Abidjan, Paris 30 January 2023 – Joliba Capital, an African private equity firm majority-owned by LBO France, a multi-specialist and multi-country investment platform, and founded by two seasoned African investment professionals Hamada Tour (Managing Partner) and Yann Pambou (CEO & Managing Partner), is pleased to announce a first close of its inaugural fund, Joliba Capital Fund I, at EUR 89 million.
This Rolling First Close reflects the trust and confidence that investors have placed on our vision and strategy. The Fund will principally target investment opportunities across Francophone countries in West and Central Africa to develop a diversified portfolio composed of small and mid-cap regional champions seeking growth capital and operating expertise in a wide range of consumer driven sectors including agribusiness, manufacturing, FMCG, education, healthcare, financial services, and logistics.
In a market that remains undeveloped from a Private Equity perspective, Joliba Capital intends to contribute to supporting SME financing and to strengthening ESG and impact standards across the region while increasing the understanding of the benefits from private equity investments.
Joliba Capital Fund I is 2X Challenge qualified, demonstrating its ambition to maximize impact while generating superior returns for its investors.
Robert Daussun, Chairman of LBO France and Stéphanie Casciola, CEO of LBO France state: “We are happy to welcome DFC and Swedfund in Joliba Capital’s inaugural fund. Their commitment is a strong endorsement of the high value that African companies can create with the help of professional investors while addressing very concrete development challenges. LBO France will pursue its strategy in Africa with the ambition to support local communities and entrepreneurs unlock the full potential of the continent.”
The founders of Joliba Capital, Hamada Tour and Yann Pambou state: “We are pleased to count on the trust and support of DFC and Swedfund on our mission to boost the Francophone Africa private sector and create sustainable jobs. We sincerely thank our partner LBO France and our initial anchor investors Proparco, FMO, and IFC for their confidence and support.”
“DFC is proud to support Joliba Capital in expanding its investments to small and medium sized businesses in Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon and other Francophone West and Central African countries. DFC’s support will provide vital access to capital in these regions to support small businesses facing barriers to financing,” says Mateo Goldman, Acting Vice President of DC’s Office of Equity, and Investment Funds.
“We are happy to be part of Joliba’s first fund, which will invest in sectors like financial services, consumer goods, insurance, and education. This gives Swedfund the opportunity to strengthen the private sector and to contribute to socio-economic development via increased decent job opportunities and enhanced gender equality. The investment will also support improved access to goods & services for the underserved, says Sofia Gedeon, Investment Director Sustainable Enterprises at Swedfund.
