The African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA) and PwC are delighted to launch the first report analysingexits of African private equity (PE) portfolio companies on the global capital markets. This report provides a historic analysis of PE-backed initial public offerings (IPOs) of African portfolio companies, including companies with significant operations in Africa, between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2017. We have examined a number of metrics including the volume and value of PE-backed versus non-PE-backed IPOs, pricing, and performance. While the capital markets have been an important exit route for private equity houses around the globe, we have noted that PE exits via an IPO in Africa have tracked below other markets. We hope this document begins a dialogue around measures to be taken to further drive African PE exits on domestic or international exchanges.

AVCA’s 2017 H1 African Private Equity (PE) Data Tracker provides a provisional look at half year PE activity in Africa. PE deals remained targeted in consumer-driven sectors in 2017 H1. Consumer Staples (including investments in the African packaged food industry) saw a rise relative to 2016. Telecoms and Materials also showed an increase in terms of deal values as a result of a handful of large transactions in the first half of 2017.

The 2016 Annual African Private Equity Data Tracker draws on data from AVCA’s proprietary private equity (PE) database and provides insights into key trends in PE investment and fundraising in Africa from 2011 – 2016. Our findings show that deal activity in Africa continues to be strong even in an increasingly volatile global economic environment.