Emerging Capital Partners
{{Infobox company
| name = Emerging Capital Partners (ECP)
| logo = Image:Emerging Capital Partners logo.png
| foundation = 2000
| type = Private
| key_people = Hurley Doddy, Co-CEO
Vincent Le Guennou, Co-CEO
Carolyn Campbell, Managing Director
Bryce Fort, Managing Director
Paul Maasdorp, Managing Director
Brice Lodugnon, Managing Director
Renschke Volschenk, Director
Rudolph Bella, Director
Alison Kieler, Vice President and Head of ESG
| industry = Private Equity |
| products = Private Equity, Growth capital |
| homepage = [http://www.ecpinvestments.com/ www.ecpinvestments.com]
}}
Emerging Capital Partners (ECP) is a Pan-African private equity firm that has raised over US$2 billion through funds and co-investment vehicles for growth capital investing in Africa. Founded in 2000 under the leadership of Thomas Gibian, Hurley Doddy, Vincent Le Guennou, and Carolyn Campbell, ECP has over 20 years of investing experience on the continent and is one of the largest and longest-established private equity fund managers focused on Africa,{{cite web|title=Private Equity Report|url=http://africanbusinessmagazine.com/african-banker/private-equity-the-african-adventure/|work=africainvestor|date=May 2012}}{{cite web|title=Private Equity: The African Adventure|url=http://africanbusinessmagazine.com/african-banker/private-equity-the-african-adventure/|work=African Business|accessdate=10 October 2011}} with an investment team operating in three offices on the continent. In May 2007, when ECP closed its second fund with capital commitments of over US$520 million,{{cite web|title=Africa: U.S. Group Musters 500 Million for Africa|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200705291219.html|work=AllAfrica|accessdate=29 May 2007}} the company became the first private equity group to raise over $1 billion for investment in Africa.{{cite web|title=Africa Fund II Final Close|url=http://www.ecpinvestments.com/index.php/africa-fund-ii-final-close/|work=ECP|accessdate=15 July 2016}} ECP has made over 60 investments covering more than 44 African countries and has realized 48 full exits.{{cite web|title=Emerging Capital Partners: no Lack of Opportunity in Africa|url=https://www.africaglobalfunds.com/accounts/authorize/|work=Africa Global Funds|accessdate=21 June 2016}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Approach
ECP seeks to identify opportunities in sectors that benefit from the long-term structural demographic and economic shifts driving Africa’s growth.{{cite web|title=Investing in Africa|url=http://www.financierworldwide.com/investing-in-africa#.V4jzHtIrJph|work=Financier Worldwide|date=May 2015}}{{cite web|title=US investors uncover a new market—and it's popping|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2013/11/22/africa-investing-us-private-equity-investments-go-to-sub-sahara.html|work=CNBC|accessdate=22 February 2013}} ECP focuses on investments in consumer goods, financial services, telecommunications, and infrastructure sectors and has previously invested in rubber and sugar companies, restaurant chains,{{cite web|title=East Africa wakes up to the smell of coffee|url=https://issuu.com/outlookpublishing/docs/africa_outlook_-_issue_39|work=Africa Outlook|accessdate=31 May 2016}} power and water utilities,{{cite web|title=AXA group takes stake in Emerging Capital Partners - Eranove subsidiary|url=http://www.westafrica.com.ua/en/node/193|work=Market West Africa|accessdate=23 September 2015}} banks,{{cite web|title=Oragroup lève 18 millions de dollars|url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/20025/economie/oragroup-l-ve-18-millions-de-dollars//|work=Jeune Afrique|accessdate=7 May 2013}} telecoms towers{{cite web|title=Emerging Capital Partners-backed IHS Holding Raises US$2.6 Billion in New Financing (Sub-Saharan Africa)|url=http://empea.org/newsroom/industry-news/emerging-capital-partners-backed-ihs-holding-raises-us26-billion-in-new-fi|work=EMPEA|accessdate=2 November 2014}}{{cite web|title=Private equity buoyed by deals in less developed African markets|url=http://next.ft.com/content/5fa2748a-ba7d-11e3-8b15-00144feabdc0|work=Financial Times|accessdate=2 April 2014}} and PayTV.{{cite web|title=PayTV: Kenya's next success story?|url=https://next.ft.com/content/75df9a2a-7e4c-3c6e-a032-7caf6cbaa2b2|work=Financial Times|accessdate=16 May 2011}} ECP is particularly active in West and East Africa{{cite web|title=Q&A: ECP's Hurley Doddy on Myths of Africa and the Arrival of Megafirms|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/privateequity/2015/05/15/qa-ecps-hurley-doddy-on-myths-of-africa-and-the-arrival-of-megafirms/|work=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=15 May 2015}} and covers Africa’s major hub economies from three offices on the continent:
- Francophone West Africa (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire)
- East Africa (Nairobi, Kenya)
- Southern Africa (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Environmental, Social, and Governance Practices
In May 2010, ECP signed the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI),{{cite web|title=Signatories to the Principles for Responsible Investment|url=http://www.unpri.org/signatories/#investment_managers|work=Investment Managers|accessdate=10 January 2013}} which provides a framework for investment professionals who believe Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) issues affect the performance of investment portfolios and who seek sustainable approaches in the investment process.
In October 2011, ECP became the first private equity firm to sign a co-operation agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to participate in its Private Equity Africa Climate Change Investment Support (PEACCHIS) program. The program is designed to enhance sustainability best practices in Africa.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}