- The EIB has so far invested nearly €3 billion in equity funds with a geographic focus entailing Africa. In 2023, close to 60% of EIB’s fund investments were in Africa
- Amethis has supported the growth of more than 30 African companies employing more than 40,000 people
- Amethis has a presence across four African capitals of Nairobi, Abidjan, Casablanca and Cairo
Africa—European Investment Bank (EIB Global) has invested €25 million in Amethis Fund III, a pan-African fund that provides private equity growth capital to medium-sized companies on the continent.
Amethis Fund III will target companies supplying goods and services to low and middle-income populations in Africa.
The target sectors include healthcare, business services such as logistics & IT, manufacturing and distribution including agribusiness and fast-moving consumer goods, non-banking financial services, and services related to infrastructure and energy.
The fund’s strategy aligns with EIB Global’s investment goals as well as the EU’s Global Gateway strategy by supporting economic development in a diversity of geographies, notably sub-Saharan countries.
The fund will pursue an impact-driven strategy developed by Amethis to address critical issues for the continent’s sustainable development.
Join over 10k Partners and investors in Africa in our weekly emailing subscription list
The strategy will focus on gender equality and sustainable employment – with a particular emphasis on health coverage and climate considerations.
EIB Vice President Thomas Ostros commented on the deal:
“The EIB is happy to support Amethis in its effort to invest in small companies in low- and middle-income countries across Africa. We see Africa as a close and important partner to the Bank, which has many potential and untapped opportunities. However, African enterprises still don’t have enough patient equity capital they need for them to grow, which is what our partnership with funds like Amethis seek to address.”
Osotros added that the private capital is a powerful driver of economic development in Africa.
“Private equity funds, through investment in local enterprises, are playing a catalytic role by bringing external funding as well as knowledge and technical expertise to the companies they invest in,” he added.
Luc Rigouzzo and Laurent Demey, Managing Partners at Amethis, said:
“We are proud to receive the renewed support from the European Investment Bank. Building upon our prior collaborations, its strategic support will allow us to continue helping medium-sized companies deliver better goods and services to African consumers and to become African champions by promoting their regional integration and sustainable economic growth.”
The EIB has invested nearly €3 billion in equity funds with a geographic focus entailing Africa. Some of these funds are country-specific, while some have a regional focus.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get industry reports and deals happening in Africa.
EIB’s early investment has had a catalytic effect in attracting other investors to invest in funds due to the Bank’s best market practice in terms of ESG applied, thus ensuring maximum impact at the level of portfolio companies.
Twelve years after its creation, Amethis has supported the growth of more than 30 African companies, employing more than 40,000 people directly.
These companies contribute to the development of a high-quality economic fabric and address important sustainable development goals for the continent.
Amethis benefits from a strong on-the-ground presence in the four African capitals: Nairobi, Abidjan, Casablanca, and Cairo.
This helps identify new opportunities and monitor the market’s evolution in each country.
It also allows Amethis to build a reputation as a trusted partner who will accompany companies in their new expansion phases, favouring value creation and impact.
Also read: AfDB Pledges $2.9B to Boost Agriculture Development in African Countries
AfDB Pledges $2.9B to Boost Agriculture Development in African Countries
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get industry reports and deals happening in Africa.