Swedfund International AB, established in 1979, is a Swedish government-owned investment firm specializing in high-risk, emerging markets. It provides risk capital, including equity, loans, and expertise, to seed, start-up, and mature companies in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Sweden. Swedfund invests between SEK 5 million and SEK 100 million, seeking a minority stake not exceeding one-third of the total investment. It typically invests in companies that do not manufacture or sell weapons, tobacco, or alcohol, and avoids investing in Swedish businesses of Swedish companies. Swedfund takes a Board seat in its portfolio companies and seeks to exit investments within five to ten years. It does not invest alongside private individuals or co-operatives, provide donations, or engage in sponsorships.
Senior Investment Manager and Head of Regional office, Nairobi
Arvid Raa
Investment Manager
Sofia Ragnhammar
Investment Manager
Johan Selander
CFO
Filip Stubbfält
Investment Analyst
Anton Ståhl
Investment Manager
Sebastian Süllmann
Investment Manager
Elin Thesleff
Investment Manager
Esther Wachira
Associate Senior Investment Manager
Tomas Wadström
Senior Investment Manager
Björn Areskog
Senior Investment Manager
Tomas Wadström
Senior Investment Manager
Past deals in East Africa
Apollo Agriculture
Debt Financing in 2024
Apollo Agriculture, established in 2015, is a Kenyan agtech company based in Nairobi. It specializes in providing smallholder farmers with access to critical farming inputs, financing, and advisory services. Apollo's innovative platform employs agronomic machine learning, remote sensing, and mobile technology to assess credit risk and tailor financial and technical assistance to each farmer's unique needs and location. This approach enables farmers to enhance their yields and profits, with a focus on emerging markets, starting in Kenya.
Co-operative Bank of Kenya
Debt Financing in 2021
The Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited, established in 1965, is a banking institution incorporated under the Companies Act in Kenya. Originally registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, it transitioned to its current structure in 2008 to align with requirements for listing on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The bank offers a wide range of financial services, including corporate and retail banking, investment, and asset management. It operates through three primary segments: Retail Banking, which serves individual customers with loans, deposits, and related services; Wholesale Banking, catering to corporate and institutional clients; and Group Functions, which encompasses support departments such as ICT and Finance. The majority of the bank's revenue is derived from its Retail Banking operations, highlighting its significant role in providing financial services to the Kenyan population.
Kasha
Venture Round in 2020
Kasha is a Rwanda-based e-commerce company, established in 2016, that operates in Rwanda and Kenya. It specializes in distributing a wide range of personal care and health products tailored to women, including menstrual care, sexual health items, pharmaceuticals, and mom and baby care products. Kasha's online platform ensures accessibility to these products in both urban and rural areas, promoting women's health and well-being at various life stages.
Ecobank
Debt Financing in 2015
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), a public limited liability company under a private sector initiative spearheaded by the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry with the support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In the early 1980’s foreign and state-owned banks dominated the banking industry in West Africa. Commercial banks in West Africa owned and managed by the African private sector were a rarity. Its founders created ETI with the objective of filling this vacuum. The Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce promoted and initiated a project to create a private, regional banking institution in West Africa. In 1984, Ecopromotions S.A. was incorporated. Its founding shareholders raised seed capital for feasibility studies and the promotional activities leading to the creation of ETI. In October 1985, ETI was incorporated with authorised capital of US$100 million. The initial paid up capital of US$32 million was raised from over 1,500 individuals and institutions from West African countries. The largest shareholder was the ECOWAS Fund for Cooperation, Compensation and Development (ECOWAS Fund), the development finance arm of ECOWAS. Ecobank signed a Headquarters’ Agreement with the Government of Togo in 1985, which granted it the status of an international organisation. This status came with the rights and privileges necessary for ETI to operate as a regional institution, including the status of a non-resident financial institution. ETI commenced operations with its first subsidiary in Togo in March 1988.
Radisson Emerald Addis Hotels
Debt Financing in 2008
Radisson Emerald Addis Hotels contains 204 rooms in the upmarket center of Addis Ababa.
Radisson Emerald Addis Hotels
Private Equity Round in 2008
Radisson Emerald Addis Hotels contains 204 rooms in the upmarket center of Addis Ababa.
Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund
Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund is a public-private partnership firm established in 2002 and headquartered in Ebene, Mauritius. It focuses on mobilizing capital from both public and private sources to provide long-term debt and mezzanine finance for infrastructure projects in sub-Saharan Africa. The firm primarily lends to projects that are owned, managed, and operated by private sector businesses, particularly in fragile states where traditional lenders are often hesitant to engage due to perceived risks. By financing the construction and development of essential infrastructure, the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund aims to foster growth and development in the region, enhancing the overall economic landscape. The fund is managed and advised by Investec Asset Management.
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