Our Fund

Catalyst Principal Partners is a fundamentals driven private equity fund manager, specializing in sourcing, structuring and managing investments in dynamic companies to achieve medium to long-term capital appreciation.

Our Fund

Catalyst Fund 1 is a USD125 million Eastern Africa focused private equity fund that invests in emerging and mid-sized companies with strong growth and profitability prospects, in alignment with experienced management teams.

Investment criteria

  • USD5 million to USD20 million for strategic minority or control transactions
  • Expansion and replacement capital, recapitalisations and pre-IPO investments
  • 4 to 6 year investment horizon, with exits via trade and financial buyers, capital markets and self-redeeming instruments
  • Target 20% to 25% USD cumulative net returns

Investment focus is on sectors with attractive underlying fundamentals, driven by compelling demographic trends and urbanization, rising consumer demand, a deepening middle class,under-penetrated rural mass market as well as convergence and integration of the regional economies.

Sector focus

  • Consumer goods and retail
  • Financial and business services
  • Industrials, manufacturing and value-add processing
  • Technology and telecommunications

Our Investments

Zenufa Pharmaceuticals

Zenufa is the 2nd largest pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Tanzania. The sector has seen growing spending on pharmaceutical products driven by increased private and public healthcare spending as a result of rapid macroeconomic growth. Zenufa is uniquely positioned to meet the rising healthcare needs of the population through offering affordable, quality medication manufactured to the highest international best practice standards.

Learn More about Zenufa Pharmaceuticals.

Jamii Bora Bank

Jamii Bora bank is the fastest growing bank in Kenya focused on enterprise banking. The bank formally came into being in 2010 when City Finance Bank merged with Jamii Bora Kenya Limited (a microfinance institution) and became Jamii Bora Bank Limited. The bank currently has a branch network of 22 branches across the country with plans to significantly add to the network in the coming years. Catalyst Fund I invested in Jamii Bora Bank in 2013 with a view to supporting management’s goal to grow the bank into a leading tier II Enterprise bank.

Learn More about Jamii Bora Bank.

EFFCO Solutions Group

EFFFCO Tanzania is a plant hire company established in 2010 that provides heavy haulage, heavy lifting, logistics, and civil engineering works to leading national and multinational corporates in the heavy industrial, oil & gas, mining and road construction sectors. EFFCO operates equipment sourced from the world’s leading plant and equipment manufacturers including Caterpillar, Komatsu, Tadano, Kato, Liebherr and places particular emphasis on its environmental, and health and safety standards for all its services. Catalyst Fund I backed a management buy-out of the business in 2013.

Learn More about EFFCO Tanzania.

Yes Brand Food & Beverages

Yes Brands is an Ethiopian beverages business with the leading bottled water brand in the country. Yes is a bottled natural mineral water recognised for its taste, purity and quality in Ethiopia and sourced from springs at Wechecha Mountain, located in the Oromia Region. Catalyst Fund I invested in a 50% JV in Yes Brands Foods & Beverages together with the founder Alemayehu Nigussie in 2013.

Learn More about Yes Brand Food & Beverages.

Chai Bora

Chai Bora is a leading food and beverages business in Tanzania with market leadership in packed tea products under the Chai Bora and African Infusions brands. The company is located in Mafinga, in the heart of the tea growing region in Tanzania and operates with international recognised quality certifications – ISO – 22000:2005 and ECOCERT organic certification for its herbal tea range. The Chai Bora brand has strong heritage and was established in 1994 in the country and since 2006 was incorporated as an independent firm. Catalyst Fund I bought out the Chai Bora business in 2012.

Learn More about Chai Bora.

ChemiCotex

ChemiCotex Industries Limited (“CCIL”) is a Tanzanian-based manufacturing conglomerate engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of fast moving consumer goods, industrial plastics and metal products. Established in 1975, CCIL has grown rapidly to become the one of the largest consumer goods companies in Tanzania and within East Africa. Its portfolio of brands includes the leading toothpaste brand in Tanzania (“Whitedent”) as well as a range of cosmetics and food products marketed under various brand names which are distributed nationwide and increasingly regionally.

Catalyst Fund I co-invested in ChemiCotex in 2011.

Learn More about ChemiCotex.

Goodlife Pharmacy – (Exited)

Goodlife Pharmacy, rebranded from its previous name of Mimosa Pharmacy, is a leading quality-focused retail pharmacy company with a strong reputation for delivering quality health and personal care products. Established 10 years ago, the retail pharmacy chain has grown to 12 stores located in high-traffic retail centres in Kenya and Uganda. Catalyst partnered with Africa Chemist and Beauty Care, an investor with pharmacy retailing experience, to enhance Goodlife Pharmacy’s customer offering and to accelerate expansion of the business across major high foot traffic commercial centers in Kenya and across eastern Africa.

Catalyst Principal Partners later exited investment in Goodlife Pharmacy in late 2016

Learn More about Goodlife Pharmacy.