The Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund, a fund focused on the African continent, has achieved a successful first closing of US$245 million.

In addition, the fund has received a further commitment equal to 20% of the fund size, capped at US$100 million, from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

The formal fundraising process commenced in May 2014, with the aim of achieving final close during 2015 at a target fund size of US$500 million. Apart from initial seed capital commitments made by Remgro and Phuthuma Nhleko as cornerstone investors, the fund has been anchored by a significant investment from CDC Group plc and received commitments from other development finance institutions (including OFID and Germany's DEG - Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH) as well as private pension funds, family offices and investment companies.

The seed capital from Remgro and Phuthuma Nhleko was used to finance the following two initial investments:

• A minority stake in ETG, which owns and manages a vertically integrated agriculture logistics and infrastructure supply chain across several countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Establishing GPR Leasing Africa, a rail rolling stock leasing joint venture to meet the asset financing requirements of the growing rail market on the African continent. GPR is a joint venture between the fund and Grindrod Freight Services.

The fund is a joint initiative established by Remgro, Phuthuma Nhleko and the investment team, based in Johannesburg. The strategy of the fund is to invest equity and quasi-equity in the full spectrum of infrastructure opportunities on the African continent, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa.  This includes investments in late-stage greenfield opportunities; brownfield and secondary opportunities; as well as logistics and engineering services companies operating within the infrastructure sector.

Webber Wentzel, in alliance with Linklaters LLP, is acting as legal advisor for the fund.

Herc van Wyk, CEO of Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers, which houses the investment team, stated:

"We are very pleased with the level of the Fund's first closing and look forward to working with our investors as long term partners on the African continent. We currently have a strong pipeline and expect to invest additional capital during this year."

Paola Tarazi, Partner of BerchWood Partners, the global placement agent responsible for the fundraise, commented:

"The high calibre of investors the Fund has attracted confirms the team's positioning as one of Africa's leading infrastructure investors with an unparalleled ability to source, structure and complete infrastructure investments on the continent."