In recent news, Helios Investment Partners, a prominent Africa-focused private investment firm, has set its sights on raising a substantial $750 million for its latest fund, Helios Investors V. This ambitious fundraising goal has attracted significant support from major development finance institutions, with the European Investment Bank (EIB) committing $75 million to the fund and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) also backing the initiative.
The decision by the EIB to invest in Helios Fund V aligns with the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package, aimed at enhancing sustainable development in Africa through strategic investments in key industries. EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle emphasized the partnership with Helios as a means to invest in market-leading, value-creating, and socially responsible enterprises for the mutual benefit of Africa and the European Union.
The IFC’s backing of the fund further underscores the growing interest of major development finance institutions in African private equity, particularly in sectors poised to capitalize on the continent’s demographic advantages and accelerating digital integration. This commitment reflects a broader trend of international investors recognizing the potential of Africa’s tech ecosystem.
Helios Fund V will focus on companies within digital infrastructure, financial services, and technology sectors, as well as tech-enabled business services like education, healthcare, and logistics. By investing in businesses providing critical digital infrastructure such as data centers, fiber-optic networks, and telecom towers, the fund aims to accelerate the growth of companies involved in digital infrastructure, technology-enabled services, and financial technology across Africa.
In addition to financial objectives, Helios V has committed to integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into its investment strategy. The fund has pledged to allocate at least 30% of its portfolio to companies that meet the EIB’s gender equality criteria and has joined the 2X Global network, demonstrating a commitment to promoting gender-smart investments.
The support of Helios V by the IFC and EIB highlights the continued interest of major development finance institutions in allocating capital to African private equity, especially in sectors positioned to benefit from the continent’s demographic advantages and digital integration. EIB Global invested €232 million in African funds last year, nearly half of its total fund investments, signaling a strategic focus on catalyzing private capital flows to the continent.
As Africa progresses towards digital transformation and addresses its infrastructure and service deficits, funds like Helios V, supported by institutional capital and development finance expertise, are poised to play a crucial role in driving innovation, creating employment opportunities, and fostering sustainable economic growth across the continent.
