80 Finance Monthly. Investment community at large. Communities that need the upliftment will usually embrace the assistance and thereby ensure that there is a symbiotic relationship that delivers long-term results for everyone involved. Sustainability is deeply ingrained in everything we do. Could you shed some light on NIO Capital’s investment strategy and philosophy, especially regarding the balance between risk and reward? Our long-term asset investment strategy is always thoroughly researched to ensure that the investee companies are able to withstand any future market fluctuations. With the positions we hold in other listed entities, there is always a strategic intent to be able to later exit an investment either through a buyout or by way of an IPO. We will also do a merger of similar investments into an already listed entity, making our future exit much simpler. Most of our industry consolidations are based on legacy assets from a first-generation entrepreneur. NIO found a way to create a long-awaited exit for these owners that had limited succession plans in place for the business. In typical PE strategy will be to consolidate a couple of businesses to cut costs and, as a result, drive sales and optimisation of business processes. On your website, it’s mentioned that NIO Capital focuses on specific sectors. Please elaborate on why you chose these sectors and what potential you see in them. • Energy & Mining, specifically renewable energy • Food and Water Security, • MedTech, • FinTech, and • Property sectors. (Development and listed entities) NIO Capital plays a significant role in financial services, providing support for listings, restructuring, mergers, and acquisitions. Could you describe your approach to these services? Our historical experience in the private equity sector has helped us to be able to identify future potential investee assets long before we invest. Through the services we offer, we can ensure that the vision and values of the management are aligned with our fund. This will make a good foundation for further involvement from the fund to invest. How does NIO Capital decide when to take an active equity position through direct investment versus when to offer services for equity? Once we have analysed the IM(Investment Memorandum) and completed our due diligence, we will assess if we can make a significant difference in the current position of the business. We use our established network to establish what we can do to improve on the current figures without making too many changes to the business or staff. Balance Sheet optimisation is at the heart of what we do to create a strong footprint to drive the future growth of the business. What are the key factors you consider when evaluating a potential investment in a company? Are there specific qualities or criteria a company must meet to fit your investment mandate? First is if it falls in our mandate and our sectors of investment. Secondly, we look at the balance sheet to assess what shape it is The African private equity landscape has developed quite significantly over the last 20 years, especially in South Africa
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