Stuart Bradley  Founding Partner, Fundraising & Investor Relations 

Email stuartbradley@phatisa.com

Izelle le Roux-Owen  Corporate Communications & Investor Relations 

Email izelleleroux@phatisa.com

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MOST RECENT PRESS 

2012

Funds to watch in 2012, AfricaAssets, January 2012  (Web link)

2011

AAF statement regarding land policy in Africa, November 2011 (PDF 137 KB)

The African continent has huge potential in terms of its own food security and exports. This is attracting institutional and private players eager to participate. The only and most important consideration for
any business venture must be sustainable investment - building long term value for all stakeholders.

The African Agriculture Fund invests in Sierra Leonean palm oil, October 2011

The African Agriculture Fund (AAF), managed by Phatisa, has concluded an agreement and commenced drawdown to invest US$ 10 million alongside the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation Limited (FINNFUND) and the Company’s Sponsors, in Goldtree a palm oil plantation and milling company, representing a total investment of US$ 20 million.

> press announcement, October 2011  (PDF 129 KB)

> communiqué de presse, Octobre 2011  (PDF 151 KB)

 

A new investment crop, Africa investor, October 2011  (Web link)

"...An extended age of consumerism looks promising not only for the farmers looking to supply produce to a growing and urbanising world population, but through some clever financial engineering, retail investors can take advantage ot this trend too..."

 

The African Agriculture Fund signs up to US$ 10 million investment in Sierra Leone. (Web links)  Press announcement, July 2011  (PDF 118 KB)  Communiqué de presse, Juillet 2011  (PDF 122 KB)  

 

 

Phatisa Managing Partner, Duncan Owen joins Frontier 100, 30 June 2011  (Web link)

Frontier 100, part of Initiative for Global Development (IGD), is a network of successful African, South Asian, US and European business leaders that operate in frontier markets. The network creates opportunities for these select executives to share knowledge and build relationships enabling faster business growth and greater poverty reduction.

 

OPIC BOARD APPROVES NEARLY US$ 500 MILLION FOR FIVE RENEWABLE RESOURCES INVESTMENT, 29 June 2011  (Web link)

African Agriculture Fund (AAF), Fund target capitalization: US$ 300 million, OPIC contribution: US$ 100 million

OPIC will provide up to US$ 100 million in financing for the AAF, which will focus on food production in Africa by investing in the primary (farms and plantations) and secondary (processing and animal feeds) farming sectors, and in the agricultural services and infrastructure sectors. The Fund has a target capitalisation of US$ 300 million and achieved a first closing at US$ 151 million in January 2011...

'...the United States is leading an effort to reach out to people around the world who are suffering, to provide them immediate assistance and to extend support for food security that will help them lift themselves out of poverty. All of us must join together in this effort, not just because it is right, but because by providing assistance to those countries most in need, we will provide new markets, we will drive the growth of the future that lifts all of us up.' President Barack Obama 

 

Ministerial Declaration, Action plan on food price volatility and agriculture  (Web link to a PDF)  Meeting of G20 Agriculture Ministers, Paris, 22 and 23 June 2011  (Web link)

no. 19 '...we welcome the contribution of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) and the African Agriculture Fund..."

 

Tapping development finance, Africa investor, March - April 2011  (PDF 992 KB)

The African Agriculture Fund is an excellent example of how partnerships were formed between an indigenous African fund manager, Phatisa and multi national development/international finance institutions to create and launch a truly unique private equity initiative.' Duncan Owen, Managing Partner. Development finance institutions keen to boost growth in Africa are increasingly turning back to private equity... 

Harvesting Promise, Africa investor, January - February 2011  (PDF 1567 KB)

'Much of Africa is regenerating,' says Stuart Bradley, partner at private equity fund manager Phatisa. 'With economic and governance reforms, a booming middle class, increasing urbanisation and a noticeable increase in skilled labour, this translates to better resource management, actively driving positive investor sentiment across the board.' 

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2010

African Agriculture Fund first closes on US$ 135 million, 29 November 2010

The African Agriculture Fund (AAF) is Africa’s foremost private equity fund focused solely on food production throughout the continent. This closure represents a milestone for the development of agriculture in Africa, linking local enterprise with international sources of finance. AAF Press Release  (PDF 192 KB)

 

G8 Muskoka Declaration, Recovery and New Beginnings - Muskoka, Canada, 25 - 26 June 2010

'We are working actively to ensure a co-ordinated approach nationally, regionally and globally, while maintaining our focus on country-led initiatives. We are pleased with the launch of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program hosted at the World Bank, which has $880 million in commitments, and other mutually complementary initiatives or mechanisms, such as the African Agriculture Fund. We underline the critical importance of accountability for ensuring that these collective commitments are met.'  Extract from note 16, Food security  (Web link)

 

New board member brings extensive African investment experience, June 2010

CDC Group plc (UK development finance institution) announced the appointment of Valentine Chitalu, Phatisa Chairman as a Non-executive Director. 

 

France sets up US$ 120 million Africa Agriculture Fund, France, Reuters, June 2010

France is to set up a US$ 120 million fund to help Africa's agriculture industry and the investment could end up totalling US$ 300 million, a communique from the 25th Africa-France summit said on Tuesday. The fund will support the development of African farming projects, the communique added. The Africa-France summit has been held since 1975. France is looking to claw back some of its historical economic influence in the continent given the emergence of new rivals such as China, which has become Africa's biggest trade partner. Reporting by John Irish. Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.

 

La terre attire les financiers, Jeune Afrique, June 2010

Destiné au secteur privé, le Fonds pour l’agriculture africaine sera lancé en juillet avec plus de 100 millions d’euros apportés par une multitude d’acteurs de la finance. Lire l'article sur Jeuneafrique.com : Banques : après la crise | La terre attire les financiers | Jeuneafrique.com - le premier site d'information et d'actualité sur l'Afrique.

 

Addressing challenges and opportunities in Africa, 3rd annual unquote" South Africa Private Equity Congress, February 2010

The 3rd annual unquote" South Africa Private Equity Congress, in association with SAVCA, took place at the Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town on 11 February 2010 and was attended by over 260 private equity experts from South Africa and beyond. On invitation of Webber Wentzel (Legal Sponsors), Stuart Bradley, a Partner at Phatisa joined a panel discussion on ‘Africa - Challenges and Opportunities’. Topics covered included: the regulatory challenges faced by South African private equity funds and LPs (Limited Partners) investing outside of South Africa; opportunities in Africa - including in agriculture, healthcare, telecommunications, infrastructure and financial services; and challenges (including legal) in doing deals in Africa.

 

'Africa provides tremendous investment opportunities, but success is reliant - amongst other things, on good local knowledge generated through a strong local presence,' said Stuart, as he concluded the panel discussion on Thursday afternoon.

 

Ghana hosts the 7th Africa Investment Forum as the continent aims for renewed growth, February 2010

Accra played host to investors and government leaders from over 30 countries at the Africa Investment Forum, Accra International Conference Centre, 8 - 10 February 2010. The Africa Investment Forum provides a platform for countries to profile investment opportunities in sectors including energy, agriculture infrastructure and manufacturing to an international audience of 500 business leaders, just as the continent prepares for renewed growth in the wake of the global downturn. The annual Forum, organised by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), focused on the theme 'Accelerating Intra-African Trade and Investment'. The Chairman of the Phatisa Group, Valentine Chitalu on invitation of CBC joined presenters from Investment Promotion Agencies across Africa. In addition to showcasing African investment opportunities and intra regional trade, the Forum also feature specific discussions on key topics, such as; 'Investing in Agriculture and Improving Food Security'. Mr Chitalu’s presentation and contribution to discussions was met with huge support from both existing and potential investors.

2009

Vincenzo Galastro, IFAD on the African Agriculture Fund, October 2009

Vincenzo Galastro, Programme Manager at IFAD, was in Brussels for the 13th Development Briefing on the challenges and opportunities for SMEs in agriculture in ACP countries. He was interviewed by the CTA (Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation) regarding the African Agriculture Fund, the organisations behind it and how it works. Set up as a response to the food crisis on the Affrican continent, the Fund was initiated by the AFD, the ADB, IFAD, AGRA and is managed by Phatisa Fund Managers. It aims to support private enterprises and cooperatives pursuing strategies to increase and diversify African agricultural production by improving professionalism and organisation, modernising key sectors and mitigating exchange rate volatility risks. The Fund will support agro-industrial enterprises and agricultural cooperatives that respect the environment and support small-scale farmers. 

 

 

World Bank/International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings, Istanbul, Turkey, October 2009

Phatisa, fund managers of the African Agriculture Fund (AAF), created to raise funding for food production throughout the continent of Africa, was invited by Jean-Michel Severino, Director General of Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and his team to host a side event focused on African agriculture at the 2009 Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

 

 

Phatisa recently introduced the African Agri Fund, Farmer's Weekly, 27 February 2009  (PDF 86 KB)

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2008

On the right path, Financial Mail, June 2008 (Web link)

Exciting opportunities in agriculture, South Coast Herald, February 2008 (PDF 108 KB)

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