AfricInvest Europe announces the first closing of the 3rd generation of Franco-African Funds

AfricInvest Europe, with its dedicated team based in Paris, has achieved approximately €150 million in assets under management and has invested in 18 French companies through the Franco-African Funds (FFA). Since the launch of the first Franco-African Fund in January 2017, the FFA strategy has focused on making minority investments in profitable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and intermediate-sized enterprises (ETIs) in France that have strong growth potential and a connection to Africa. This African angle can pertain to existing or new industrial sites, whether organic or acquired, as well as distribution activities or commercial projects on the African continent. Founded in 1994, AfricInvest Group is a pioneer and leader in private equity in Africa, having raised approximately $2.3 billion and completed over 230 transactions in more than 38 countries. For each French company in its portfolio, AfricInvest Europe supports management teams by leveraging the extensive experience of AfricInvest Group in Africa, its vast network on the continent, and the expertise of its approximately 100 employees across eight offices and local branches in South Africa, Algeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Mauritius, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and Tunisia. As of the end of September 2025, the FFA has already made 18 investments across various sectors, including healthcare, vocational training, public lighting, packaging, industrial production, water management, public works, distribution, travel services, mobility, shipbuilding, wealth management, and digital solutions. The vision of the funds is to accelerate their international growth through development projects, particularly in Europe and Africa. With its unique cross-border positioning, AfricInvest Europe assists its French investments in accelerating their growth, establishing partnerships, and accessing new markets in Africa. AfricInvest Group facilitates these collaborations by connecting companies with the most relevant commercial, financial, industrial, and technological partners in each local market. The FFA 3 targets 10 to 12 minority investments ranging from €5 million to €10 million, in both majority and minority operations, alongside management teams and/or French and foreign private equity funds. FFA 3 has garnered support from most of its historical investors, including Bpifrance, Proparco, BNP Paribas, the pan-African insurer Sanlam, the pension fund of the Central Bank of Kenya, and the Mauritian insurer Sicom, as well as new international institutional investors, including Kenyan pension funds and the Equitane group led by Gagan Gupta based in the GCC, along with new European and African family offices. Stéphane Colin and Khaled Ben Jennet, managing partners of AfricInvest Europe, stated: “We are pleased with this significant milestone for the Franco-African Funds. Several investors have reaffirmed their confidence in us, and new investors have also been attracted by our unique investment thesis. Today, the Franco-African Funds have a distinctive investment strategy in the French mid-cap private equity market, and for each portfolio company, alongside management teams and co-shareholders, they provide real additionality, particularly in their African development.” In addition to financial returns, FFA 3 (SFDR 8) will emphasize the impact of its investments on governance, transparency, job creation, and adherence to the social and environmental values of the companies.