Private equity firm Helios Investment Partners plans to launch a $1.25 billion fund dedicated to Africa,  Bloomberg reported on May 28, 2019, citing sources close to the case.

The firm initiated negotiations with asset managers and development financing institutions for the launch of this vehicle, which will be the largest investment fund exclusively dedicated to Africa, the same source added.

In 2015, the private equity announced the closing of a fund dedicated to Africa at $1.1 billion way above the $1 billion target.

Amid a global economic slowdown, actors of the private equity world are increasingly turning toward Africa, where boosted by important infrastructure investment and the emergence of a middle class, economic growth is still strong in many countries.

According to a report published by Asoko Insight and Africa Capital Digest, 207 private equity firms currently operate in Sub Sahara Africa. Eight manage assets between $500 million and $1 billion and sixty have assets between, $100 million and $500 million.