MFS Africa, a digital payments network, has announced that it has secured an additional US$100 million in equity and debt funding led by Admaius Capital Partners, taking the total amount raised in the series to US$200 million. New investors, Vitruvian Partners and AXA IM Alts joined the extension, alongside existing investors, AfricInvest FIVE and CommerzVentures, who re-invested in the extension. Previous other investors include LUN Partners Group, Goodwell Investments, Allan Gray Ventures, Endeavor Catalyst, and Endeavor Harvest, Equator Capital Partners, Ulme B.V., and Vlemeij B.V.
The new funding will further accelerate MFS Africa’s expansion plans across Africa, its integration into the global digital payment ecosystem, its expansion into Asia through its joint venture with LUN Partners to enable cross-border digital payments between Africa and China, and its ambitious growth plans for the BAXI network of merchants and agents in Nigeria and beyond.
Providers of debt financing included Stanbic IBTC Bank and Symbiotic. Stanbic IBTC Bank will be partnering with MFS Africa to support the growth of the recently acquired BAXI network of merchants and agents in Nigeria.
Since the first close of its Series C fundraise back in November 2021, MFS Africa has completed its acquisition of BAXI in Nigeria. BAXI has since received additional licenses from the Central Bank of Nigeria, including PSSP and PTSP licenses. It has also continued to build out its leadership team with the addition of Meghan Taylor – previously Partner at Boston Consulting Group – as Chief of Staff, responsible for business integration across the Group; and most recently, Julian Adkins – previously Africa CFO at Millicom (Tigo) – who has been appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer. Last week, MFS Africa announced its acquisition of Global Technology Partners (GTP) which will accelerate its offering of card connectivity to mobile money users.
Dare Okoudjou, founder and CEO of MFS Africa, commented, “With this US$100 million extension of our Series C fundraise we are thrilled to have the support of world-class investors Admaius, Vitruvian and AXA IM Alts, and for the continued support of existing investors, on our journey to making borders matter less when it comes to payments. The strength of our business model is grounded on building a lasting digital infrastructure that unleashes and simplifies economic activities across the continent through any-to-any interoperability. Our multiple initiatives and solutions are providing access to Africans, at home and in the diaspora. We are building MFS Africa into a safe, sound, scalable, and high-impact pan-African payment infrastructure that will facilitate Africa’s rapidly growing commerce, both now and in the future.”
Marlon Chigwende, Managing Partner of Admaius Capital Partners, said: “What drew us to this deal is the quality of the team that Dare has assembled; it is outstanding. As an Africa-focused private equity house investing in high-impact sectors that drive social and economic transformation, our investment in MFS Africa is exactly what our existing investors are looking for, namely well-managed, fast-growing, market leaders empowering financial connectivity and inclusion across the African continent.”
FT Partners served as the exclusive financial and strategic advisor to MFS Africa in the Series C raise. This transaction underscores FT Partners’ deep domain expertise and unrivalled track record in the payments space across emerging markets, including Africa.
Source: AppsAfrica.com
