Here are summaries of the most widely read stories from the past week on Africa Private Equity News.
1. Zamara Holdings secures investment from Amethis
Private equity firm Amethis has announced an investment in Zamara Holdings Limited, a pan-African financial and insurance solutions group. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Kenya, Zamara provides pensions consulting and administration, insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage and actuarial services to corporate, institutional and individual clients. Read the full article
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Standard Bank and Java Capital partner to build real estate advisory and co-investment platform
Standard Bank and Java Capital have entered into a strategic partnership designed to bring innovative capital-raising, advisory, financing and co-investment solutions together in an integrated platform initially focused on South Africa’s real estate, infrastructure and broader real asset sectors. Read more
2. South Africa: EXEO Capital exits Chemical Process Technologies
EXEO Capital has exited its investment in Chemical Process Technologies, a Pretoria-based manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients used in animal health products. The transaction follows a four-year investment period by EXEO Capital’s Agri-Vie Fund II, which initially acquired a minority stake in 2022 before increasing its shareholding to a majority position through additional growth capital. Read the full article
3. Novastar Ventures and Norrsken22 back ARC Ride’s $33.3m round
ARC Ride, a Kenya-based electric mobility company focused on two- and three-wheeler transport, has completed a $33.3 million financing round to scale its battery-swapping infrastructure. 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. Proparco commits to Capitalworks fund
Proparco has committed $15 million to Capitalworks IV, the fourth private equity fund managed by South African investment firm Capitalworks. The fund will continue the strategy pursued through Capitalworks’ predecessor funds by investing in established mid-market companies with strong growth prospects, defensible market positions and the potential to scale. Read the full article
5. AHL Venture Partners provides $7m debt facility to Watu
AHL Venture Partners has closed a $7 million debt facility for Watu, an asset-financing company operating across Africa and Latin America. Watu provides financing for motorcycles and three-wheelers through its mobility business, and for smartphones through Watu Simu, its connectivity business. Read the full article
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Investor shares his playbook after a 29x exit in Africa
Ibrahim Sagna spent more than two decades in finance, including at the African Export-Import Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation, before co-founding Silverbacks Holdings, a firm that invests in technology, entertainment, sport and the creative industries. Africa Private Equity News editor-in-chief Jaco Maritz spoke to Sagna about the firm’s origins and how it picks its investments. Read/watch the interview