Helios Investment Partners has just secured an additional $100 million for its fourth Africa-focused fund Helios Investors IV. The money is provided by the UK’s development finance institution CDC.

The British institution views the investment as an instrument to accelerate job creation, facilitate sustainable employment, and support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by boosting economic growth. CDC said its commitment was motivated by Helios' compliance with new requirements in terms of environmental, social, and good governance rules.

The development finance institution intends to ensure that investment in African businesses can continue smoothly and enable a rapid post-Covid recovery. “I’m confident our investment in Helios will help catalyze additional commitments from institutional investors, thereby allowing the firm to invest in promising companies, create lasting jobs, and accelerate progress towards the SDGs across the region,” said Clarisa de Franco (pictured), head of Africa funds at CDC.

Helios Investors IV was launched in June 2019, with the ambition of raising a record $1.25 billion to support initiatives targeting Africa. Its manager Helios Partners has already invested in nearly 33 African and Middle Eastern companies.

For its part, the CDC Group is continuing its commitment to Africa. This is its second reported financing for the region after the $50 million granted to AfricInvest's fourth fund. In 2019, the institution committed over £1.2 billion in the continent.

Idriss Linge