Fund Raising | ACA closes US$570mn private equity fund

LAGOS, Capital Markets in Africa: African Capital Alliance (ACA) today announced that it has raised a total of approximately US$570mn of committed capital for its fourth private equity fund, Capital Alliance Private Equity IV Limited (“CAPE IV” or the “Fund”). As a result, ACA has become the first West Africa-focused fund manager to raise over US$1bn in aggregate capital commitments, since its formation in 1997.

Over its nineteen-year history, ACA has built a strong and diverse network of investors across the world and CAPE IV has attracted a broad mix by type and geography. The Fund has received support from leading institutions, including public and corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, funds of funds and development finance institutions, some of whom have supported ACA since its first fund, CAPE I.

Commenting on the outcome of the CAPE IV fundraising, Mr. Cyril Odu, CEO of ACA, said: “The success of our fundraising is a strong endorsement, by both our existing and new investors, of ACA’s position as a premier player in West Africa and of the long-term economic fundamentals of the region. About a third of our fund is already committed and we continue to find compelling opportunities to deploy capital in investments which offer significant resilience and favorable growth prospects.”

CAPE IV intends to continue the successful strategy of ACA’s previous funds, focusing on an attractive and diversified pipeline of deals across its target sectors including: Business Services, Energy, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Financial Services, and Telecommunications, Media & Technology (TMT). Among the Fund’s initial investments are Beloxxi industries Limited, a leading Nigerian biscuit manufacturing company, and Continental Reinsurance Limited, the largest private Pan-African re-insurer outside of South Africa.