International Private Equity Firms court Nigeria, South Africa

An increasing number of private equity firms are seeking to participate in deals in Africa. Businessnews spoke with a PE player based in New York over the weekend. The associate at the PE firm which controls $183 Billion Assets Under Management, stated that PE firms are looking to participate in deals via two methods. Either by investing into Africa focused PE firms with a good track record and sound management or by co-investing in specific deal opportunities across various sectors of the economy. Minimum deal sizes range between $10 million to $15 million USD.

According to Bloomberg, “Private equity firms including Washington-based Carlyle Group and London-based Helios Investments Partners LLP are raising funds to invest in Africa to tap faster growth than in western markets.”

Carlyle, one of the world’s biggest private-equity fund managers, is seeking about $500 million for its first fund targeting Sub-Saharan Africa, two people with knowledge of the plans said last March. The buyout firm opened offices in South Africa and Nigeria. London-based Helios raised $900 million for African deals last year, according to a recent Bloomberg story.

Nigeria’s GDP may overtake South Africa’s as earlier as 2014 if the country’s GDP is rebased to 2008. This will make Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy.

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2 Comments

1. 

   Anonymous

   February 14, 2012 at 2:15 pm

   GOOD .

   THE BOYS PLEASE GO BACK TO THE TRENCHES.
   BOKO HARMA, MEND . ITS ENOUGH .

   INVESTMENTS ARE COMING .

   MAKE UNA SORRY .

   WHEN THEY ARE SERIOUS .YOU GET SERIOUS .
   WHEN THEY LIE . YOU LIE WITH THEM.

   GO BACK TO BASES
2. 

   realest1s

   February 17, 2012 at 12:10 am

   we need manufacturing. it creates jobs !