DEG acquires a minority equity stake in Ashwah Holdings Limited, parent company of Daraju Industries Limited
DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Germany’s development finance institution and a subsidiary of KfW Group, announced today the acquisition of a minority equity stake in Ashwah Holdings Limited (“Ashwah”), the parent company of Daraju Industries Limited (“Daraju”) – one of Nigeria´s leading manufacturers of FMCG products in the personal care and household care segment. Ashwah is also currently a portfolio company of African Capital Alliance (ACA). By investing in Ashwah, DEG continues its focus of supporting indigenous emerging market companies to further industrialize and become regional leaders. As part of this deal, DEG will provide growth financing as well as advisory services to the management of the company.
Ashwah, via its flagship company Daraju Industries Limited, manufactures and trades over 100 stock keeping units (SKUs) of products tailored to meet the everyday needs of the middle to mass market consumers in Nigeria. The group’s key competitiveness lies in the company’s value for money offerings, strong brands, diversified product portfolio, and significant production capacity.
Speaking on the transaction, Mr. Tunji Nelson, Investment Manager at DEG said: “We are delighted to be partnering with ACA in supporting the continued growth of Ashwah. We strongly believe that this is the ideal time to enter the personal care FMCG market in Nigeria, and that Ashwah, via Daraju provide an excellent platform. We look forward to supporting Ashwah and management in the company’s next phase of development”
Mr. Paul Kokoricha, Partner at ACA said: “Since our investment in 2018, Ashwah has continued to grow its operations and expand its manufacturing base. The management team, under the visionary and disciplined leadership of Peeyush Garg, have repeatedly demonstrated resilience and a deep understanding of the Nigerian FMCG market and this has reaffirmed our confidence in the company’s ability to deliver strong returns to our fund. ACA welcomes DEG as a co-investor in Ashwah. We are optimistic, that this partnership will further enable Ashwah deliver on its agreed targets, and likely exceed the expectations of all stakeholders. This makes us truly excited”.
Mr. Peeyush Garg, Chairman and CEO of Ashwah, said: “Together with our entire management team, we are very excited to be partnering with DEG. We are confident about DEG’s strong commitment to providing us with the additional technical backing that will continuously enable us to support our customers. DEG definitely has the capacity, expertise, and network, to support us in expanding our business, as well as deliver innovative solutions for our market.”
About DEG
For almost 60 years, DEG has been a reliable partner to private-sector enterprises operating in developing and emerging-market countries. DEG provides its customers with tailor-made solutions, including financing, promotional programmes and advice tailored to individual needs. They can thus develop successfully and sustainably, while generating local added value and creating qualified jobs. With a portfolio of around EUR 8.5 billion in approximately 80 countries DEG is one of the world’s largest private-sector development financiers. Learn more: www.deginvest.de
DEG recently provided debt financing to United Bank for Africa (UBA). Speaking on DEG’s West African investments, Mr. Bernd Tilemann, Regional Head West Africa at DEG commented: “DEG is delighted to enter into a long-term cooperation with Ashwah. With our commitment we address the current economic challenges of the country while fostering private sector growth and impact in the largest economy of the continent.”
About African Capital Alliance
African Capital Alliance (ACA) is a market pioneer and leading pan-African investment firm, sponsoring funds and managing investments all over sub-Saharan Africa. Since its founding in 1997, ACA has invested across multiple market cycles through five private equity and real estate funds. Its CAPE IV fund raised in 2015 invested in Ashwah Holdings Limited in 2018. For more information, please visit https://www.acagp.com.
Transaction Advisors & Partners
The financial advisory on this transaction was performed by Delwik Gmbh, a boutique female led investment advisory company. As a development finance institution, DEG is proud of Delwik’s involvement, as it has added to DEG’s focus of promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goal #5 on gender diversity. For more information on Delwik Gmbh, please visit http://www.delwikgroup.com.
Legal advisors to DEG, the buyers/investors, include DLA Piper LLP and Walkers Global. For more information on DLA Piper, please visit https://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/. For more information on Walkers, please visit www.walkersglobal.com.
Legal advisors to Ashwah Shareholders, the Sellers, include Watson Farley & Williams LLP and Appleby (BVI) Limited and G Elias on Nigerian Law matters. For more information on Watson Farley & Williams, please visit https://www.wfw.com. For more information on Appleby, please visit www.applebyglobal.com. For more information on G Elias, please visit https://www.gelias.com/.
Development Partners International (“DPI”) and African Capital Alliance (“ACA”) become partners in Food Concepts as DPI sells 31% stake to ACA
Development Partners International (DPI) and African Capital Alliance (ACA) today announced an investment partnership in Africa’s leading multi-brand QSR group, Food Concepts Plc (Food Concepts). The deal will see the sale of 31% of Food Concepts by DPI, a leading pan-African returns and impact-driven private equity firm with a strong track record of investing across the continent and $2bn AUM, to ACA. ACA is a leading pan-African alternative investment firm focused on managing investments across sub-Saharan Africa, with $1.2bn AUM. DPI will retain ownership of a majority stake in the Company.
Commenting on the deal, David Butler, Managing Director at Food Concepts, said:
“DPI has been there for us every step of the way as we have turned Food Concepts into a business Nigeria can be proud of, building our brands and tripling our store footprint since 2015. We believe there is a significant runway for further growth thanks to our world-class corporate governance, a great African management team, and relentlessly taking care of our 4,200 people and 15 million customers every year. I am excited to welcome ACA as a new strategic partner alongside DPI and look forward to benefiting from their shared operational expertise and industry knowledge in the next chapter of our growth.”
Established in 2001, Food Concepts is the leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) operator in West Africa. The business is focused on the mass market and operates three of Nigeria’s best known, most loved, and fastest-growing brands, Chicken Republic, PieXpress, and Chop Box across 25 Nigerian states, as well as in Ghana, and an online delivery business growing at over 140% year on year. Led by a best-in-class and experienced management team, and with support from DPI, Food Concepts has grown rapidly from 58 stores in 2015 to over 180 stores today disrupting the Nigerian QSR sector with an affordable value proposition and demonstrating exceptional financial and operational performance across economic cycles.
Food Concepts maintains a strong commitment to operating responsibly as a business, focused on developing local talent, and driving diversity and inclusion across the company. Since 2015, it has created around 3,300 jobs directly and many more in its supply chain, which is 99% localized. Women comprise 51% of the workforce and 57% of the management team. The business was cited at the 2021 G7 summit as a leading success story in the development of women leaders.
ACA and DPI will work together to support Food Concepts on its next phase of growth and help drive the business’ regional expansion strategy.
Runa Alam, Chief Executive of DPI, said “Food Concepts demonstrates the tremendous growth the Nigerian mass market can offer for companies that are able to capture the opportunity. The company has grown sales at over 40% every year since 2015, has developed true Nigerian “super-brands”, and is just at the beginning of its growth. We are excited to welcome ACA as partners and look forward to continuing our work with David and the Food Concepts team, as the business enters the next stage of its growth. Food Concepts faced some real challenges earlier in its history and we are very proud of our role supporting management in turning the business around and making it what it is today.”
The Chairman of ACA, Okey Enelamah, stated “We are excited to be part of this African success story and to work alongside partners who share our vision to empower businesses in Africa. Food Concepts is an excellent business with strong foundations built by the existing management team and supported by DPI. The Company has demonstrated its ability to innovate and, in the process, has evolved into the leading QSR company in West Africa. Our experience in the FMCG sector and understanding of the local consumers’ preferences will play an instrumental role in delivering further value to the Company. Through our joint efforts with DPI and the management team, we are confident that the Company will achieve its planned growth and sustainability goals.”
Stanbic and Norton Rose Fulbright served as financial and legal advisors for DPI, and BCLP served as legal advisors for ACA.
ENDS –
Media contacts
Edelman Smithfield
Alex Simmons / Olivia Adebo / Chloe Payne
Tel: +44 7970 174 353 / +44 7787 284 441 / +27 72 673 0535
Email: DPI@edelman.com
Hudson Sandler
Bertie Berger / Nelly Akpaka
Email: aca@hudsonsandler.com
Notes to Editors
About Food Concepts
Established in 2001, Food Concepts is the leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) operator in West Africa with over 180 stores across Nigeria and Ghana trading under the Chicken Republic, PieXpress, and Chop Box brands. Chicken Republic is among Nigeria’s most recognized brands. The business serves around 15 million customers per year and employs over 4,000 people. The business has shown consistent growth and world-class operational performance across economic cycles and is well-positioned to capture the huge untapped potential of the Nigerian and West African QSR market.
About DPI
DPI is a leading African private equity firm that has successfully managed funds through “up” and “down” cycles. Our first two funds, African Development Partners I and II (ADP I and ADP II), are ranked in the top quartile for performance by Cambridge Associates.
DPI has US$2.8bn in assets under management across its funds and committed co-investments.
The ADP funds strategy is to build a diversified pan-African portfolio of private equity investments in established and growing companies benefiting from the continent’s fast-growing middle class, innovation, and digital transformation
Since DPI’s founding in 2007, its funds have invested in 23 portfolio companies across 29 African countries and 17 industries. ADP portfolio companies employ over 49,000 people. During DPI’s investment, 18,000 jobs have been created.
In 2020, ADP III, became the first 2X Flagship Fund, as part of the global 2X Challenge, committing to integrate a gender lens into its investment process, and reflecting DPI’s long-standing commitment to gender equity. DPI has a female co-founder and CEO, one-third of the partners are women, and 50% of the firm are women.
As a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and to the Operating Principles for Impact Management, DPI promotes high ESG and Impact standards and seeks to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This includes the development of an innovative Impact and ESG Management System and key impact themes focused on:
Job Quality: SDG 8
Climate change: SDG 13
Gender balance: SDG 5
Follow us on the web or LinkedIn.
About African Capital Alliance (ACA)
African Capital Alliance (ACA) is a leading African-focused investment firm sponsoring and managing private equity and real estate funds in sub-Saharan Africa. The firm has, to date, raised over US$1.2 billion in capital commitments across several funds.
Established in 1997, with the belief that private sector growth can be a catalyst for African development and economic growth, ACA has since grown to be one of the most experienced alternative investment firms in the region, with more than 51 investments across a number of high-growth sectors and industries.
ACA’s investment funds have a longstanding commitment to generating sustainable value alongside commercial performance. The firm’s portfolio companies support over 22,000 full-time jobs, of which 40% are women and 95% are Nigerians. In addition to this, ACA’s investments have created over 6,000 direct jobs in the firm’s portfolio companies.
ACA aligns its investments to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 5 – gender equality, SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy, and SDG 8 – decent work and economic growth.
Follow us on the web or LinkedIn.
Please click HERE to download a copy of the Press Release.
ValuAlliance Asset Management Limited appoints new directors to its Board.
ValuAlliance Asset Management Limited “ValuAlliance”, a subsidiary of African Capital Alliance (ACA), is pleased to announce the appointment of new directors to its Board.
These additions reflect the business’ objective to strengthen its governance to support its growth and diversification strategies. The additions are Mr. Obinnia Abajue, an Independent Non-executive director, and Mr. Kofi Kwakwa, a Non-Executive Director.
Obinnia is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hygeia HMO Limited and has over 23 years of experience in banking and financial services. Kofi is a Partner at ACA and has over 25 years of experience in investment banking, investing, and consulting.
The newly appointed directors bring an impressive wealth of experience and knowledge that will help the company deliver its vision to be the premier investment management fiduciary in the segments it serves. They will also strengthen the capabilities embodied by the existing Board.
African Capital Alliance Invests in Accelerex Holdings
Africa Capital Alliance (“ACA”) today announces its investment in Accelerex Holdings, Mauritius (“Accelerex”), through its Capital Alliance Private Equity IV (CAPE IV) fund. With this investment, CAPE IV will become a strategic partner in Accelerex and will hold three seats on the company’s board.
Accelerex, the parent company of the African fintech powerhouse, Global Accelerex Limited, was set up for investment into digital financial technology companies across Africa. Global Accelerex was incorporated in 2008 and commenced payments services operation in October 2013 upon obtaining approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The company consistently ranked as the Number 1 Payment Terminal Service Provider in Nigeria in 2018 and 2019 and supports 95% of Nigerian banks and over 90,000 merchants across the 36 states in the country.
Accelerex commenced operations in Ghana in 2019 and plans to expand into Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa over the next 24 months with the new investment from ACA. This funding will also drive new product development across the group.
The agency banking arm of Accelerex, Accelerex Network Limited (ANL) is a major driver of financial inclusion in Nigeria. It supports the Federal Government of Nigeria and the CBN’s financial inclusion agenda, targeted at the underserved and unserved segments of the population. Accelerex Network Limited has grown its Agent network to over 9,000 agents within the last 12 months and plans to reach 40,000 agents by the end of 2021.
Paul Kokoricha, Partner at ACA, stated that with the huge potential of Fintechs in Africa, funding should not be an obstacle to scalability. He added that “Accelerex’s strong business model and its agile and dynamic management team makes it the ideal African Fintech group to back. We are thrilled about this alliance and are happy to bring our experience to the board”.
Commenting on the ACA investment, Tunde Ogungbade, CEO of Global Accelerex, said; “I am very excited by the ACA investment. In our quest for the right investment and strategic partner, we were looking for a company that shares our vision to empower businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa to exceed all their customers’ payment expectations. This funding will help Accelerex to aggressively expand into Africa and accelerate product development. I see our vision becoming a reality with this move”.
Accelerex Holdings continuously develops and deploys convenient, secure and innovative financial and non-financial solutions that make life easier.
About ACA and CAPE IV
ACA is a leading pan-African investment firm, sponsoring funds and managing investments in Sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1997, ACA has an over 23-year history of investing across multiple market cycles, through five private equity and real estate funds.
Its international structure and strong local expertise enable it to raise funds from investors across the globe for investment in specific sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa.
CAPE IV is a $567m fund established by ACA to invest in companies with strong fundamentals and a growth track record in the financial services; technology, media and telecoms; FMCG; energy and various emerging sectors in West Africa.
ValuAlliance Launches Money Market Fund
ACA through its Asset Management subsidiary, ValuAlliance Asset Management Limited in June 2020, launched the ValuAlliance Money Market Fund (VMMF or Fund). This Fund targets individuals looking for a vehicle to conservatively grow and optimize their savings or seeking a flexible option for cashflow and liquidity management.
VMMF is a SEC registered Collective Investment Scheme, whose primary objective is to provide investors with a steady return on capital, liquidity and capital preservation by investing in a diversified portfolio of high-quality short-term money market instruments which will include short term government securities, unsubordinated short-term debt instruments such as commercial papers, bankers’ acceptances, and fixed deposits.
The Fund, which will be actively managed by experienced investment managers, has an indicative rating of “A-” from Agusto & Co, and is targeted at Individuals and Corporates that desire a safe, stable, liquid and reliable cash management vehicle and an alternative to deposit accounts.
To learn more about the Fund, click here.