14/04/2011

African venture

Following KCML director Ashik Shah's 2010 exploratory visits to the continent and the Fund's initial investment in Zimbabwe the manager has been exploring avenues for further investment in Africa.

In the field of African private equity, Helios Partners are well regarded as making an important contribution to infrastructure development, attracting investment from the Commonwealth Development Corporation and the US's Overseas Private Investment Corporation.  Helios focus on companies which have scalable businesses, transferable to neighbouring countries. Their team has members with strong operational experience, an area needing significant focus in the African marketplace.

Following a February 2011 KCML recommendation that Helios Investors II LP would be a suitable vehicle for participation in African private equity the Fund has invested as a limited partner.