Growing African pension funds an opportunity for private equity
African pension funds with growing asset bases, due to rising incomes, will need to look beyond traditional asset classes to diversify their portfolios. Given private equity’s long-term nature – the typical life cycle of a fund is 8-10 years – the asset class is an obvious choice. In Nigeria, the pension fund industry has grown...
Accessing African Growth
Leading global investors increasingly understand the case for African investments. A sustained growth rate of over 6% a year for the past 10 years is certainly compelling; but how to access that growth efficiently and effectively? Listed equity is the natural starting point, but cuts out several high-performing sectors. Nor is a geographic focus...
Future outlook for African currencies a concern
In 2007, Tullow Oil made the announcement that uplifted a whole nation. The company had discovered 1.5bn barrels of oil in an offshore field off the Ghanaian coast. In the first three years of production, the government had earned an average of USD 469 million per annum in royalties. Given that the country also exports...
The African financial services gold rush
The financial sector has been a favourite of investors into Africa for some time. The long-term nature of the investment, the direct link to the expansion of the wider economy and individuals’ increase in discretionary incomes have all been factors that have supported investment into this sector. Financials have also traditionally been very well represented...
Africa on board with renewable energy
The recent UN renewable energy pledge joined by the Rockefellers has drawn much attention, and calls for a divestment from fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy investments. Stephen Heintz, Director of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, says that the irony of a fortune built on oil now steering clear of fossil fuels is not lost...
Ebola crisis affects cocoa industry
The rise of Africa as an investment destination is particularly encouraging considering the unique challenges characterising many fast-growing countries. These include a lack of infrastructure, which the World Bank predicts will cost USD 75bn per year to resolve, and energy shortages. In addition, political risks have plagued the continent, but the...
RisCFlash
SOUTH AFRICA INVESTOR BENCHMARKS SWIX: FTSE/JSE Shareholder Weighted All Share Index SA Listed Property: FTSE/JSE SA Listed Property Index (SAPY) ALPI: FTSE/JSE SA All Property Index ALBI: BEASSA All Bond Index Barclays ILB: Barclays Capital/ABSA South Africa Government Inflation-Linked Index CILI: FTSE/JSE Composite Inflation-Linked Index STeFI: Alexander...
White Hot winners
The top three Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon wine blends in the country are being celebrated today at the second annual RisCura White Hot wine awards, hosted by global financial services provider, RisCura and wine critic, Christian Eedes. This year’s winners are completely different to those of last year. In the top three, each achieving a 5-star rating...
