Metier and Catalyst announce strategic partnership
Metier Private Equity International and Catalyst Principal Partners LLC announced their intention to establish a strategic partnership, aimed at establishing a leading pan-African fund manager. This is consistent with Metier’s ambition of expanding its pan-African footprint and Catalyst’s aspiration of evolving from a leading regional fund manager into a broader pan-African platform.
Metier and Catalyst have had a long-standing relationship as established players in the African private equity industry. With each organisation exploring means to achieve their strategic ambitions, active engagement between the respective firms has led to the collaboration that positions the enlarged team to deepen its investment activities in East Africa, while enabling Metier to extend its presence across the continent, creating a compelling platform for both regional and international investors and an opportunity to strengthen the development of Africa’s emerging private equity industry.
The transaction involves Metier’s appointment as manager of Catalyst Fund I and Catalyst Fund II, East African focused private equity funds established by Catalyst with $123 million funds under management (2011 vintage) and $155 million funds under management (2016 vintage), respectively. Catalyst will continue to provide investment and portfolio management capability to Metier.
Conclusion of the transaction is subject to requisite investor and regulatory consents that are in process, including by the COMESA Competition Commission, Fair Competition Commission in Tanzania and the Financial Services Commission in Mauritius.
Paul Botha, chief executive officer of Metier remarked, “The transaction with Catalyst accelerates Metier’s ambitions to grow into a pan-African private equity platform and establishes a permanent presence for Metier in Nairobi. Such innovative consolidations between leading private equity players with complementary strategies will be increasingly important for the growth and evolution of the African private equity asset class, providing a broader product offering to regional and international investors seeking compelling alternative investment opportunities.”
Paul Kavuma, chief executive officer of Catalyst stated, “With the synergistic capabilities of Metier and Catalyst, this collaboration and the integration of our respective teams provides enhanced investment management capacity and depth of experience to support the continued strengthening and evolution of the regional private equity industry, specifically in support of emerging entrepreneurial companies in East Africa and across the continent.”
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