Helios raises $1.1bn for African Private Equity investment

Helios Investment Partners said it has stopped taking contributions for its third and largest private equity fund for African investments after exceeding a $1bn target.

Investors in the fund included sovereign wealth funds, corporate and public pension funds, endowments and foundations, and development finance institutions across the US, Europe, Asia and Africa, London-based Helios said in an e-mailed statement Monday. The fund has raised $1.1bn.

“Africa-specific factors, including economic liberalisation, increasing technology-driven productivity, demographic dynamics and urbanisation are driving growth and creating attractive investment opportunities,” Helios said.
Helios’ third fund made its first investment last year, buying a minority stake in Nigeria’s ARM Pension Managers PFA Ltd. in June for an undisclosed amount.

The investment firm, established in 2004, has stakes in companies active in industries including oil and gas, on-line retail and micro lending.