Investments

In June 2014, Helios acquired a minority stake in ARM Pension Managers PFA Limited (“ARM Pensions”), a subsidiary of ARM. ARM Pensions is Nigeria’s largest independent pension fund manager with over $2 billion of pension assets under management. ARM is one of Nigeria’s most innovative and respected...

In November 2015, Helios Investment Partners entered into a joint venture with Acorn Group. The partnership established a development platform, primarily focused on the youth housing segment in Nairobi, Kenya. Acorn is a top-tier property developer based in Nairobi. Since its establishment in 2001, Acorn has completed...

In May 2015 Helios invested $100 million for a 12.4% stake in Africa Oil Corp. (“Africa Oil”). Africa Oil Corp. is a Canadian oil and gas company with assets in Kenya and Ethiopia as well as Puntland (Somalia) through its equity interest in Africa Energy Corp. The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and on...

In September 2020, Helios announced the launch of Africa Specialty Risks Group (“ASR”) in partnership with Mikir Shah, former CEO of AXA Africa Specialty Risks, and Bryan Howett, former CEO of Old Mutual’s pan-African reinsurance operations. ASR is a reinsurer and managing agent (quoting, pricing and placing risk on...

In August 2007, Helios completed the $165 million purchase of a 22% interest in Africatel with an option to acquire an additional 3% which has since been exercised. Africatel was  formed to aggregate the sub-Saharan Africa telecommunications assets – principally in Angola, Namibia, Cape Verde...

In March 2018, Helios provided a senior loan to Africell as part of a syndicate of international lenders. The loan will be used to expand Africell’s network operations across sub-Saharan Africa.

In December 2016, Helios acquired an interest in Oando Gas and Power, the midstream subsidiary of Oando PLC. The business, which has since been rebranded Axxela, was the pioneer developer of Nigeria’s foremost natural gas distribution network and has grown to become the largest private sector gas distributor in...

In May 2021, Helios acquired a stake in BIM Morocco. Established in 2009, BIM Morocco has grown into the largest discount grocery retailer in Morocco with over 550 stores across the country. The company provides consumers with essential products at competitive prices, leveraging its well-known, high-quality “BIM”...

In December 2013, Helios completed an investment of $100 million in Bayport Management Limited (“BML”), acquiring a 23.4% interest in the company. Founded in 2001, BML is a leading provider of unsecured credit and financial solutions to the formally employed mass markets in Africa and Latin America.

CAB Payments is transforming the way payments and FX move to and from emerging markets, connecting traditionally hard-to-reach regions to global financial infrastructure in over 150 countries. It uses its network, technology, and expertise to support its blue-chip customer base to move money where it is needed most....

In December 2023, HDV invested in Conduit, a company empowering financial institutions and fintech companies to access and build innovative financial products that leverage blockchain technology.

In December 2009, an investor group led by Helios completed the $146.8 million acquisition of INM Outdoor, renamed Continental Outdoor Media (“Continental Outdoor”), from Independent News & Media plc. The Helios interest totaled 68.8%. At Helios exit, Continental Outdoor was Africa’s largest...

In August 2012, Helios completed an investment of $62 million in Eland Oil & Gas, acquiring a 29.36% interest in the company. In addition to the initial investment, Helios also secured a two-year option on an additional $16 million at the same price. Upon exercise of the option, on a...

In December 2007, Helios completed the $178.7 million acquisition of a 24.99% interest in Equity Bank, which is listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. The bank’s strategy of providing services to the previously un-banked population has enabled it to build Kenya’s largest account-holder base, and...

In November 2015, a consortium of international financial investors comprising the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund, the MENA Long-Term Value Fund and Helios acquired a majority stake in Fawry at a purchase price of approximately $100 million. Fawry is a pioneering electronic bill presentment and payment platform....

In April 2007, Helios completed the $50 million acquisition of a 16% interest in FCMB, a rapidly growing universal bank in Nigeria which is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The bank capitalized on the low penetration of banking services in the country, and on strong underlying economic...

In May 2017, Helios partnered with GBfoods S.A. to capitalize GBfoods Africa Holdco B.V. (“GB Foods Africa”), creating one of Africa’s largest fast-moving consumer goods businesses, with a presence in over 30 African countries. GB Foods Africa owns leading brands such as Jumbo (bouillon), Gino and...

In August 2024, HDV invested in Galatea Bio, a biotechnology company with the mission to enable precision health at scale for all by leveraging AI and genomics.

In January 2005, the principals of Helios founded HTN Towers to capitalize on the extremely strong growth in mobile telephony in Nigeria by deploying the successful tower leasing business model pioneered by US-based companies such as Crown Castle International and American Tower. HTN Towers was the...

In November 2009, Helios and a group of investors including Soros Strategic Partners LP, RIT Capital Partners plc, Lord Rothschild’s family interests, and Albright Capital Management LLC committed $350 million to Helios Towers Africa Limited, now known as Helios Towers Ltd. (“Helios Towers” or “HT”). The Helios...

In December 2022, Helios acquired a majority stake in IXAfrica, a leading developer and operator of hyperscale-ready data centers in Kenya. The company was  established  in  2021  to  capitalize  on  the  soaring  demand  for internet connectivity from Kenya’s young and highly digitally-connected population, and from...

In August 2014, Helios completed an investment in Impact Oil & Gas Ltd (“Impact”), a pure-play African oil and gas exploration company, acquiring a 13.6% stake in the business. Impact’s business model is to acquire large initial working-interest positions in acreage in geologically promising...

In December 2010, an investor group led by Helios agreed the acquisition of a majority equity interest in Interswitch Limited (“Interswitch”), the largest payment processing service provider in Nigeria. Interswitch has been at the forefront of the development and growth of the e-payment sector. The firm offers...

In July 2013, Helios reached an agreement to provide growth capital to build an online retail business, Mall for Africa (MFA), backing an experienced, talented and entrepreneurial Nigeria-based management team. Mall for Africa is an innovative online shopping platform that provides access to top US and UK retail...

In September 2024, Helios completed the acquisition of a stake in M2P Fintech (M2P), an API Infrastructure and Banking as a Service provider, to support its growth across Africa.

In October 2023, Helios completed the acquisition of a stake in Maroc Data Centre (MDC), a carrier netural Data Centre operating in the Rabat metro area of Morocco.

In October 2018, Helios made an investment into MK Holding (“MKH”). MKH is the holding company of Mohamed Kabbadj, education expert and founder of Université Privée de Marrakech (“UPM”), Morocco’s largest private higher education platform with over 8,000 students across campuses in Marrakech, Casablanca, and Dakar....

In June 2019, Helios completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Misr Hytech, a leading breeder and producer of proprietary agricultural seeds in Egypt, and one of the Middle East and Africa’s largest independent seed companies. Founded in 1993, Misr Hytech develops and produces hybrid seeds of white corn, yellow...

In June 2024, HDV invested in Moment, a pan-African digital payments network, to enable real-time local and cross-border payments for businesses and consumers.

In May 2020, HSEG completed the acquisition of a stake in NBA Africa LLC, a new entity to conduct all National Basketball Association (“NBA”) business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (“BAL”) – a partnership between the NBA and the International Basketball Federation (“FIBA”) and the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America.

In September 2022, HDV invested in Nomba, a Nigeria-based omni-channel payment and banking platform enabling payment transfers, acceptance of cards, and offering business management tools.

In July 2016, Oando PLC, Nigeria’s leading indigenous energy group, concluded a recapitalization and partial divestment of its downstream operations to a consortium of Helios and Vitol.

In July 2024, HSEG established a joint venture with the Professional Fighters League LLC (“PFL”) to form PFL Africa, a permanent expansion in the PFL’s worldwide network of Mixed Martial Arts leagues.

Pave Bank is fully licensed programmable commercial bank built for the next generation of regulated, on-chain finance. Pave Bank is unifying traditional banking and digital assets under one platform, offering payments, accounts, FX liquidity, treasury management, custody, instant settlement, and trading, all within established compliance frameworks and regulatory perimeters.

In 2022, HDV invested in Paymob, an Egypt-based omni-channel payment platform offering a diversified suite of online and offline payment acceptance solutions.

In July 2013, Helios finalized participation alongside BTG Pactual in a 50/50 joint venture with Petrobras International Braspetro B.V., a subsidiary of Petrobras, to explore and produce oil and gas in Africa. The joint venture encompasses Petrobras’ subsidiaries and portfolio of production and...

In November 2024, HDV invested in SeamlessHR, Africa’s leading HR and Payroll SaaS company which offers an all-in-one cloud-based platform to manage HR and payroll needs of African businesses.

In November 2016, Helios completed the acquisition of 100% of the African fertilizers and inputs platform of Louis Dreyfus Company, a leading merchant and processor of agricultural inputs and chemical products. The fertilizer and inputs platform, now renamed Solevo, distributes a broad range of...

In May 2017, following the successful conclusion of a pilot project to test an innovative power supply concept developed by Starsight Power Utility Limited (“Starsight”), Helios acquired a majority interest in Starsight. Deploying a solar–diesel–battery hybrid system, Starsight provides captive power and energy...

In December 2021, Helios acquired a majority stake in the largest and most diversified group of MedTech companies in Morocco. The consolidated group operates in medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and pharmaceuticals, and comprises four companies: Techniques Science Santé (“T2S”), IM Alliance, Cyclopharma and...

In September 2018, Helios completed the acquisition of a 76% stake in TPAY, a fast-growing direct carrier billing provider in the Middle East and North Africa, from A15, a leading tech investment fund based in Egypt. With offices in Cairo and the UAE, TPAY currently operates across 16 countries, with almost half of its...

In June 2016, Helios acquired 60% of Telkom Kenya, following receipt of regulatory approval. Telkom Kenya is Kenya’s oldest telecommunications provider. With fixed network, wireless, mobile and Internet services, Telkom Kenya is the only fully integrated telecommunication solutions provider in...

In November 2017, Helios established Tema LNG Terminal Company (“TLTC”) to develop, construct and operate sub-Saharan Africa’s first LNG import terminal. TLTC will employ an innovative combination of a purpose-built Floating Regasification Unit twinned with an existing LNG carrier, to receive, store and regasify the...

In November 2023, HSEG entered into an agreement to obtain a stake in The Malachite Group Ltd (“TMG”), a creator and producer of global events, content, products, and travel experiences. Its flagship brands include “Afro Nation” (the world’s largest contemporary African music festival), “Piano People” (a leading brand in Amapiano live experiences), and “Lit Everywhere” for the next generation of Afro-Sound.

In July 2017, Helios Credit entered into an agreement to provide a $15.5 million senior secured loan to The Quantum Group, a company based in Ghana with vertically-integrated operations in the transportation and logistics of refined petroleum products. A further $5m was provided in November 2017.

In June 2016, Helios Credit completed a $17 million loan to The Resort Group PLC ("TRG"). TRG is the market leader of luxury resort development in Cape Verde and have established partnerships with some of the world’s most recognized hotel brands.

In September 2020, Helios completed the acquisition of a stake in Thunes, a market-leading payments network providing interconnectivity between payment companies and methods across emerging markets to facilitate cross-border payments. Launched in 2018 as a spin-out from TransferTo, a mobile airtime wholesale and...

In December 2016, Helios Credit extended a financing facility of up to $40 million to Trustco Group Holdings, a Namibia-based conglomerate with operations in real estate, microfinance, retail banking and education.

In February 2011, Helios, in partnership with Vitol Group (“Vitol”) reached an agreement to purchase for approximately $1 billion the downstream fuels business of Royal Dutch Shell PLC (“Shell”) in a number of African countries. Today, Vivo Energy has a network of over 2,100 Shell and Engen...

In October 2014, Helios announced an investment of $40 million in Wananchi Group Holdings (“Wananchi”) in a funding round led by Helios and the existing strategic shareholders, Altice S.A. and Liberty Global Inc. Together Helios, Altice and Liberty Global contributed c.85% of the funding round, alongside the other...

In August 2016, Helios Investment Partners invested $10 million in Off-Grid Electric and subsequently led a Series D funding in January 2018. A market-leading provider of solar powered electricity solutions to residential and business customers on either an unreliable or non-existent electricity grid, the business has...

In June 2023, HSEG acquired a stake in Zaria Group Limited (“Zaria”) to support the investment and operation of African lifestyle real estate.