Generating superior returns for global investors, in Africa

About us

Sango Capital is an investment management firm focused on delivering superior risk-adjusted returns from fund and direct investments in Africa.

Established in 2011, the firm invests capital for global investors including sovereign wealth fund, pension, endowment, foundation and family office clients. The firm’s strategy combines international best practice skill sets with deep local networks and a dedicated, on-the-ground presence to unlock unique mid-market focused investment opportunities in Africa.

Africa's opportunity

Africa accounts for one-sixth of the world’s population, and its 54 nations comprise a diverse, rapidly growing economic force. Despite this, for most global institutional investors, Africa is little more than a footnote in their portfolios. This will change, as the significance of this investment frontier becomes better understood. Investors that will maximise on this opportunity will be those well positioned in the right partnerships and information flow.

Africa has the fastest

Mobile technology

adoption rate globally

Our geographic presence

Our Investment regions

Sango makes investments across all regions of Africa, targeting fast-growing countries with attractive investment climates.

Our Values

At the core of how we invest are three principles:

Trusted relationships, a growth-oriented path to delivering top quartile risk-adjusted returns, and a commitment to responsible investing that is consistent with compelling returns.

World-class
Investing

Returns

As responsible investors, we seek to generate strong financial returns; actively manage environmental, social and governance risks; and maximise impact and value creation for the societies and economies in which we operate.

Relationships

We have built deep relationships with trusted counterparties across Africa. Our access and insight unlocks attractive opportunities for our global investors.

Responsibility

What we do

Sango makes primary, secondary and other bespoke investments in funds and pooled investment vehicles including in end-of-fund life or tail-end fund situations. It also makes direct investments mostly alongside aligned co-investment partners.

Sango Private Equity Funds

Read Case Studies

Sango’s core hybrid private equity funds are made up of fund, co-investment and direct investments. The funds have been constructed using a consistent strategic framework, which involves the following key elements:

Market and industry selection

Investments are sourced in countries and industries/themes with market conditions expected to generate robust returns and liquidity. Sango’s investment strategy is responsive to the evolving and dynamic investment environment in different countries over time, however the investment themes that drive investment activity are centred around the emerging consumer’s wallet, the food value chain, energy and power and infrastructure services.

Fund selection

For each fund, Sango sources a set of mid-market funds on a primary and secondary basis, which together provide complementary and diversifying exposure to fast-growing businesses that can be acquired at attractive entry prices and which offer a high return potential. In addition, each fund gains selective exposure to a handful of tech-enabled growth funds.

Co-investment and direct investments

Each fund makes a number of direct private equity investments, in most cases alongside trusted private equity investment partners.

Portfolio construction

A thoughtful and intentional approach to portfolio construction gives each Sango fund diversified geographic and industry exposures, providing high expected returns while mitigating left-tail risk (risk of capital loss).

Sango Strategic Equity Vehicle (SSEV)

Read Case Studies

Sango also manages the SSEV, an evergreen vehicle which invests in larger, upper-middle-market businesses with substantial growth runways. The SSEV is designed to hold investments for longer periods of time than would be expected in the Sango Private Equity Funds, allowing for material compounding of capital over time. The SSEV’s strategy has the following components:

Sourcing

Investment flow is generated through deep relationships and networks in the African private equity ecosystem. Pipeline deals are typically generated from companies which Sango has had a chance to observe or invest in through other private equity portfolios.

Consumer focus

The SSEV is expected to generate competitive returns through a lower cost structure than traditional private equity as well as by allowing for the compounding of capital over a longer period of time.