April Newsletter is published

Investisseurs & Partenaires publishes its quaterly newsletter and takes this opportunity to provide an overview of the fund I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs, launched in 2012. Antoine Delaporte*, Managing Director of Adenia Partners and member of the IPAE investment committee, signs the editorial of the ninth newsletter.

► Read the Newsletter

In this Edition

• The editorial of Antoine Delaporte, member of the investment committee of IPAE
• Review of the fund I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs, launched in 2012
• Portrait of Folly Koussawo and Seydou Beye of TRIANON BTP in Gabon
• Last news from our partner companies
• Press review on the emergence of impact investing and sector-specific investment vehicles

Editorial of Antoine Delaporte

Adenia Partners** and Investisseurs & Partenaires were founded the same year, in 2002, with a same understanding of the development challenges facing the African continent. As we are working every day with the emerging entrepreneurs and companies of the continent, we are aware of their tremendous potential in terms of growth and development, as we are aware of the great difficulties they encounter.

The problems of access to long-term financing and skills constitute main obstacles hindering the development of SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa, even though these SMEs have a crucial role to play for job creation and social redistribution.

I am convinced that the initiatives seeking to improve the access to financing for small African companies, bringing useful skills in strategy and management, will contribute to accelerate the development of the continent. It was this conviction that led me to join the investment committee of the fund I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs in 2012. By supporting the companies with financing needs inferior to 1,5 million euros, IPAE responds to the funding issues observed in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean.

As a member of the investment committee, I can attest the dynamism of IPAE during the last three years. The deal flow is significant, with no less than 100 files opened since 2012. 1 file out of 5 is approved by the committee, a good ratio for an investment fund. Today, halfway through the investment period, this dynamism is maintained: the fund plans to make 20 more investments and the projects currently considered are particularly stimulating.

Responsible investors, well aware of the issues specific to Sub-Saharan Africa, have definitely a role to play among the entrepreneurs and the promising businesses of the continent. And this with a goal in mind: respond to their financing and strategic needs and making it possible for them to become main actors of change of the African continent!

*Antoine Delaporte is the Founder and Managing Director of Adenia Partners since 2002. Previously, he was an entrepreneur in Madagascar during 8 years in which he set up, developed and sold out three clothing companies. He was the manager of Bain & Co between 1988 and 1994. He holds a Master Degree in Management from ESCP-Europe and a MBA from INSEAD.

**Adenia Partners is a private capital management investing in some of Africa’s most promising businesses. Adenia actively supports the entrepreneurs and companies participating in the development of local economies of the West African and Indian Ocean regions.