This investment was made when British International Investment was named CDC Group.
Our investment
In 2013, British International Investment committed $100m into A4C alongside a mixture of commercial and DFI investors including Washington State Investment Board, the UN, ADIA, and AT&T. A4C is targeting around 20 investments of $30-100m across a range of sectors including healthcare, consumer, industrials and financial services. Although the fund has a geographical scope covering Africa, Asia, and Latin America, British International Investment's investment only permits investments in Africa and South Asia (excluding India). This investment strategy was pursued in order to maximise our impact on our core geographies.
Expected impact
A4C will focus on the themes of domestic consumption driven by the rapid expansion of the consumer class, investment in the creation of social infrastructure, for example healthcare and education, and in companies servicing physical infrastructure assets.
Environmental and social aspects
The fund manager has a well-established approach to environmental and social (E&S) management and we will continue to support and monitor its approach as the portfolio grows.
Key facts
- Status:
- Active
- Region
:
Since 2012, we’ve only invested in Africa and South Asia. Investments outside these regions are from our pre-2012 portfolio.
- Africa
- Sector
:
We have seven priority sectors. However, we continue to invest outside these sectors, largely in the most challenging regions, as new investment supporting any sector helps to underpin the private sector, and create jobs and livelihoods for people. For funds, the sectors listed here are those the fund has invested in so far.
- Education, Financial services, Food and agriculture, Health, Other consumer services
- Website:
- https://www.act.is/
- Investment type
:
We provide capital in three broad ways: direct equity, debt, and intermediated equity (principally through investment funds).
- Intermediated investment
- Fund manager:
- Actis LLP
- Start date
:
For direct investments, this is the date British International Investment committed capital to the business or project.
For funds, this is the date that British International Investment committed capital to the fund.
For underlying fund investments, this is the date that the fund invested capital into the business.e
- September 2013
- Amount
:
For direct investments, this is the total amount that British International Investment has committed to the business or project (it may be a combination of equity and debt).
For funds, this is the total amount that British International Investment has committed to the fund.
- $100m
- Domicile
:
This is the investee company’s place of incorporation; or a fund’s jurisdiction.
- Sierra Leone
Investments made by this fund
- Active
- Exited
| Investment name | Country | Region | Sector | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Edita Food Industries
Edita is an independent branded snack food business in North Africa based in Egypt. Its main products are packaged croissants and cakes where it is the dominant category leader. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Food and agriculture | June 2013 | Exited |
|
AutoXpress International Limited
Operating through 20 company-owned stores in Kenya and Rwanda, AutoXpress is the key distributor and retailer of leading tyre, battery and suspension brands, including Pirelli, Dunlop, Marshal, BKT, KYB and Energizer. |
Kenya | Africa, East Africa | Other consumer services | January 2014 | Active |
|
Credit Services Holdings (CSH) (Formerly Compuscan Holdings (Pty) Limited)
Compuscan is a credit services bureau with operations in South Africa, Uganda, Namibia, Ethiopia, Botswana and Lesotho employing around 180 people. |
South Africa | Africa, Southern Africa | Financial services | June 2014 | Exited |
|
Honoris United Universities
Emerging Markets Knowledge Holdings is a buy and build platform for African tertiary education which acquired a Tunisian private university group in December 2014. |
Africa | Education | November 2014 | Active | |
|
Integrated Diagnostics Holdings plc (IDH)
Integrated Diagnostics Holdings is a leading provider of medical diagnostics services across Egypt. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Health | December 2014 | Active |
|
Coricraft Group Proprietary Ltd
Coricraft is a leading home furnishings and accessories retailer in South Africa |
South Africa | Africa, Southern Africa | Other consumer services | October 2015 | Active |
|
Sigma Pensions
Sigma Pensions is the third largest pension fund administrator in Nigeria |
Nigeria | Africa, West Africa | Financial services | November 2015 | Active |
|
Food Lovers Market
Food Lover's Market is a specialist retailer of high quality food which began operations in 1993 in South Africa. It currently has a portfolio of 200 stores, including 3 stores in Zimbabwe. |
South Africa | Africa, Southern Africa | Other consumer services | February 2016 | Active |
|
Les Laboratories Medis
Medis produces high quality, affordable medication, particularly for the growing number of patients in the region afflicted with chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and reflux. |
Tunisia | Africa, North Africa | Health | August 2016 | Active |
