Germany’s development finance institution DEG has committed 25 million dollars to Helios Investors V, the latest private equity fund from Helios Investment Partners. The vehicle targets growth-stage, mid-sized companies across Sub-Saharan Africa and adjacent markets with scalable operating models. The commitment was signed in September 2025 and is intended to catalyze additional private capital into the region.
Investment Overview
Helios Investors V will deploy equity into businesses operating in financial services and fintech, consumer non-discretionary goods, information and communications technology, healthcare, light industrials, and renewable energy. DEG’s ticket comes from its own balance sheet and is classified under environmental and social risk category FI-B+. The structure positions DEG as an anchor investor that can help crowd in co-investors to accelerate fund formation and deployment.
Strategy and Impact
The fund’s mandate emphasizes hands-on value creation, operational upgrades, and the adoption of best practices to drive sustainable growth. Helios will prioritize improvements in corporate governance and environmental and social standards aligned with IFC Performance Standards across portfolio companies. The strategy directly supports climate action, decent work, and health and well-being objectives reflected in SDG 13, SDG 8, and SDG 3.
Sector Focus and Market Context
Target sectors reflect resilient demand drivers in African economies, including essential consumer categories and the digitization of services. Investments in renewable energy and ICT aim to capture technology adoption, energy transition needs, and productivity gains across supply chains. Healthcare exposure seeks to benefit from demographic growth and increasing demand for accessible clinical services and products.
Institutional Role and Governance
DEG’s participation underscores the role of development finance in mobilizing private capital where equity access remains limited for mid-market enterprises. Beyond financing, DEG intends to support Helios and portfolio companies with institutional expertise in ESG, corporate governance, and human capital development. The partnership also aligns with Helios’s roadmap toward carbon neutrality, reinforcing climate risk management and emissions reduction across the investment cycle.
Track Record and Structure
Helios Investment Partners has invested on the continent since 2004 and has raised and deployed approximately 2.5 billion dollars across its first four funds. The firm manages more than 3 billion dollars in assets, including co-investment pools, and reported 4.3 billion dollars in liquidity generated through exits as of December 2024. Helios Investors V is domiciled in Guernsey, with Helios Investment Partners LLP serving as the general partner and fund manager.
Portfolio Execution and Value Creation
Helios applies a thesis-led approach that pairs sector expertise with active ownership to professionalize management systems and accelerate growth. Portfolio workstreams commonly include operational discipline, digitization, route-to-market optimization, and balance sheet strengthening to support expansion. The fund expects to back companies with strong governance ambition that can adopt measured ESG roadmaps and deliver durable cash generation.
Risk Management and Standards
Adherence to IFC Performance Standards guides environmental and social risk management, incident reporting, and continuous improvement plans. The FI-B+ categorization indicates the presence of moderate E&S risks that are considered manageable with appropriate systems and mitigation. Regular monitoring, board oversight, and third-party audits are expected to ensure compliance and transparency.
Regional Reach and Pipeline
The fund’s supraregional remit allows Helios to pursue opportunities across multiple African markets while maintaining disciplined underwriting. A pipeline spanning low and lower-middle income countries is expected to diversify exposure and broaden developmental impact. The focus on mid-sized enterprises addresses a persistent equity financing gap that constrains scale-up potential for otherwise competitive businesses.
DEG’s 25 million dollar equity commitment to Helios Investors V adds momentum to a strategy centered on scalable African companies, operational value creation, and measurable impact. The combination of sector breadth, governance improvements, and climate alignment positions the fund to attract additional institutional capital. If executed as planned, Helios Investors V could help advance sustainable growth while strengthening the equity ecosystem across African markets.