Helios Investment Partners (“Helios”) has launched an African reinsurance company called Africa Specialty Risk Group. The company will be managed by Mikir Shah (former CEO of AXA Africa Specialty Risks) and Bryan Howett (former CEO of Old Mutual Emerging Markets Reinsurance). Africa Specialty Risk Group will provide mostly African corporate companies comprehensive risk mitigating insurance solutions with its African-specific pricing models. The deep understanding of African risk is expected to unlock investment activity in African regions.

Helios was founded in 2004 to focus exclusively on private investment in Africa and has raised 3 private equity funds since its establishment. Helios has provided funding to start-ups and established companies with growth capital and expertise. The firm is led by mostly African professionals with the language skills and cultural affinity to engage with local entrepreneurs, managers and intermediaries on the continent.

Helios has invested in several African companies such as Vivo Energy, GB Foods Africa, Bayport Financial Services, Helios Towers, Axxela, FCMB, HTN Towers, Interswitch, Mall for Africa, OVH Energy, Starsight, Acorn, Africatel, Equity Bank, Wananchi Group, Fawry, TPay Mobile, Intercontinental Outdoor Media and Solevo among many others.