Press Room
Welcome to our communications and media hub. The news centre channels and updates information on Phatisa's family of businesses.
France sets up US$120 million Africa Agriculture Fund, France, Reuters, 1 June 2010
France is to set up a US$ 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.
AfDB approves US$ 40 million for African Agriculture Fund (Africa) Emerging Markets Private Equity NewsWatch, 26 May 2010
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is committing US$ 40 million to the African Agriculture Fund (AAF), a private equity fund designed in response to the continent’s 2008 food crisis. The fund, which is targeting total commitments of US$ 300 million, will primarily focus on African agribusiness companies operating in food production, processing, packaging, cold storage, distribution and marketing. Phatisa Group was appointed as the fund manager for the AAF in July 2009. African Press Agency (05/20/10)
Addressing challenges and opportunities in Africa, 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.
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.
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From right to left:
Pierre Jacquet, Executive Director (Strategy) and Chief Economist of AFD, with Stuart Bradley, a partner at Phatisa.
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From right to left: Gilles Peltier, Adviser to the Director General of AFD, Heinz Weilert, CEO of DBSA, Stuart Bradley of Phatisa and Valentine Chitalu, Chairman of the Phatisa Group. |
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From right to left: Stephanie Lanfranchi, Head of the Corporate Division at Propaco and Gilles Peltier of AFD in conversation.
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Above right to left: Justin Chisulo, Chairman of Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Richard Mbewe, Chief Economist of the Warsaw Investment Group and Valentine Chitalu of Phatisa |
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Above:
Jean-Michel Severino, Director General of Agence Française de Développement, welcomes guests to a cocktail function hosted by AFD team held after a side event focused on the African Agriculture Fund.
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African Agriculture Fund appoints Phatisa as Fund Manager, July 2009 (PDF 169 KB)
Private Equity and Venture Capital in SA - 2009 Industry Review, May 2009 (PDF 124 KB)
'Phatisa recently introduced the African Agri Fund', Farmer's Weekly, 27 February 2009 (PDF 86 KB)
Help with BEE plans, DairyMatters, Clover Newsletter Volume 4, October 2008 (PDF 3.1 MB)
Bystand met SEB-planne, SuiwelSake, Clover Nuusbrief Volume 4, Oktober 2008 (PDF 2.5 MB)
Deal announcement, Chai Bora Limited, Tanzania, October 2008 (PDF 1.2 MB)
On the right parth, Financial Mail, June 2008 (Web link)
Exciting opportunities in agriculture, South Coast Herald, February 2008 (PDF 108 KB)
Social Responsibiity Project
One of the long term legacies of the HIV/Aids pandemic is the many children left orphaned and vulnerable when their parents have passed away. Nearly one third of Lesotho’s people are infected with HIV/Aids - the third highest rate in the world. There are around 180 000 orphans in a country of 1.8 million. As their family units disintegrate, these children have little hope for the future. In this time of great need, Phatisa continues to support Sentebale. Founded by Prince Harry and Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso to help the forgotten victims of poverty and the HIV/Aids epidemic ravaging this small mountain kingdom, Sentebale aims to bring life, hope and opportunity to orphaned and vulnerable children in Lesotho. Phatisa believes that everyone can make a very real difference to the lives of these children. www.sentebale.org
