June 5th, 2017
The  weekly roundup of Africa's Private Capital news


  

Here's the latest wrap of Africa's key private equity, infrastructure and venture capital news which were reported over the past 7 days.  As always, we'd be delighted if you shared it with any interested colleagues and/or business partners.  If they would like to receive their own weekly copy, they're more than welcome to sign up here.  

Many thanks for being a reader. If you have any tips, suggestions or questions, please reach out to Allan Cunningham at [email protected]
This week's issue supported by...             
The Week in Brief...
Overall, it was another relatively quiet week for both deals and fund closes last week in Africa. Of the private equity deals reported, one was a portfolio exit, another a follow-on investment and the third a venture capital round.

Metier provided us with the exit. The South African private equity firm has inked an agreement to sell I nhep Electronics Holdings to Assa Abloy. Metier first acquired the company in late 2007 via the Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund. Terms of the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, were not disclosed.

The Abraaj Group, in partnership with Danone, are investing an additional $25 million in Fan Milk, the West African dairy producer which they both originally backed in 2013. 

The fresh funds will be used to boost the production capacity of the firm's Ghanaian operations by adding three new production lines to its factory in Accra. As well as boosting the firm's ability to meet the demand for yoghurt and other dairy products which is expanding in West Africa's second largest economy, the new production facilities will allow Fan Milk's Ghana business to launch FanMaxx a new vitamin-enriched yoghurt drink.

EchoVC+, a new investment vehicle formed by EchoVC Partners and TPG/Satya, has made its first investment joining a consortium of investors supporting Frontier Car Group's $22 million round in late May. As part of the deal, Eghosa Omoigui, EchoVC's Managing General Partner, will take a seat on Frontier Car Group's board.

Headquartered in Berlin, Frontier Car Group has operations in Chile, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. Launched in 2016 by Sujay Tyle, Peter Lindholm and Andre Kussman, the company has experienced rapid growth building second-hand car marketplaces in the five countries in which it operates. These include Cars45.com, a marketplace in Nigeria which received backing from Frontier Cars Group in early May as part of its Series A round.

In fundraising news, Sanlam and Africa Infrastructure Securities are teaming up and launching an infrastructure fund to target opportunities across the continent. The fund will be denominated in US dollars and will target equity and quasi-equity investment opportunities in infrastructure projects that will drive economic growth, have beneficial social consequences and boost the continent's energy asset base.

The  African Local Currency Bond Fund, an investment vehicle established by the  KfW Development Bank and managed by Lion's Head Global Partners, announced it had received a total of $40 million in debt and equity commitments earlier in May from the IFC and  Financial Sector Deepening Africa, a non-profit funded by the UK Government.

Of the $40 million, $20 million is being provided as debt by the IFC, with FSD Africa providing the balance as equity. Once completed, the fund's total equity will stand at almost $70 million. Ultimately, the fund aims to have a total of $150 million in committed capital by the end of 2017, which it plans to deploy by the end of 2018.

Swiss Re has spent 100 million euros or approximately $112 million to acquire an undisclosed, minority stake in Manzi Finances, a financial services holding company based in Cote d'Ivoire which owns NSIA Participations. In March 2015, private equity group  Amethis Finance and National Bank of Canada acquired a 26% stake in NSIA from Emerging Capital Partners.

The Abidjan-based company will use the capital to consolidate its financial base and support its expansion strategy. NSIA is the leading financial services companies in Francophone Africa, and also owner of NSIA Bank Cote d'Ivoire, the country's third largest, and NSIA Bank Guinee, which was launched in 2010.

According to Bloomberg,  The Carlyle Group is eyeing two potential opportunities in Egypt for its $700 million Africa buyout fund. Apparently, the Washington-based investor will back each with between $30 million and $100 million. Once the deals have been completed, the fund will be about 80% invested.

That's it for this week.  As always, you can review these and other stories by scrolling down and clicking through to them below.  

South African private equity firm Metier sells IDS to Assa Abloy in undisclosed deal
Deals and Deal News...
Private Equity
Metier exits Inhep in undisclosed trade sale
Metier, the South African private equity firm, has reached an agreement to sell Inhep Electronics Holdings to Assa Abloy. Metier first acquired the company in late 2007 via the Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund. Terms of the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, were not disclosed.
Private Equity
Danone and Abraaj in$25mln follow-on deal for Fan Milk
Danone, the French dairy conglomerate and leading emerging market private equity firm The Abraaj Group are investing an additional $25 million in Fan Milk, the West African dairy producer which they both originally backed in 2013. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Venture Capital
EchoVC+ in Frontier Car Group's $22mln round
EchoVC+, a new investment vehicle formed by EchoVC Partners and TPG/Satya, has made its first investment joining a consortium of investors supporting Frontier Car Group's $22 million round in late May. As part of the deal, Eghosa Omoigui, EchoVC's Managing General Partner, will take a seat on Frontier Car Group's board.
Read more...
Funds & Fundraising News...
Infrastructure
Sanlam and InfraSec launch infrastructure fund
Sanlam, the Cape Town-headquartered financial services group, and Africa Infrastructure Securities are teaming up and launching an infrastructure fund to target opportunities in the sector across the continent. The fund will be marketed to international private capital investors as well as development finance institutions.
Private Debt
African Local Currency Bond Fund receives $40mln
The African Local Currency Bond Fund, an investment vehicle established by the KfW Development Bank, announced it had received a total of $40 million in debt and equity commitments earlier in May from the IFC and Financial Sector Deepening Africa, a non-profit funded by the UK Government.
Projects & Portfolio Companies...
Private Equity
Swiss Re pays $112mln for Manzi Finances stake
Swiss Re has spent 100 million euros or approximately $112 million to acquire an undisclosed, minority stake in Manzi Finances, a financial services holding company based in Cote d'Ivoire which owns NSIA Participations. In March 2015, private equity group Amethis Finance and National Bank of Canada acquired a 26% stake in NSIA from Emerging Capital Partners.
This week's issue supported by...             
AfrAsia Banner 2017
Sectors & Strategies...
Private Equity 
Carlyle has 2 Egyptian deals in its sights  
In an interview, Eric Kump, Managing Director and Co-Head of Carlyle's Africa business, tells Bloomberg that the global investment firm is eyeing two opportunities in Egypt for its $700 million Africa buyout fund. Apparently, the Washington-based investor will back each with between $30 million and $100 million. Once the deals have been completed, the fund will be about 80% invested.
Private Equity
Where OMAI sees opportunity in Africa
Extracts from an interview with Paul Boynton, the Chief Executive Officer of Old Mutual Alternative Investments, on where Africa's largest private alternative investment manager sees opportunities on the continent and the key challenges that he sees facing investors today.
Trends & Perspectives...
Perspectives
Plugging the gap in Kenya's startup funding ecosystem
Kenya's innovators are often too quick to sell out to foreign firms in order to get a project off the ground. A number of leaders in the country's vibrant tech sector are looking at how to change this. One such initiative is January's launch of a $40 million innovation fund to help the country's startups get the seed capital they need to get going and grow to become attractive opportunities for private equity and venture firms.
Read more...
Perspectives
Fee structures need to adapt to meet shifting LP needs
A contributed article from Augentius which looks at some of the market factors driving the need for changes in fund structures as well as some of the methods being adopted to help navigate an increasingly complex fund terrain.
Companies, People & Profiles...
People
Exotix hires Shah to lead research team
Exotix has hired Rahul Shah to head the equities financials research team at the specialist frontier and emerging markets investment bank. In a career spanning more than twenty years, Shah has worked for a number of blue-chip financial institutions, including, most recently, Credit Suisse, where he was Head of Research for the MENA region.
Upcoming Investment Missions...
African Agri Council's Investor Discovery Trade Mission and Technical Tour

Hong Kong, June 21st to June 23rd, 2017

To request an invitation to one of these dates, please send an email to Julia Barton-Hill.
Current Job Postings...
This week's featured jobs...             
Principal at CrossBoundary  // crossboundary.com
Based in Nairobi, Kenya
Investment Associate at CrossBoundary  // crossboundary.com
Based in Bamako, Mali
Investment Associate at CrossBoundary  // crossboundary.com
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa
Investment Manager at Global Private Equity firm  // macdonaldandcompany.com
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa
Investment Officer, SMEs at Spartan  // spartan.co.za
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa
Investment Executive at Social Impact Investor  // millarcameron.com
Based in Dakar, Senegal
Upcoming Conferences...
Highlighted Event...             
Financing African Infrastructure 2017
London, June 27th to June 28th, 2017 
19th Annual Africa Energy Forum 
Copenhagen, June 7th to June 9th, 2017 
East Africa Real Estate Investor Forum 2017
London, June 8th, 2017 
3rd Annual Private Equity in East Africa Conference
Nairobi, June 15th, 2017 
West Africa Power Summit
Dakar, July 12th to July 14th, 2017 
Public Private Partnership Financing, Projects & Contracts
Johannesburg, August 21st to August 24th, 2017 
Sub Saharan Africa Power Summit
Cape Town, October 25th to October 27th, 2017 
META Projects 2017
Dubai, November 1st to November 2nd, 2017 
SuperReturn Africa
Cape Town, December 4th to December 6th, 2017 
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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