Tech in Africa
Africa Merchant Capital – a privately owned boutique merchant bank in London – is now run by Richard Ngumi, a Kenyan Executive and now charged with making trade finance deals within Africa.
Mr. Ngumi made the shift from Dream EP Global Energy Kenya, a renewable energy firm where he consulted for two years. AMC mainly targets high growth markets within sub-Saharan Africa. He previously worked in investment banking roles at Stanbic Bank and Standard Bank, in addition to trade and commodity finance.
Thus far AMC has completed a number of deals touching Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana where it facilitated the import and export of soft commodities such as cashew, cocoa, and coffee.
According to statistics, private equity deals in Africa decreased by 63% as per the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, (AVCA). Nevertheless, 81 private equity deals valued at $700 million were struck. This slowdown in private equity formed part of the wider economic uncertainty experienced across the continent.
Kenyan firms affected were in the areas of travel, entertainment, financial sectors, and energy which could easily be consumed by private equity funds seeking out quick bargains.
