The news
- Helios Investment Partners is targeting $750 million for its fifth fund, Helios Investors V.
- The European Investment Bank (EIB) has committed $75 million to the fund.
- The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is also backing the fund.
Helios Investment Partners, a leading Africa-focused private investment firm, is seeking to raise $750 million for its latest fund, Helios Investors V. This ambitious target has garnered significant support from major development finance institutions, notably the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), underscoring a robust investor confidence in Africa's burgeoning technology sector.
The EIB has committed $75 million to Helios Fund V, marking a strategic move to bolster Africa's digital and technological infrastructure. This investment aligns with the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package, which aims to enhance sustainable development across the continent through strategic investments in key industries. EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle highlighted 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 further emphasizes the sustained interest of major development finance institutions in African private equity, particularly in sectors poised to capitalise on the continent's demographic advantages and accelerating digital integration. This commitment reflects a broader trend of international investors recognising the potential of Africa's tech ecosystem.
Helios Fund V is set to focus on companies within digital infrastructure, financial services, and technology sectors, along with tech-enabled business services such as education, healthcare, and logistics. By channelling investments into businesses providing critical digital infrastructure—including 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.
Beyond financial objectives, Helios V has committed to integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into its investment strategy. Notably, the fund has pledged to allocate at least 30% of its portfolio to companies that meet the EIB's gender equality criteria and has become a member of the 2X Global network, demonstrating a dedication to promoting gender-smart investments.
The backing of Helios V by the IFC and EIB signals a sustained appetite from major development finance institutions to allocate capital to African private equity, especially in sectors positioned to capitalise on the continent's demographic advantages and accelerating digital integration. EIB Global alone invested €232 million in African funds in the previous year, representing almost half of its total fund investments, indicating a strategic emphasis on catalysing private capital flows to the continent.
As Africa advances towards digital transformation and seeks to address its infrastructure and service deficits, funds such as Helios V, underpinned by institutional capital and development finance expertise, are expected to play a vital role in driving innovation, generating employment, and fostering sustainable economic expansion across the continent.
