JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, February 25, 2025/APO Group/ –Kholo Capital Mezzanine Debt Fund I (“Kholo Capital” or “the Fund”) (www.KholoCapital.com/), has reached final close at R1,4 billion in commitments, in order to make long-term mezzanine debt investments in small and medium sized businesses in Southern Africa (i.e., South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland). The funding provided to these businesses will positively impact communities and support economic growth, job creation, alleviation of poverty and advancement of transformation in the Southern African region. The Fund provides growth capital, BEE Financing and acquisition funding into sectors of the Southern African economy with high social impact including social housing, healthcare, education, renewable energy, food and food security, ICT, financial technology and infrastructure. The Fund follows the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals as guiding principles with key focus on those linked to Job Creation (i.e., Decent work and Economic growth, Reduced Inequalities and Gender Equality) and those linked to Sustainable Growth (i.e.; Affordable and Green Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities and Climate Action). The R1,4 billion in commitments was secured from leading South African institutional investors.

Kholo Capital believes that mezzanine debt funding, being a subordinated loan position that sits between senior debt and equity in the capital structure of a business, is attractive because it plugs any equity funding gaps and provides businesses with a tailored and flexible loan solutions in support of their growth requirements. Kholo Capital’s investment criteria include investing in small and medium sized businesses generating minimum R25m EBITDA across various growth sectors of the Southern African economy, thereby providing much needed access to capital within a preferred range of R70m to 200m per investment. The benefit of mezzanine debt loan funding lies not only in the ability to tailor funding terms like debt servicing requirements (e.g., providing capital repayment moratoriums), and also because it is a loan funding instrument it avoids the significant equity dilution which is sometimes the sad reality when businesses try to fund their growth ambitions by raising pure equity funding.

Mokgome Mogoba, Founder and Managing Partner at Kholo Capital, said: “We are very bullish about South Africa, the South African economy and the future prospects of this beautiful country and the surrounding region. We are heartened and motivated by the optimism and the resilience of its people. We aim to create in excess of 500 new jobs at a rate of more than 40 nett jobs created per investment and we have committed to investing more than 50% of the Fund in black empowered companies. We are excited at the opportunity to bring creative funding solutions to the Southern African market and to form long term sustainable partnerships with businesses over a 4 to 7-year investment horizon, realising not only strong commercial returns for our investors, but also providing transformational funding that has a positive ESG impact on businesses and surrounding communities as we also look to boost our rural and township economies.”

Zaheer Cassim, Founder and Managing Partner at Kholo Capital, added: “Mezzanine debt funding is non-dilutive by nature and therefore is an attractive funding option for family-owned businesses, BEE companies or any business that needs to raise capital and hold onto the equity in the business. And with the banks becoming more risk averse due to regulatory requirements, lending to small and medium sized businesses has reduced, creating a great opportunity for flexible mezzanine debt structures.  We are grateful that our investors recognise the opportunity and have shown us tremendous support.”

With a strong pipeline of opportunities, Kholo Mezzanine Debt Fund I is well positioned to advance its investment objectives, and make a sustainable impact in support of the real economy.

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, February 24, 2025/APO Group/ –With the Republic of Congo preparing to launch a new Gas Code and Gas Master Plan to incentivize investment across the natural gas value chain, the participation of investment companies in the country’s energy sector will be a requisite for international companies seeking to navigate complex government and corporate deals.

The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025, taking place in Brazzaville from March 24-26, will feature the participation of some of the top energy investment firms operating on the continent. Speakers at this year’s event will include Abdullahi Bashir, Group Managing Director, AA&R Investment; Adou Toure, Investment Advisor to the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC); as well as Didier Rault, CEO, World Mining Investment.

The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société nationales des pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.

Congo’s regulatory landscape and industry outlook is incentivizing new players to join the market. The country aims to attract fresh investment across the growing oil and gas value chain, with the fiscal and regulatory environment having become increasingly more transparent, making it simpler for companies to invest. As such, the participation of AA&R Investment at this year’s CEIF 2025 is set to showcase the significant role a structured investment environment can play in ensuring a timely and efficient entry for new companies to the country’s energy market.

Congo’s Gas Master Plan aims to advance the country’s gas monetization agenda by catalyzing new infrastructure development, including gas pipelines, processing facilities and gas-to-power plants. The plan also seeks to reduce energy imports and raise electricity access, currently at 50%. With its significant resource base, forward-looking approach to policy implementation and commitment to low-carbon oil and gas, Congo has emerged as a highly attractive investment market. With experience across a wide range of regions and industries, World Mining Investment is well-positioned to leverage its expertise in government and corporate deals to showcase how existing operators and service providers can strengthen their footprint in Congo at CEIF 2025.

With aims to increase financing and guarantees to help unlock private sector investment in Congo’s energy sector, the U.S. DFC’s participation at CEIF 2025 is expected to benefit small businesses and financial service companies seeking to improve supply chains, infrastructure and development in the country. The institution has a rich portfolio of projects across Africa, including the trans-national Lobito Atlantic Railway, which contribute to mobilizing private sector investment and expand access to structured financing mechanisms.

“The participation of investment firms such as AA&R Investment, the U.S. DFC and World Mining Investment at CEIF 2025 is crucial for shaping the future of Congo’s energy sector. Their involvement highlights the growing international confidence in the country’s evolving regulatory framework and abundant natural resources. By bringing together key players in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, the conference is well-positioned to foster collaboration, unlock new investment opportunities and drive sustainable growth in Congo’s energy market,” states Energy Capital & Power Events and Project Director Sandra Jeque.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, February 24, 2025/APO Group/ –International mining stakeholders are increasing their access to Africa’s mineral resources through joint ventures, acquisitions and stakes in local projects. Meanwhile, African countries and operators are leveraging these partnerships to enhance capital, accelerate project development and meet ambitious production targets.

The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW), taking place in Cape Town this October, will spotlight mergers and acquisitions (M&A), offering African projects a platform to showcase opportunities and providing global investors the stage to present growth strategies for Africa’s expanding mining sector.

Recent research by the Economist Intelligence Unit indicates that foreign investment in Africa’s mining industry is poised for significant growth in 2025, building on strong momentum established in 2024. Several key transactions highlight this trend. Earlier this month, UK-based Altona Rare Earths finalized its acquisition of an 85% stake in Botswana’s Sesana Copper-Silver Project from Ignate Minerals, committing significant capital to accelerate exploration and mine development. In December 2024, Australian mining firm Patriot Lithium acquired a 90% stake in Zambia’s Kitumba Copper Large Scale Exploration License from Newlight Nominees Zambia, enabling increased funding for exploration and production activities. Similarly, in October 2024, Jubilee Metals, a UK-based company, acquired Project G, its second open-pit copper asset in Zambia, as part of a strategy to boost investments and raise copper output to 25,000 tons per year.

Recent M&A activity in Africa’s mining sector is reshaping the industry, improving operational efficiencies and creating new pathways for innovation and technology transfer. For African nations, these investments bring new opportunities for job creation, infrastructure development and access to global markets, fueling economic growth. Additionally, the influx of foreign capital and expertise enhances local capabilities, enabling African countries to harness their natural resources more effectively while addressing challenges like underdeveloped supply chains and limited financing for exploration.

In South Africa, M&A activity reached $10 billion between June 2023 and 2024, with 32 deals closed, compared to 24 year-on-year, according to PwC. Among the notable deals, Kenya’s Marula Mining secured a 51% stake in South Africa’s Mansera Kruisrivier Cobalt Holding Company in July 2024, funding feasibility and aerial studies to advance the project. Meanwhile, China’s Baowu Steel Group acquired stakes in Guinea’s Simandou Project, the world’s largest untapped iron ore deposit, in June 2024. In Mali, Ganfeng Lithium secured an operational stake in the Goulamina Lithium Mine in a $342.7-million deal with Australia’s Leo Lithium in May 2024. The UAE-based International Resource Holdings also entered the market, acquiring Zambia’s Mopani Copper Mines for $1.1 billion in May 2024, enhancing exploration and production capabilities at one of the country’s largest copper facilities.

As African nations focus on boosting mineral production to drive economic growth, M&A activity is expected to intensify, with global partners seeking greater stakes in the continent’s abundant resources. Against this backdrop, the upcoming AMW will play a crucial role in shaping Africa’s M&A landscape by facilitating project showcases, fostering partnerships and advancing deal signings that will define the future of the mining sector.

African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2025 conference (https://AECWeek.com/) from October 1 -3. in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com