By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Vantage Capital, Africa’s largest mezzanine fund manager, announced today that it has closed a €66 million mezzanine investment in Camusat Holding S.A.S. The proceeds will be used to refinance debt and fund the capital expenditure required for expansion of the group’s AktivCo division.
Vantage Capital’s investment is part of a global financing package of €81 million provided in consortium with Eurazeo, a leading European investment group. This transaction represents Vantage Capital’s 39th investment across four generations of funds with its portfolio of investments spread across eleven African countries.
Speaking shortly after announcing the deal, Richard Thomas, CEO of Camusat, expressed his appreciation for the conclusion of the transaction.
“We are very pleased to have concluded the transaction with Vantage Capital. This financial and strategic partnership comes at a time when we are further expanding our presence in Africa, and we are confident that Vantage Capital’s extensive network and expertise on the continent will be a great support in achieving our objectives,” Richard Thomas said.
Luc Albinski, Executive Chairman at Vantage Capital, pointed out that Vantage Capital is proud to partner with such a leading and dynamic group as Camusat.
“Throughout the process, we have been impressed by management’s deep knowledge of the telecom industry, but also their firm commitment to help increase connectivity in parts of Africa where network coverage remains underdeveloped,” Luc Albinski said.
Thibaut de Rodellec, Deputy CEO of Camusat, said, “We were convinced from our very first discussions that Vantage Capital and Camusat would be a great fit. We always look beyond the financial aspect when forming new partnerships, and we were glad to discover that our firms share common ethics, vision and dedication. We will ensure this partnership is a success for all stakeholders.”
Driss Benabdeslam, Partner at Vantage Capital, said, by investing in Camusat, Vantage is backing a group that is engaged in a vital and buoyant industry and constantly strives for operational and corporate excellence.
“Camusat has incorporated best-in-class ESG practices and implemented various CSR measures directed at supporting local communities and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions from the telecom sector. We are thrilled to support the group in creating more value and generating an even greater positive social impact over the years to come,” he said.
Camusat is a leading telecommunications player managing fully integrated and sustainable business models for the deployment and management of telecom infrastructure while championing the decarbonization of mobile network operators (MNOs).
Partnering with major investment funds that support green investments, Camusat is pursuing its ambition to become the leading “Infra as a Service” partner for the mobile telecom industry, with a broad presence in emerging markets, especially in Africa.
The group operates across twenty countries (including fifteen on the African continent) and through two synergistic divisions, AktivCo and OpCo.
Vantage Capital, established in 2001, is Africa’s leading fund manager with over $1.6 billion in assets. Its Mezzanine division has invested in 39 companies across 11 African countries since 2006, and its GreenX division has funded 15 renewable energy projects in South Africa.
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