing the balance.
Private Equity
Mara Delta puts another $110m to work in Mozambique
Mara Delta, a listed pan-african property fund is planning to back Mozambican real estate with an additional $110 million. According to reports the capital will be used to acquire four additional properties as well as support the second phase of development for its Anadarko building in Maputo.
Sectors & Strategies...
Private asset managers change infrastructure finance
As the fortunes of Africa's banks founder on the weakening performance of their loan books, an overview of the current challenges facing the industry on the back of low commodity prices and ineffective regulation.  
Trends & Perspectives...
Trends
EY's Africa attractiveness program finds investor confidence strong
EY published its annual Africa Attractiveness program last week, finding that investor confidence in Africa remains strong despite the slowdown in economic growth. Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the world's fastest growing regions, and though down year on year, capital investment in 2015 was still ahead of the average for 2010 to 2014. With a 7% rise in FDI projects, the region was only one of two which saw an expansion in FDI compared to the prior year.
Perspectives
PIC's development mandate raises concerns
PIC's formal economic development agenda has the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's largest opposition party, concerned. They're calling for a brighter spotlight on the state-owned fund managers development efforts, particularly those that involve its portfolio of unlisted investments.
Perspectives
Power Africa progress still slow
Power Africa's pace of progress is still painfully slow, writes Pilita Clark in the Financial Times, and some of the companies who are involved in the initiative are starting to express concern. An overview of the issues and progress to date around the three-year old initiative.
This week's issue supported by...             
IMN - Africa Capital Markets 2016
Companies, People & Profiles...
Companies
CIM Global Business opens South Africa office
CIM Global Business, the largest fund administration firm in Mauritius, is setting up its first permanent presence on Africa's mainland, opening an office in Johannesburg. The move allows the firm to get closer to it African clients as well as capitalize on the growing investment flows into the continent.
People
Accion promotes Dosani and Raj
Tahira Dosani and Vikas Raj have been named the new Managing Directors of Accion Venture Lab, the microfinance organization's impact investment initiative. Both have an extensive working knowledge of Venture Lab's work having served in different roles at the company.
Current Job Postings...
Highlighted Job...             
Chief Financial Officer for leading Private Equity firm 
Based in Harare, Zimbabwe
Associate, Corporate Finance Advisory at MCB Capital Markets 
Based in Port Louis, Mauritius
Senior Manager, Research at AVCA 
Based in London, United Kingdom
Senior or Principal Investment Officer at the IFC
Based in Washington, DC, USA
Associate Principal at South African Private Equity firm
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa
Investment Associate, Impact Investments at CDC 
Based in London, United Kingdom
Analyst at South African Private Equity firm
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa
Upcoming Conferences...
Highlighted Event...             
The Global African Investment Summit Kigali
Kigali, September 5th to September 6th, 2016 
FundForum Africa
London, September 14th to September 16th, 2016 
3rd Africa Alternative Investment Intensive 
New York, September 19th to September 20th, 2016 
TMT Finance Africa 
Lagos, September 20th, 2016 
Tanzania Infrastructure & New Energy Investment 
Dar es Salaam. September 21st, 2016 
Kenya International Renewable Energy Congress 
Nairobi, October 3rd to October 5th, 2016 
8th Africa PPP Conference & Showcase 
London, October 24th to October 26th, 2016 
META Projects 2016 
Dubai, October 24th to October 26th, 2016 
Sub-Saharan Africa Power Forum 2016
Dubai, October 26th to October 28th, 2016 
International Islamic Banking Summit Africa 
Djibouti, November 2nd to November 3rd, 2016 
Investing in Emerging Markets Summit 
Johannesburg, November 16th to November 17th, 2016 
SuperReturn Africa 
Cape Town, November 29th to December 1st, 2016 
14th Annual African Capital Markets Conference 
Cape Town, November 30th to December 1st, 2016 
The Global African Investment Summit London
London, November 30th to December 1st, 2016 
And finally...
We hope you found the digest to be a useful summary of the major happenings in Africa's private capital markets last week.  We'd love it if you shared it with colleagues and business partners.  They can sign up for free here.  

Best wishes for a productive week - if you have any tips, suggestions, questions or comments, please get in touch.

All the best,
 
- Allan
 
Allan Cunningham
Editor & Publisher
AfCD | Africa Capital Digest

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