Unique Venture Capital

About Us
Unique Venture Capital Management Company Limited, is an SME-focused private Venture Capital investment firm established in 2004 by 5 major Nigerian banks.
We aim to:                   Provide ''smart'' private equity and business finance to SMEs.            Encourage innovative Emerging Market entrepreneurs.            Boost economic growth in UVC’s operational area. Vision: Unleashing the power of Emerging Market Entrepreneurs for positive development. Strategic Intent:   Capitalising Economic Development by harnessing the power of Venture Capital / Private Equity financing in the development of African Entrepreneurs to achieving triple bottom line enterprises, whilst creating value for our stakeholders.   The Fund UVC was primarily conceived to manage, amongst other funds, the funds set aside by its owner institutions under the Nigerian SMEEIS scheme and application of the fund is strictly in adherence to the SMEEIS guidelines. UVC realises this obligation through the “UVC SMEEIS Fund”. UVC, the company, has now moved a notch up to add on and manage other VC funds. Currently, UVC manages: A. UVC SMEEIS funds Overview Target Fund Size : N6 billion Commitments Target Investment Size                        : Up to N200 million Typical Equity Ownership                  : Up to 40% Minimum Investment Return              : 30% Geographic Focus                                 : Nigeria Sector Focus                                       : General, but excludes trading and financial services Real Sector (60%), Services (30%), Microfinance (10%) Governance Structure                          : Board of Advisory Committee comprising recognised institutional shareholders Board Investment Committee comprising the Chairmen/CEO of our investor companies Investment Types : Early stage (Start-up to first-stage) Expansion financing Acquisition and Management buy-outs Investment Criteria : Companies with captive markets and sustainable growth in per capita consumption Emerging and high growth industries Investments with Keiretsu fit to our portfolio companies Possible high export opportunities Possible multiplier-effect and SME spin-offs B. West Africa Venture Funds (WAVF)   Overview     The Fund : West Africa Venture Fund LLC Region : Liberia and Sierra Leone Term : 10 Years Fund Size : US$40million Investment Size : US$100,000 – US$500,000 Target Returns : 20 – 30% Sector Focus : : General, all commercial sectors not in the IFC/World Bank exclusion list. Governance Structure : Investment Committee comprising at least five members constituted by the General Partner Advisory Board comprising at least five members constituted by the Limited partners Core Values Professionalism Integrity Empathy Core Purpose UVC aims to be the frontrunner in the provision of Venture Capital to small and medium–sized enterprises in West Africa by leveraging on the strong heritage of our owner institutions to deploy an on-ground local experience-based strategy, building a world class team and operating within the highest professional and ethical standards to deliver attractive triple bottom line returns to our clients and investors.  http://www.uvcmc.com/our_company.htm

Injaro Agricultural Capital Holdings

"Overview 

 

Injaro Agricultural Capital Holdings Ltd. (Injaro) has been established with the aim of carrying out investment activities for advancing the social objectives of alleviating poverty and revitalizing distressed regions in West Africa. Injaro makes investments in debt, quasi-equity, and equity in small-and medium-sized enterprises along the agricultural value chain in designated countries of West Africa. The agriculture value chain encompasses the full range of activities and participants involved in moving agricultural products from input suppliers to farmers' fields, and ultimately, to consumers' tables. The countries Injaro is focusing on are Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger and Sierra Leone.
 

Injaro is derived from Kilimanjaro which in Swahili means ''Mountain of Greatness." We believe in the greatness of the African entrepreneurial spirit and in the ability of African entrepreneurs to build successful businesses that make a difference in the lives of the communities in which they operate.
 

Injaro is a private company formed under the laws of Mauritius and it is created as part of a merger and restructuring of two existing funds:
 

* West Africa Agricultural Investment Fund ("WAAIF"), a Mauritius domiciled fund created with the objective of investing in companies that produce and

* distribute seeds to smallholder farmers, and

* West Africa SME Growth Fund ("WASGF"), a Mauritius domiciled fund created with the investment objective of investing in small and medium sized business in the region.
 

Both WAAIF and WASGF were private equity funds promoted and managed by Injaro Investments Limited ("IIL"). IIL was established in 2009 as an impact-oriented fund manager primarily focused on opportunities in West Africa. In addition to providing access to finance, Injaro will actively provide sound business advice as well as technical assistance to build managerial and financial capacity within investee companies...."

 http://www.iachl.com/parent.php?root=about&link=overview

Jonah Capital

"Jonah Capital chaired by eminent African business leader Sir Sam Jonah, invests in mining and mineral resources in Africa as the continent grows to provide a sustainable supply of strategic metals and minerals to meet rising global demand

 

With a portfolio of assets in iron ore, copper, coal and industrial minerals in key provinces across eight countries in Africa, Jonah Capital is well placed to stimulate the growth and development of mineral resources in Africa and provide value enhancing beneficiation technologies.

The group’s experienced management team and powerful Africa brand combined with expert local knowledge and far reaching access provide attractive investment opportunities from offices in Johannesburg, Accra, Monrovia and Kasempa, Zambia."

 http://www.jonahcapital.co.za/home.php