Menu

DOB Equity, a Dutch private equity firm, has announced that it will invest up to $4 million in Africa Logistics Properties Holdings (ALP) to enable the Kenyan warehousing firm expand its operations across East Africa, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

The announcement comes after International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the CDC Group, the UK’s development finance institution, said in March that they will invest $35 million in ALP to support the company’s development of modern, grade-A warehousing facilities in the region.

DOB Equity's CEO, Brigit van Dijk-van de Reijt, said ALP brings an innovation solution to the warehousing sector in East Africa – which is currently fragmented, often located in congested areas, and lacking in overall industrial quality. She said warehouses are usually unsuitable for occupiers because of high operational and cost inefficiencies that hamper international companies looking to set up local operations, and prevent local SME’s from reaching scale.

“ALP helps to drive logistical costs down by providing grade-A warehousing facilities which create built-for-purpose supply chain infrastructure to drive efficiencies that should lead to lower prices for consumers,” Van Dijk-van de Reijt said. “ALP helps enable companies to focus on their core competencies instead of having to construct, manage, and maintain warehouses on their own. For SME’s in particular, their services will create instant growth opportunities.”

Founded in 2015, Africa Logistics Properties is an integrated commercial property investment platform based in Nairobi with a principal focus on the emerging logistics and industrial sector across Africa.

ALP is backed by Maris, a Nairobi-based private investment firm that is also investing $8 million alongside DOB Equity, IFC, and CDC. Other investors include Mbuyu Capital Partners, a UK-based Africa-focused asset manager, which is investing up to $5 million, amongst others.

“As ALP are also targeting Kenyan growth businesses in addition to larger, international companies, we are pleased to have DOB Equity on board as they have a strong foothold in the local SME market, which will benefit us going forward,” said Toby Selman, CEO and Co-Founder of ALP.

DOB Equity is a leading Dutch family office backed exclusively by the de Rijcke family. The private equity firm invests mostly in high-growth SMEs in East Africa with a geographical focus on Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. DOB Equity was founded in 1997 and is based in Veessen, The Netherlands, with additional offices in Nairobi, Kenya and Tanzania.