DOB Equity opens new office in Nairobi and expands investment team

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Press release – February 15 2017

East African impact investor DOB Equity opens new office in Nairobi and expands investment team 

  • New office increases already strong local presence

  • Ambitious growth targets to increase impact in the region in 2017 and beyond

DOB Equity, a leading Dutch family office, has announced the opening of a new, larger investment office in Nairobi that will complement its current offices in Tanzania and the Netherlands, and the recruitment of two new investment team members.

By expanding into the new Nairobi office, DOB Equity is well placed to continue its current, strong growth rate, further enhance its already strong local presence, and add further value to innovative and scalable companies throughout the region. It doubled its impact investment portfolio in both 2015 and 2016.

Brigit van Dijk – van de Reijt, CEO of DOB Equity, says: “As an impact investor in innovative, scalable companies, it is essential to be close to the market and work directly alongside the companies to support and help them meet their growth projections.”

“Having a strong local presence gives us better local networks, wider access to investment opportunities, and increases our ability to work closely with entrepreneurs. Over the past few years, we have significantly increased our impact in the region by supporting the growth of our companies and investing in a number of strong, solid opportunities.”

According to DOB’s vision, financially sustainable companies are best placed to provide impact to the society to the largest extent possible. East Africa, and Kenya in particular, is a hub for innovative business concepts by both local and international entrepreneurs. Providing a platform for these initiatives will help strengthen the private sector and boost the regional economy.”

DOB Equity’s deal selection process is amongst others based on its impact growth targets. For 2016 these targets where related to double digit growth numbers for direct employment, off-grid connections, to name a few. Because of DOB’s allocation of resources for post-investment portfolio support, in combination with its investment and portfolio management teams located in the region – these growth targets were exceeded.

In addition, in 2016 only, DOB added three new Kenyan investments in supply chain management provider Twiga Foods, in dairy processor Countryside Dairy and in the renewable energy provider, PowerGen. Moreover, DOB extended a new facility to Tanzania’s leading and premium dairy company Tanga Fresh.

DOB Equity has a particular focus on the growth opportunities in horticulture and the dairy sector, logistics and supply chain management, renewable energy industry, as well as education and technology enabled services.

Grant Brooke, CEO of Twiga Foods, an integrated and tech-enabled supply chain management provider that simplifies and shortens the supply chains of key food items, says: “DOB Equity was one of the first investors in our company. The team is professional and fast moving, and because of DOB Equity’s local presence and diversified investment professionals they have been of tremendous support to help grow our business.”

“Through their European networks, DOB Equity has provided us with access to expertise that we would otherwise not have had access to and which instantly improved our margins.”

Crispin Murira, CEO of Copia Global, an online retail company focusing on lower income groups around Nairobi, comments: “DOB Equity’s active involvement on the financial, operational, and sales side has been over and beyond our expectations and has given a great push to the monthly growth numbers of the company.”

“DOB Equity is particularly interested in developing meaningful long-term concepts for last-mile distribution, which is at the heart of our business. To work with a team of smart and entrepreneurial investors is not only helpful, it is fun too.”

ENDS

About DOB Equity

DOB Equity is a leading Dutch family office investing in impactful, innovative and scalable businesses in East Africa. DOB Equity has offices in Kenya, Tanzania and in The Netherlands.

Press enquiries

Janny Fidder

DOB Equity

Tel: +31 (0)57 863 1111

Frank Tobé