The family offices making a play in Africa

For some years now, Africa has been attracting the attention of serious investors. And much of that attention is moving from the traditional primary industries that have dominated investor interest in the past to more consumer-led sectors as Africa’s wealth has risen. Here are a number of family offices with an interest in Africa…and what they’re investing in.

Heirs Holdings

The family investment group of one of Africa’s best-known entrepreneurs, Tony Elumelu, is a big investor in Africa. Heirs has a particular interest in power companies, oil and gas, financial services, healthcare, and real estate. Investments typically are big and include Nigerian-based Transcorp Power, United Bank for Africa, and Transcorp Hotels. Elumelu is also a notable philanthropist through his foundation. He’s also one of Africa’s biggest proponents of promoting entrepreneurship among the continent’s youth.

PanAfrican Investment Co

A private investment firm founded by Ronald Lauder, of the family behind Estée Lauder, and Richard Parsons, a prominent afro-American who has held many top positions in the US including the chairmanship of Citigroup. PanAfrican has an impact-investment led agenda. Investments include Mobius Motors, a Kenyan automaker, and Shea Yeleen International, a social enterprise involved in the sale and use of shea butter products.

Man Capital

The London-based family office of Mohamed Mansour and Loutfy Mansour who are the family owners of the Mansour Group, a huge Egyptian conglomerate, has been investing in Africa since it was founded in 2010. Noted investments include IHS Towers, one of  Africa’s biggest mobile telecommunications infrastructure providers, based in Nigeria, and an education investment group called Educas, which has invested in schools in South Africa and Kenya.