AfricInvest begins phased exit from logistics group
AfricInvest has announced a phased exit process from its investment in Groupe Centaures.
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AfricInvest has announced a phased exit process from its investment in SIPO Holding, the Mauritius-based holding company controlling Groupe Centaures, a Côte d’Ivoire-based logistics and transport group operating through Les Centaures Routiers.
The transaction follows a successful $16 million fundraising by Groupe Centaures, part of which will support the group’s next phase of development and capital expenditure programme. This financing enabled the partial exit of AfricInvest III, reducing its shareholding in SIPO. The transaction forms the first step of a structured exit process agreed between AfricInvest and the founding shareholders of Groupe Centaures, with the full exit of AfricInvest III expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Founded in 1953, Groupe Centaures is one of Côte d’Ivoire’s long-standing logistics and transport platforms. Since AfricInvest’s investment in 2018, the group has undertaken a significant transformation, evolving from a transport operator into an integrated logistics platform.
“This transaction reflects the natural maturity of our investment cycle and the strength of the partnership built with the Delsuc family and the management team over the past years,” said Hichem Ghanmi, senior partner at AfricInvest. “We are proud of what was built together: a more efficient, safer and resilient logistics platform that has moved from a transportation company to an integrated logistics business. The group is now well positioned to continue growing as a leading logistics platform in Côte d’Ivoire, and we look forward to completing this exit process in a constructive and collaborative spirit.”
Commenting on the transaction, Olivier Delsuc, CEO of Groupe Centaures, said: “AfricInvest’s presence alongside Groupe Centaures has been an important step in our journey, helping us move to another level in terms of organisation, governance and ambition. We were pleased to have built this partnership over the past years. While their exit comes at a time when the group still has significant potential and ambitious projects ahead, it also opens a new chapter for Groupe Centaures, with exciting and promising challenges as we continue to develop our logistics platform and serve our clients with greater efficiency.”
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