Here are summaries of the most widely read stories from the past week on Africa Private Equity News.
1. CardinalStone reaches first close for CCA Growth Fund II
CardinalStone Capital Advisers (CCA) has reached first close of its CCA Growth Fund II at $76 million. The fund will target investment opportunities across key West African markets, with Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal being anchor countries. Read the full article
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Making deals work harder, faster and smarter
Deals have the potential to unlock growth, strengthen capabilities, and reshape organisations, but their success depends on far more than completing a transaction. In his latest article, Jan Groenewald, Africa Deals Leader at PwC South Africa, shares three lessons that consistently underpin successful transactions. Read more
2. Gareth McElhone joins Old Mutual Alternative Investments
Old Mutual Alternative Investments has appointed Gareth McElhone as partner in its Hybrid Capital team. McElhone joins from Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking, where he spent nine years and most recently served as head of alternative equity. Read the full article
3. Ventures Platform reaches $84m final close for second fund
Ventures Platform, an Africa-focused early-stage investor, has reached final close of its second institutional fund, VP Pan-African Fund II, at $84 million – exceeding its original $75 million target. Read the full article
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Dealmaker’s Log: A database of African private capital transactions
The Dealmaker’s Log supports deal origination, market mapping, and tracking individual investors or funds over time. Filter to the country, sector, investor or transaction type you cover; compare activity across sectors, geographies and years; or follow the private capital cycle from fundraising through to exits. Access the Dealmaker’s Log here
4. Swedfund backs Africa Go Green Fund
Swedfund has announced a $20 million loan to the Africa Go Green Fund, a pan-African debt fund managed by Cygnum Capital. The fund provides financing to businesses and projects reducing greenhouse gas emissions – including industrial energy efficiency, green buildings, clean transport and green appliances. Read the full article
5. Edge Growth secures first close for SME debt fund
South African SME investment firm Edge Growth has reached a R350 million (about $21.9 million) first close for its Edge Impact Fund, a catalytic debt vehicle managed by Edge Growth Ventures. The fund provides debt and hybrid capital – including term loans, working capital finance, venture debt, convertible loans and revenue-based finance – to established, technology-enabled scale-ups. Read the full article
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Africa Jobs Fund: Backing businesses in international labour mobility and export manufacturing
The Africa Jobs Fund invests in companies that can raise incomes for Africans, focusing on international labour mobility and export manufacturing. We speak to founding partner Daniel Yu. Read/watch the interview