Helios Investment Partners

Helios Investment Partners is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in buyouts of going concerns, recapitalization, mezzanine, growth capital for private enterprises, restructurings joint ventures, startups; either green-field or brownfield; and the majority or blocking-minority structured investments in listed entities. It seeks to invest in the telecommunications, media, financial services, power, utilities, travel, leisure, distribution, fast-moving consumer goods, logistics, and Agro-allied sectors. The firm prefers to invest in Africa with a focus on Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya. It seeks to invest between $15 million and $200 million in an individual transaction. The firm prefers to have a board seat in its portfolio companies. Helios Investment Partners LLP was founded in 2004 and is based in London, United Kingdom.

Fope Adelowo

Principal

Souleymane Ba

Partner

Paul Cunningham

Partner, CFO

Temitope Lawani

Managing Partner, Member of Executive and Investment Committees

Babatunde Soyoye

Managing Partner

Past deals in Africa

Paymob

Series B in 2024
Paymob is a digital payments enabler based in Cairo, Egypt, founded in 2015. The company focuses on building payment infrastructure technologies that enhance financial inclusion in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. By providing integrated payment services, Paymob helps businesses of all sizes transition from cash to electronic payments, thereby unlocking new opportunities and efficiencies. Its software aims to minimize the risks associated with fraud and theft while speeding up money circulation. By empowering underserved communities with access to a variety of electronic payment and money transfer options, Paymob plays a crucial role in bridging the financial inclusion gap in the region.

Nomba

Series B in 2023
Nomba is a fintech company focused on providing accessible and affordable financial software solutions for businesses in Africa. The company offers a range of services, including business savings accounts, joint savings options, card payments, and POS terminal management. Nomba's platform enables users to perform various financial transactions, such as paying bills, transferring money, purchasing airtime and TV subscriptions, and managing electricity payments. Customers can engage with Nomba's services through multiple digital channels, including mobile, web, and USSD, as well as through a network of agents. By streamlining these financial processes, Nomba aims to enhance the financial capabilities of businesses and individuals across the continent.

Paymob

Series B in 2022
Paymob is a digital payments enabler based in Cairo, Egypt, founded in 2015. The company focuses on building payment infrastructure technologies that enhance financial inclusion in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. By providing integrated payment services, Paymob helps businesses of all sizes transition from cash to electronic payments, thereby unlocking new opportunities and efficiencies. Its software aims to minimize the risks associated with fraud and theft while speeding up money circulation. By empowering underserved communities with access to a variety of electronic payment and money transfer options, Paymob plays a crucial role in bridging the financial inclusion gap in the region.

Zola Electric

Venture Round in 2021
ZOLA Electric is a provider of off-grid solar solutions tailored for African markets, specifically operating in Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. Established in 2012 and headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania, with an additional office in San Francisco, the company offers solar home kits to individual households through a leasing or sales model. Utilizing the latest solar, battery, and power electronics technology, ZOLA Electric's systems are designed to meet varying energy needs and income levels, allowing customers to make payments via PAYGo micro-financing and mobile money. The company's innovative approach has enabled it to power over 180,000 homes and businesses in rural and urban areas. ZOLA Electric, previously known as Off-Grid Electric Tanzania Limited until its name change in 2018, has received multiple awards, including the UN Momentum for Change Award and the Zayed Future Energy Prize, and has garnered investment from prominent firms such as Tesla and Total.

Techniques Science Santé

Acquisition in 2021
Techniques Science Santé is a distributor of high tech medical equipment. For 25 years, T2S has been the leader in the distribution and maintenance of radiology (MRIs, scanners) and radiotherapy equipment (accelerators for oncology) and has today the largest installed base in Morocco. It has since broadened its product range and is now the one stop shop service provider for healthcare projects. It is active in Africa since 2008 and has run projects in Mauritania, Ivory Coast and Mali. The company has revenues of c.m40€ and has 140 employees.

Africell

Debt Financing in 2021
Africell, established in 2001, is a prominent mobile telecommunications provider in Africa, focusing on connecting and empowering local communities. The company has achieved significant growth, becoming the leading operator in Gambia and Sierra Leone, while expanding its operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where it acquired Orange Uganda. Africell Holdings maintains full ownership of its operations in Gambia, Sierra Leone, and the DRC, and holds a majority stake in Uganda. As of the end of 2016, Africell had approximately 11 million active subscribers. The company offers a range of services, including 2G and 3G voice and data services, and is in the process of deploying LTE services, which are already available in Kampala, Uganda.

Taptap Send

Venture Round in 2020
Taptap Send is a financial platform that enables immigrants to send money back home to African countries quickly and at low costs. Launched in the summer of 2018, the app has facilitated the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars and serves hundreds of thousands of customers. It operates in seven European countries and supports payments to various nations, including Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Guinea, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Kenya, Madagascar, Zambia, Vietnam, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with plans to expand to more countries. The platform allows users to make fast transfers to mobile money wallets by simply using a debit card, streamlining the process and eliminating the need for physical deposits.

Misr Hytech Seed

Acquisition in 2019
Misr Hytech Seed is a prominent producer of proprietary agricultural seeds located in Cairo, Egypt. The company specializes in developing, producing, and marketing hybrid seeds, including white corn, yellow corn, grain and fodder sorghum, sweet corn, and various vegetables, tailored to the specific needs of the Egyptian market. By employing advanced breeding, production, and conditioning technologies, Misr Hytech aims to deliver high-quality seeds that enhance agricultural productivity. Additionally, the company is committed to supporting farmers by providing technical services for crop production, thereby contributing to improved food security and the ability to meet the growing demand for food in Egypt.

TPAY Mobile

Acquisition in 2018
TPAY Mobile is an open mobile payment platform established in 2014 and headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. The company specializes in connecting consumers, businesses, and mobile operators through operator billing. Its platform facilitates both local and global digital service providers by leveraging the existing billing relationships and collection networks of mobile network operators. This allows users to purchase online products and services using only their cell phone numbers, with costs seamlessly added to their mobile bills or deducted from their balances. TPAY Mobile aims to create a streamlined direct carrier billing ecosystem that benefits telecom operators and online merchants alike.

Africell

Debt Financing in 2018
Africell, established in 2001, is a prominent mobile telecommunications provider in Africa, focusing on connecting and empowering local communities. The company has achieved significant growth, becoming the leading operator in Gambia and Sierra Leone, while expanding its operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where it acquired Orange Uganda. Africell Holdings maintains full ownership of its operations in Gambia, Sierra Leone, and the DRC, and holds a majority stake in Uganda. As of the end of 2016, Africell had approximately 11 million active subscribers. The company offers a range of services, including 2G and 3G voice and data services, and is in the process of deploying LTE services, which are already available in Kampala, Uganda.

Starsight

Private Equity Round in 2018
Starsight provides captive power and energy efficiency solutions to commercial, multi-site clients in Nigeria through long-term contracts.

Zola Electric

Series D in 2018
ZOLA Electric is a provider of off-grid solar solutions tailored for African markets, specifically operating in Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. Established in 2012 and headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania, with an additional office in San Francisco, the company offers solar home kits to individual households through a leasing or sales model. Utilizing the latest solar, battery, and power electronics technology, ZOLA Electric's systems are designed to meet varying energy needs and income levels, allowing customers to make payments via PAYGo micro-financing and mobile money. The company's innovative approach has enabled it to power over 180,000 homes and businesses in rural and urban areas. ZOLA Electric, previously known as Off-Grid Electric Tanzania Limited until its name change in 2018, has received multiple awards, including the UN Momentum for Change Award and the Zayed Future Energy Prize, and has garnered investment from prominent firms such as Tesla and Total.

The Quantum Group

Debt Financing in 2017
The Quantum Group, a company based in Ghana with vertically-integrated operations in the transportation and logistics of refined petroleum products.

Zola Electric

Series D in 2016
ZOLA Electric is a provider of off-grid solar solutions tailored for African markets, specifically operating in Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. Established in 2012 and headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania, with an additional office in San Francisco, the company offers solar home kits to individual households through a leasing or sales model. Utilizing the latest solar, battery, and power electronics technology, ZOLA Electric's systems are designed to meet varying energy needs and income levels, allowing customers to make payments via PAYGo micro-financing and mobile money. The company's innovative approach has enabled it to power over 180,000 homes and businesses in rural and urban areas. ZOLA Electric, previously known as Off-Grid Electric Tanzania Limited until its name change in 2018, has received multiple awards, including the UN Momentum for Change Award and the Zayed Future Energy Prize, and has garnered investment from prominent firms such as Tesla and Total.

Telkom Kenya

Acquisition in 2016
Telkom Kenya was established as a telecommunications operator under the Companies Act in April 1999. We provide integrated communications solutions in Kenya with the widest range of voice and data services as well as network facilities for residential and business customers. We are proud to play a prominent role in the information and communications technology sector, serving millions of Kenyans across the country. The company, as at June 2011, has a customer base of approximately 2,800,000 customers on GSM, fixed and CDMA wireless platforms with a country-wide presence.

Starzs Investments Company

Debt Financing in 2015
Starzs Investments Company Limited, a leading indigenous Nigerian offshore oil & gas services company.

Africa Oil Corp

Post in 2015
Africa Oil is a Canadian oil and gas company with assets in Kenya and Ethiopia as well as Puntland (Somalia) through its 41% equity interest in Africa Energy Corp. Africa Oil's East African holdings are within a world-class exploration play fairway with a total gross land package in this prolific region in excess of 200,000 square kilometers. The East African Rift Basin system is one of the last of the great rift basins to be explored. Several new significant oil discoveries have been announced in the Lokichar basin of Kenya in which the Company holds a 50% interest along with operator Tullow Oil plc. The Company is listed on the TSX and on Nasdaq Stockholm under the symbol "AOI".

Helios Towers Africa

Private Equity Round in 2014
Helios Towers Africa has operations in Ghana, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and a sister company in Nigeria. The number of mobile subscribers in Africa has increased from just 16 million people in 2000 to over 500 million today. Based on these growth levels and without an increase in the sharing of telecoms tower facilities, the number of towers in Africa will need to double from the current number of 75,000, a significant environmental impact.

ARM Pension Managers PFA

Private Equity Round in 2014
ARM Pension Managers PFA Limited (“ARM Pensions”), a subsidiary of ARM. ARM Pensions is Nigeria’s largest independent pension fund manager.

Bayport Management

Private Equity Round in 2013
Bayport Management Ltd is a financial services provider founded in 2001 and headquartered in Ebene, Mauritius. Through its subsidiaries, the company offers a range of retail financial services across multiple countries, including Mauritius, Botswana, Colombia, Ghana, Mexico, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Its product offerings include personal loans, such as payroll and retail loans, as well as savings accounts, flexible deposits, and transaction accounts. Additionally, Bayport provides mobile banking solutions, e-wallets, payment kiosks, and ATM services. The company also offers various insurance products, including credit insurance, education protection plans, and coverage for hospital and funeral expenses. Bayport Management generates revenue primarily through interest income and administration fees associated with its financial products and services.

MallforAfrica

Private Equity Round in 2013
MallforAfrica is Africa's larges online mall which enables Africans from 35 countries purchase items from international retailers in the US and UK who do not accept local currency or ship to Africa. Its online platform and payment system gives its users access to over 250 US/UK retailers and over 2 billion products. MallforAfrica was successfully sold with an IP and Platform exit in 2021. MallforAfrica was launched by Chris Folayan in June 2012 and its operations are based in Nigeria

Vivo Energy

Acquisition in 2011
Vivo Energy is a leading distributor of fuels and lubricants in Africa, operating under the Shell brand. Founded in 2011 and based in Amsterdam, the company is a subsidiary of Vivo Energy plc, which is jointly owned by Vitol, Helios Investment Partners, and Shell. Vivo Energy focuses on providing innovative and responsible energy solutions tailored to the needs of both motorists and commercial customers. In addition to traditional fuels and lubricants, the company is expanding its non-fuel retail offerings and developing hybrid and solar solutions, aiming to meet the evolving energy demands across the continent.

JCDecaux South Africa

Acquisition in 2009
JCDecaux South Africa (Pty) Ltd provides advertising services for marketers across South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Its services include the design and printing of artwork, and the display of outdoor advertising.

Equity Group Holdings

Private Equity Round in 2007
Equity Bank Kenya is a financial services provider headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. It is licensed as a commercial bank by the central bank of Kenya, the central bank, and national banking regulator. Equity Bank Kenya Limited was incorporated in 2014 as a result of the corporate restructure of Equity Group Holdings Limited.

First City Monument Bank

Private Equity Round in 2007
First City Monument Bank is a commercial banking institution founded in 1982 and based in Lagos, Nigeria. It serves a diverse clientele, including large corporations, small and medium enterprises, and individual customers. The bank offers a wide array of financial services, such as personal banking, business banking, and corporate banking. Its product offerings include loans, savings and current accounts, credit cards, and online banking. Additionally, First City Monument Bank provides specialized services like cash management, foreign exchange, corporate finance, and trade services. The bank's corporate finance division focuses on financial advisory, capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and infrastructure and project finance, facilitating digital transformation in banking for its customers.

HTN Towers

Private Equity Round in 2005
HTN Towers are the first independent African tower operator having been established in 2006. We have a diversified tower sites portfolio of over 2, 000 sites, which are urban and sub urban-centric with presence in 34 of the 36 Nigerian states. A third of our sites are located in Nigeria's two largest cities, Lagos and Abuja. We provide the passive infrastructure in the telecom industry, which includes space on ground, tower structure and advanced power management systems for uninterrupted power supply.
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