Five African PE and VC moves in March 2025
African PE and VC transactions, as featured in our March 2025 Dealmaker’s Log.
We highlight five African private equity and venture capital transactions, as featured in our March 2025 Dealmaker’s Log, a database of reported investment deals, exits, and fundraising milestones. Subscribe to this service here
1. Alterra and Phatisa acquire Actis' stake in Java House
Private equity firms Alterra and Phatisa have signed agreements to acquire 100% of Java House Africa from emerging-market investor Actis, for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 1999, Java House has grown into a household name, offering coffee and a diverse menu to customers across Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. The company operates a network of almost 100 outlets through brands including Java House, Java Express, 360 Degrees Pizza, Planet Yoghurt, and Kukito. The company also operates a vertically integrated commercial kitchen, coffee roastery, food service and distribution platform, serving over 5.5 million meals per annum and employing over 2,300 people. Read the full article
2. IFC announces proposed investment in Helios Fund V
The International Finance Corporation has disclosed a proposed commitment of up to $75 million to the Helios Investors V fund, with a co-investment envelope of $50 million.
Helios V is a pan-African growth equity fund, seeking to invest in market-leading companies that enable, are enabled by, or benefit from the confluence of technological innovation and Africa’s attractive demographic and urbanisation trends. Read the full article
3. Inspired Evolution announces final close of Evolution III Fund
Inspired Evolution, a pan-African private equity firm specialising in clean energy investments, has announced the final close of its Evolution III Fund, securing total commitments of $238 million.
The final close saw additional commitments from Austrian development bank Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank and the International Finance Corporation, further diversifying and strengthening the fund’s investor base. Read the full article
4. Alitheia Capital and Goodwell exit Baobab Nigeria
Alitheia Capital and Goodwell Investments have announced the first exit of their joint uMunthu Fund: Baobab Nigeria, a financial institution that provides banking services to individuals and MSMEs in underserved areas.
More than 12 years after investing in Baobab Nigeria (first via their GWAMDC fund and later uMunthu), Alitheia and Goodwell have now exited the investment. Read the full article
5. LoftyInc Capital announces $43m first close of its new fund
LoftyInc Capital Management has announced the $43 million first close of its new fund. The LoftyInc Alpha Fund seeks to back Africa’s most promising tech startups across key geographies, including Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and Francophone Africa.
Operating out of Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya, LoftyInc is one of the African VC ecosystem’s earliest investors, with investments in prominent startups such as Flutterwave, Andela, Wave Mobile Money, RelianceHealth, Thndr, OmniRetail, and Moove. Read the full article
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