October Industry News

01 Oct 2023

 

A collection of news across the African private equity and venture capital industry

Gaia Impact and Capital Croissance raise €40mn

ARE Member Gaia Impact, an impact investment advisory firm that launched a coalition in March last year with Capital Croissance, ARE Member Schneider Electric, Capelan, and Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), has achieved its first closing target of €40 million for the Gaia Energy Impact Fund II (GEIF II).

Source: The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE)

Ribbit Capital leads US$25mn investment in Stitch

Stitch, South African-born payments infrastructure start-up, announced today a $25 million Series A extension, led by Ribbit Capital.

Source: ITWeb Africa

Blue Earth Capital has raised US$108.5mn, surpassing a US$100mn target

Blue Earth Capital, a specialist global impact investor, has closed its dedicated credit impact fund, BlueEarth Credit Strategies II,

Source: Private Equity Wire

Standard Bank advises Vivo Energy on the creation of a pan-African energy champion

Standard Bank has advised Vivo Energy on its combination with Engine. By combining Engen and Vivo Energy, the group will be on elf the larges energy distribution companies on the continent. 

Source: Africa Private Equity News 

Root Platform secures US$1.5mn investment from Invenfin 

Root Platform secures strategic funding from Invenfin to fuel international growth in the insurance technology sector.

Source: Reframed

Maia Capital commits R100mn to boost financial inclusion

The R100 million mezzanine debt facility is invested through Maia Debt Impact Fund I, Maia's maiden impact fund, which reached its first close in December 2021. The Fund aims to make investments that make a positive impact on society, the economy, and the environment while generating positive financial returns.

Source: FA News

Sanari reaches US$65mn in second close

Sanari Capital, a women-led and majority Black- and women-owned South African private equity firm, has raised ZAR1.25 billion (US$65 million) in the second close of its growth fund, which aims to fuel employment opportunities and foster economic growth across Africa.

Source: Africa Global Funds

Apis invests in Peach Payments

Apis Growth Fund II, a private equity fund managed by Apis Partners LLP (“Apis Partners”), a UK-based asset manager, today announces its proposed investment of €29M (US$31M) in Baobab Payments GmbH (trading as Peach Payments), a rapidly growing digital payment service provider that enables online payments in Africa.

 Source: Apis Partners

Outsized closes Series A round led by Knife Capital

Outsized, the leading platform for top-tier independent talent in Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, is thrilled to announce the successful completion of its Series A funding. Led by South African venture capital firm Knife Capital, the round also includes investment from private investors including Adrian Durham, founder of the global wealth management platform FNZ Group.

 Source: Cision PR Wire

Incofin invests to bolster sustainable agriculture

Incofin invests EUR 2 million in PEBCo-Bethesda in Benin. The funding comes from the Agricultural Liquidity Fund (ALF) and is a testament to Incofin’s dedication to advancing sustainable agriculture and climate resilience through financial inclusion. This resonates deeply with Benin, a country where agriculture sustains livelihoods and contributes 30% to GDP.

 Source: Incofin

RMB Corvest jointly invests in Switch Telecom 

Private equity firm RMB Corvest, in partnership with BEE investment vehicle Shalamuka Capital, has acquired a minority stake in Switch Telecom, a Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) telecommunications service provider

Source: Engineering News

Camco fund receives US$50mn Green Climate Fund (GCF)  

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) announced on Wednesday that its board has approved the allocation of USD 50 million (EUR 47.3m) in equity to a new debt fund targeting investments in Sub-Saharan Africa’s renewable energy market

Source: Renewables Now

Agri-Business Capital Fund backs Ugandan based coffee trader 

The Agri-Business Capital Fund announces the investment of EUR€800,000 into JKCC General Supplies (“JKCC”), a Ugandan based coffee trader.

Source: Farmers Review Africa

Intella secures US$3.4mn pre-Series A funding 

The round was led by HALA Ventures and Wa’ed Ventures, the Kingdom-focused venture capital fund wholly owned by Aramco, with participation from Sanabil 500 and INSEAD's alumni angel network, along with other investors.

Source: Wamda

Intella secures US$3.4mn pre-Series A funding 

The round was led by HALA Ventures and Wa’ed Ventures, the Kingdom-focused venture capital fund wholly owned by Aramco, with participation from Sanabil 500 and INSEAD's alumni angel network, along with other investors.

Source: Wamda

Logistics Startup Tripplo Secures US$1.8mn

Futuregrowth Asset Management (acting on behalf of Old Mutual Life Assurance Company South Africa) led the round as the likes of Galloprovincialis and new investors including Founders Factory Africa, Digital Africa Ventures, and Standard Bank of South Africa all participated.

Source: Tech Economy