Investments
21Portfolio Exits
5Funds
6Partners & Customers
5About Helios Investment Partners
Helios Investment Partners is an Africa-focused private investment firm. It operates a family of funds and their related co-investment entities, pursuing a full range of investment types, including business formations, growth equity investments, structured investments in listed entities, and large-scale leveraged acquisitions across Africa. Helios Investment Partners was founded in 2004 and is based in London. U.K.

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Latest Helios Investment Partners News
Jan 30, 2023
Convergence Partners has raised $296 million for its Africa fund to buy African technology assets and thus promote digital inclusion across Africa, the frim's chairman and majority shareholder Andile Ngcaba has stated, as cited by media. 2023-01-30T14:15+0000 https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0c/1f/1105957055_0:0:3237:1821_1920x0_80_0_0_09ba34fd6b55fe2598506ba119bf7058.jpg Convergence Partners has raised $296Mln for its Africa fund to buy technology assets and thus promote digital inclusion throughout Africa, the firm's chairman and majority shareholder Andile Ngcaba has said, as cited by media. According to the South African businessman, the group has successfully closed its Convergence Partners Digital Infrastructure Fund (CPDIF) surpassing its initial target by more than 18 percent despite poor private capital fundraising on the continent last year.The fund was launched in June 2020 and had a first close of $120Mln in July 2021.He stated that the recent close of CPDIF marks an important milestone, as it represents the company's biggest fund to date, making total funds under management to more than $600Mln. The financing mainly came from previous investors, development agencies, as well as pension funds and financial institutions based in Europe, Africa, the US and the UK. The fund is focused on investing in digital infrastructure opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa, including investments in fiber networks, data centers, wireless, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and other infrastructure that is necessary for the development of digital economy on the continent. Apart from investing in physical assets, the fund is aimed at supporting initiatives that facilitate access to education, healthcare, and financial services through digital technology. According to the company's chairman, there is a significant digital gap in Africa between those who have access to the internet and computers, and those who don’t. To address this issue and reach the gap, he highlighted that the continent needs another 700 data centers and about $100Bln in investment by 2030.He also noted a positive change in terms of digital development in Africa, saying that more tech-savvy youth appear on the continent with the fastest-growing population, who increasingly use digital services through their mobile phones, including banking and online shopping. Over the past 20 years, the internet penetration across sub–Saharan Africa has been growing because of an increase in investments in critical infrastructure. Apart from Convergence Partners, other funds such as Helios Investment Partners and Development Partners allocated great amounts of capital for technology investments in Africa. Ngcaba also mentioned that the interest of tech giants has been increasing, including such companies as Alphabet and Amazon. Convergence Partners has been operating in Africa for almost two decades and invested in companies such as Vodacom Group and Nedbank Group. The chairman noted that there is still more work to be done to make Africa reap the benefits of the current technology enhancement as the continent lacks behind in terms of digital infrastructure. https://sputniknews.com/20230115/tanzania-considers-introduction-of-central-bank-digital-currency-1106332462.html Convergence Partners, founded in 2006, is an investment management company focused on the development of the technology, media, and telecom sectors in Africa. The investment group created a fund aimed at investing in digital infrastructure opportunities throughout the continent. Convergence Partners has raised $296Mln for its Africa fund to buy technology assets and thus promote digital inclusion throughout Africa, the firm's chairman and majority shareholder Andile Ngcaba has said, as cited by media. According to the South African businessman, the group has successfully closed its Convergence Partners Digital Infrastructure Fund (CPDIF) surpassing its initial target by more than 18 percent despite poor private capital fundraising on the continent last year. The fund was launched in June 2020 and had a first close of $120Mln in July 2021. He stated that the recent close of CPDIF marks an important milestone, as it represents the company's biggest fund to date, making total funds under management to more than $600Mln. The financing mainly came from previous investors, development agencies, as well as pension funds and financial institutions based in Europe, Africa, the US and the UK. The fund is focused on investing in digital infrastructure opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa, including investments in fiber networks, data centers, wireless, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and other infrastructure that is necessary for the development of digital economy on the continent. Apart from investing in physical assets, the fund is aimed at supporting initiatives that facilitate access to education, healthcare, and financial services through digital technology. “We are looking to invest in technology assets ranging from data centers to optic fiber on land and sea,” said Ngcaba, adding: “We have already identified quite a pipeline of targets for the money.” According to the company's chairman, there is a significant digital gap in Africa between those who have access to the internet and computers, and those who don’t. To address this issue and reach the gap, he highlighted that the continent needs another 700 data centers and about $100Bln in investment by 2030. He also noted a positive change in terms of digital development in Africa, saying that more tech-savvy youth appear on the continent with the fastest-growing population, who increasingly use digital services through their mobile phones, including banking and online shopping. Over the past 20 years, the internet penetration across sub–Saharan Africa has been growing because of an increase in investments in critical infrastructure. Apart from Convergence Partners, other funds such as Helios Investment Partners and Development Partners allocated great amounts of capital for technology investments in Africa. Ngcaba also mentioned that the interest of tech giants has been increasing, including such companies as Alphabet and Amazon. “That contributes to a slowly maturing market, and also increases deal-making and exiting opportunities for private equity and others,” he said. Convergence Partners has been operating in Africa for almost two decades and invested in companies such as Vodacom Group and Nedbank Group. The chairman noted that there is still more work to be done to make Africa reap the benefits of the current technology enhancement as the continent lacks behind in terms of digital infrastructure.
Helios Investment Partners Investments
21 Investments
Helios Investment Partners has made 21 investments. Their latest investment was in IXAfrica as part of their Private Equity on November 11, 2022.

Helios Investment Partners Investments Activity

Date | Round | Company | Amount | New? | Co-Investors | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11/8/2022 | Private Equity | IXAfrica | $50M | Yes | 1 | |
9/23/2021 | Series E | Zola Electric | $45M | No | 7 | |
6/7/2021 | Line of Credit | Africell | $105M | Yes | 6 | |
12/14/2020 | Private Equity | |||||
9/8/2020 | Series B |
Date | 11/8/2022 | 9/23/2021 | 6/7/2021 | 12/14/2020 | 9/8/2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round | Private Equity | Series E | Line of Credit | Private Equity | Series B |
Company | IXAfrica | Zola Electric | Africell | ||
Amount | $50M | $45M | $105M | ||
New? | Yes | No | Yes | ||
Co-Investors | |||||
Sources | 1 | 7 | 6 |
Helios Investment Partners Portfolio Exits
5 Portfolio Exits
Helios Investment Partners has 5 portfolio exits. Their latest portfolio exit was GBfoods Africa on September 16, 2021.
Date | Exit | Companies | Valuation Valuations are submitted by companies, mined from state filings or news, provided by VentureSource, or based on a comparables valuation model. | Acquirer | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
9/16/2021 | Acquired | 3 | |||
Date | 9/16/2021 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exit | Acquired | ||||
Companies | |||||
Valuation | |||||
Acquirer | |||||
Sources | 3 |
Helios Investment Partners Acquisitions
15 Acquisitions
Helios Investment Partners acquired 15 companies. Their latest acquisition was Maroc Datacenter on November 20, 2022.
Date | Investment Stage | Companies | Valuation Valuations are submitted by companies, mined from state filings or news, provided by VentureSource, or based on a comparables valuation model. | Total Funding | Note | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11/20/2022 | Acq - Fin | 2 | ||||
8/4/2021 | Acq - Fin | 1 | ||||
8/4/2021 | Acq - Fin | 1 | ||||
8/4/2021 | ||||||
8/4/2021 |
Date | 11/20/2022 | 8/4/2021 | 8/4/2021 | 8/4/2021 | 8/4/2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Investment Stage | |||||
Companies | |||||
Valuation | |||||
Total Funding | |||||
Note | Acq - Fin | Acq - Fin | Acq - Fin | ||
Sources | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Helios Investment Partners Fund History
6 Fund Histories
Helios Investment Partners has 6 funds, including Helios IV.
Closing Date | Fund | Fund Type | Status | Amount | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1/30/2022 | Helios IV | $1,225M | 8 | ||
2/9/2015 | Helios Investors III LP | ||||
6/13/2011 | Helios Investors II LP | ||||
12/31/2007 | Helios Investors I LP | ||||
Helios Investment Partners Debt Fund |
Closing Date | 1/30/2022 | 2/9/2015 | 6/13/2011 | 12/31/2007 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fund | Helios IV | Helios Investors III LP | Helios Investors II LP | Helios Investors I LP | Helios Investment Partners Debt Fund |
Fund Type | |||||
Status | |||||
Amount | $1,225M | ||||
Sources | 8 |
Helios Investment Partners Partners & Customers
5 Partners and customers
Helios Investment Partners has 5 strategic partners and customers. Helios Investment Partners recently partnered with Sojitz on August 8, 2022.
Date | Type | Business Partner | Country | News Snippet | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8/30/2022 | Partner | Japan | Helios and Japan's Sojitz sign MoU Sojitz Corporation and Helios Investment Partners LLP entered into a partnership through Sojitz Corporation 's first significant equity investment in Africa earlier this year . | 1 | |
11/4/2021 | Partner | ||||
2/5/2021 | Vendor | ||||
12/10/2020 | Partner | ||||
5/3/2017 | Partner |
Date | 8/30/2022 | 11/4/2021 | 2/5/2021 | 12/10/2020 | 5/3/2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Partner | Partner | Vendor | Partner | Partner |
Business Partner | |||||
Country | Japan | ||||
News Snippet | Helios and Japan's Sojitz sign MoU Sojitz Corporation and Helios Investment Partners LLP entered into a partnership through Sojitz Corporation 's first significant equity investment in Africa earlier this year . | ||||
Sources | 1 |
Helios Investment Partners Team
4 Team Members
Helios Investment Partners has 4 team members, including current Founder, Managing Partner, Tope Lawani.
Name | Work History | Title | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Tope Lawani | TPG Capital, and Walt Disney Enterprises | Founder, Managing Partner | Current |
Name | Tope Lawani | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Work History | TPG Capital, and Walt Disney Enterprises | |||
Title | Founder, Managing Partner | |||
Status | Current |
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