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Financial Times Ranks 4G Capital as One of Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies

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4G Capital

The Financial Times compiled the ranking with data company Statista and based findings on compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in audited revenues from 2018 to 2021

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 3, 2023/APO Group/ — 

4G Capital (www.4G-Capital.com), the market-leading neobank powering micro and small business growth in Kenya and Uganda, has been ranked as one of Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies, by the Financial Times. The Financial Times compiled the ranking with data company Statista and based findings on compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in audited revenues from 2018 to 2021.

4G Capital (Fourth Generation Capital Ltd) is ranked at Number 43 in Africa and Number 7 in Kenya with an absolute growth rate of 201% and average Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 44.4% over the past ten years in Kenya. 4G Capital consistently delivers sustainable high growth with growing profit margins as the company achieves economies of scale with its digital credit services.

The company’s scalable and capital-efficient model has loaned over $340 million between 2016-2022, significantly higher than the microfinance industry average lending-to-capital ratio.

4G Capital provides 100% unsecured working-capital loans, enterprise training, and access to digital solutions for predominantly informal Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs). These entrepreneurial companies are the backbone of Africa’s economies and support 80% of Africa’s employment and over half of the region’s GDP. Most of these businesses cannot access traditional sources of finance and lack the cashflow to grow their companies.  According to the IFC’s SME Finance Forum, Africa’s MSME finance gap is $331bn; in Kenya, the finance gap is $19bn. Without access to institutional capital, 72% of MSMEs rely on family or friends for loans and 30% fail due to funding shortages.  

One of the world’s top 10 Finance B-Corporations, 4G Capital, has positively impacted over 4 million people

4G Capital is committed to delivering the right products and services that bridge the MSME finance gap in Africa and plays a vital role in the informal sector’s economic advancement on a pathway to formality.  The company blends client-centric relationship management with proprietary AI technology to minimise default risk.  4G Capital’s clients maintain high repayment rates (around 95%) without needing refinancing; on average, customers increase their annual revenue by 82%.  One of the world’s top 10 Finance B-Corporations, 4G Capital, has positively impacted over 4 million people.

Upon receiving the recognition, Wayne Hennessy-Barrett said, “This recognition is a most welcome milestone in the 4G Capital journey.  Having recently accompanied US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, on her roadshow to promote investment in Kenya and Africa, we are very proud to play our part in this most important and growing market.  We are democratising wealth creation by helping small businesses to grow, and in turn demonstrating that global capital can get world class returns by driving the regenerative economy from which everyone benefits.”

4G Capital employs almost 1500 employees across Kenya and Uganda, nearly tripling since the start of 2022.  Since its inception in 2013, the company has loaned over 2,600,000 small working capital loans via mobile money networks valued at over $340 million. The company has over 350,000 clients, 74% female, and 53% run micro and SME enterprises in rural areas.

4G Capital clients receive customised business training programs and credit guidance via mobile apps and in-person via a nationwide network of branches. 4G Capital’s unique machine learning technology delivers high-fidelity insight into client risk and affordability. As a result, 4G Capital consistently achieves high collection rates (95%) without collateral or refinancing its clients, only lending to viable businesses on terms that are right for them. 4G Capital has positively impacted over 4.1 million people.

This year, 4G Capital has gained recognition for several awards, such as the Global Top 10 for Financial Services in the Real Leaders Impact Award & Top, B Lab 2022 Best for The World™. Recently, the company received an Honourable Mention for Responsible Digital Innovator of the Year at the IFC’s Global SME Finance Forum Awards 2022. Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, CEO and Founder of 4G Capital was also recognised in this year’s Top 50 Financial Technology CEOs of 2022.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of 4G Capital.

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Sonangol

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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