Merger and Acquisition

Plentywaka Acquires Stabus Ghana Two Months After Securing $1.2M in Seed Funding

Published

3 years ago

August 24, 2021

Toronto-headquartered shared mobility startup, Plentywaka, which provides hassle-free shared rides on-demand, announced that it has fully acquired Stabus, one of Ghana’s leading mobility startups. This is a step to further Plentywaka’s ambition of building the largest shared mobility platform on the African continent, starting with West Africa.

Following up on the acquisition deal announced today, Stabus will now be known as Plentywaka Ghana, with the mobility platform offering a range of low-cost and premium vehicles, including cars, mini-vans and buses for public transportation. Isidore Kpotufe will become the Country Manager of Plentywaka Ghana and will be joined by the current team of Stabus.

Plentywaka’s acquisition of Stabus comes in the wake of announcing its seed round of $1.2M, only two months after successfully ending the Techstars Toronto Accelerator Program in July 2021. This investment in Plentywaka attracted a wide range of investors from Canada, the United States, China and Nigeria. The Xchange, a Toronto-based fund, led this seed round, while Techstars followed on their previous investment in Plentywaka to participate in the round as well.

Nigerian investment firms who participated in the round include Argentil Capital Partners and ODBA & Co Ventures, an early-stage investor in Kuda Bank. There were also a couple of angel investors from Canada, the US and Africa who also participated in the seed round to give Plentywaka the much-needed boost to continue its impressive growth. Other investors include SOSV, the most active VC globally in the angel/seed deal type and ShockVentures, a VC from the United States.

Plentywaka’s Co-Founder & CEO, Onyeka Akumah said, “Plentywaka’s acquisition of Stabus is a firm statement about our commitment to grow and build the largest shared mobility startup in Africa, one country at a time. Isidore is a brilliant entrepreneur, and we are excited about having him and his team execute our plans for the Ghanaian market as Plentywaka Ghana’s operations commence on the 16th of September in Accra.

“In addition to our work in Ghana, we are also really happy about the progress we’ve made in Nigeria to scale our Dailywaka service that provides bus-stop to bus-stop transportation service for thousands of commuters.

“Today, we have moved close to half a million people, and that’s a credit to my team’s effort, our heroes (a term used to describe Plentywaka drivers) and our investors who continue to believe and support our growth with their investments. With our Travelwaka service, we have been able to cater for interstate travellers across 21 cities in Nigeria, and we are looking to expand to more cities as new bus partners sign up with us.”

Todd Finch, Founder and Managing Partner of The Xchange, the lead investor in the seed round, commented “The Xchange is on a mission to fuel purpose-driven founders with the capital and resources they need to realize the world-changing potential of their ideas. Given Onyeka’s proven track record, his teams’ undeniable thirst for making an impact, and Plentywaka’s impressive growth, we knew this was an opportunity we wanted to invest in.”

With over 25 years of experience in building innovative technology startups, Todd Finch shared, “the Xchange is excited to help Plentywaka accelerate and scale their impact. We are excited to support Onyeka and the team with the resources they need to realize the full potential of their vision to change the African transport ecosystem. We have been most impressed with Plentywaka’s human-centered approach, putting the drivers as the heroes of the story while creating an exceptional passenger experience. We are committed to supporting the vision of Plentywaka, its founders, and its journey for many years to come.”

Also speaking on Techstar’s participation in the Plentywaka seed round, Sunil Sharma, Managing Director of Techstars Toronto, said, “We are incredibly excited by our investment in Plentywaka. Techstars is a huge believer in the future of Africa and a proud supporter of African entrepreneurs. Onyeka is a two-time Techstars founder, which deepens this relationship further.”

Despite suspending its operations for five months in 2020 due to the global pandemic, Plentywaka has still been able to get 960 vehicles registered on its platform and help its riders commute more than 480,000 times in less than two years. According to Onyeka Akumah, expanding into Ghana is just the beginning for the team as it aligns with its Pan-African expansion plan.

He said that Plentywaka is going to replicate its model across six other African countries within the next two years and will be looking for the right kind of investors and partners to join the ‘black and yellow’ movement to provide the best-in-class transportation service connecting cities and communities with technology across Africa.

About Stabus
Stabus was launched in 2019 by its Co-Founder, Isidore Kpotufe who shared that the startup has moved over 100,000 people to Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Their services include daily bus-stop to bus-stop transportation as well as providing staff bus solutions for multinationals like MTN Ghana and GB Foods. Following up on the acquisition deal announced today, Stabus will now be known as Plentywaka Ghana with the mobility platform offering a range of low-cost and premium vehicles which includes cars, mini-vans, and buses for public transportation. Isidore Kpotufe will become the Country Manager of Plentywaka Ghana and will be joined by the current team of Stabus.

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Merger and Acquisition

FBN Holdings Clarifies Merchant Banking Divestment, Retains Other Subsidiaries

Published

1 week ago

September 11, 2024

Samed Olukoya

FBN Holdings has sought to clarify the recent divestment from its Merchant Banking business.

According to the lender, all its businesses and entities apart from the Merchant Banking business are not included in the divestment deal.

It said, “We wish to clarify that all other entities and businesses listed below are not included in the divestment, and they remain subsidiaries of FBNH and are well integrated into the Group’s strategic focus.”

The subsidiaries are FBNQuest Capital Limited, FBNQuest Asset Management Limited, FBNQuest Trustees Limited, FBNQuest Funds Limited, and FBNQuest Securities Limited.

“We reiterate that the divestment pertains solely to FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited, with no impact on the continued operations or strategic positioning of our other subsidiaries within the Group,” the bank stated in a release signed by Adewale L.O. Arogundade, Acting Company Secretary.

Merger and Acquisition

Aradel Energy Seals $16M Acquisition of Olo and Olo West Marginal Fields

Published

3 weeks ago

August 30, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Aradel Holdings Plc, an indigenous energy company, has announced the successful acquisition of a 100 percent interest in the Olo and Olo West marginal fields, located in the Eastern Niger Delta, through its subsidiary, Aradel Energy Limited.

The deal, which was completed in collaboration with TotalEnergies EP Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is valued at $16 million, with an additional $3.5 million in deferred and conditional payments.

The Olo and Olo West Fields were formerly part of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 58, and the acquisition marks a significant milestone in Aradel’s strategic plan for growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The deal is a major step towards enhancing energy security and bolstering Aradel’s commitment to providing sustainable energy solutions that drive economic development.

In a statement on Thursday, Aradel confirmed that the necessary regulatory processes are underway for the issuance of the Petroleum Mining Lease (for Olo) and the Petroleum Prospecting License (for Olo West).

This will follow the payment of relevant ministerial consent fees and the completion of the field development plans within designated timelines.

Aradel’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Adegbite Falade, expressed enthusiasm over the acquisition, emphasizing its importance in advancing the company’s vision of promoting energy security in Nigeria.

“The addition of Olo and Olo West marginal fields to Aradel’s portfolio is a significant inorganic growth milestone in furtherance of our long-term strategy to provide sustainable energy solutions that support economic growth,” Falade said.

Falade also praised the collaboration between the Ministers of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for their support throughout the acquisition process.

He acknowledged the role of NNPC and TotalEnergies in facilitating the deal, highlighting their commitment to boosting Nigeria’s oil and gas production from marginal fields.

Marginal fields are oil or gas fields that have been discovered but left unattended for a decade or more.

Their development is seen as a crucial opportunity for indigenous companies like Aradel to step in and maximize Nigeria’s untapped energy resources.

Olo and Olo West, located 80 kilometers northwest of Port Harcourt, hold considerable potential for increasing Nigeria’s oil output.

Falade noted that the acquisition aligns with Aradel’s ambition to pursue both organic and inorganic growth in the energy sector.

He reiterated that Aradel is dedicated to expanding its footprint in Nigeria’s energy industry, and this transaction reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to achieve that goal.

The acquisition is particularly significant in light of Nigeria’s ongoing push for self-sufficiency in energy production.

The government has encouraged private sector investments in marginal fields as part of its broader efforts to increase the country’s oil and gas output, reduce reliance on imports, and create job opportunities for Nigerians.

Aradel’s acquisition of the Olo and Olo West fields underscores the company’s resolve to be a key player in the country’s energy future.

As the fields move towards development and production, Aradel will be playing a critical role in advancing Nigeria’s energy sector and contributing to the nation’s overall economic stability.

The energy firm has built a reputation for its innovative and responsible approach to energy production, and the Olo and Olo West acquisition is expected to further cement Aradel’s standing in the industry.

Merger and Acquisition

Thomas Etuh and Theophilus Danjuma Acquire Notore Chemicals, Pledge Industry Transformation

Published

3 weeks ago

August 29, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Thomas Etuh, founder of Tak Agro, and Theophilus Danjuma’s TY Holdings have successfully acquired Notore Chemical Industries Plc for $150 million.

The acquisition, which includes 60 percent ownership and management control, is expected to revitalise Notore’s operations and boost Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The deal, structured as a special placement by Kwararafa Africa Limited, follows a competitive bid process that concluded with Etuh and Danjuma taking the reins of Notore Chemicals, which is based in Onne, Rivers State.

Notore, known for producing urea, NPK, and ammonia, has been struggling financially, reporting a group loss after tax of N34.6 billion in the first quarter of 2024.

In an exclusive interview, Etuh expressed his optimism for Notore’s future under new management. “I am excited about Notore, which is a major source of raw material,” Etuh said. “Notore’s products are exportable, and the company has its own power plant and jetty. The potential we see is huge.”

Etuh highlighted that the acquisition would bring much-needed capital to overhaul Notore’s complicated process plant, with plans to commence production next year.

Currently, efforts are underway to secure gas to power turbines capable of generating 30 to 40 megawatts, some of which will be sold to local electricity distributors.

Once the plant is fully operational, the new management intends to expand production capacity over the next three to four years, including the construction of a second production train that could double output to two million tonnes of fertiliser annually.

Since the acquisition, significant management changes have been made. Seven non-executive directors and the group’s deputy managing director have resigned, making way for Etuh’s appointment as chairman and the inclusion of six new non-executive directors on the board.

Danjuma Etuh has been appointed as deputy managing director.

With this acquisition, the Etuh-Danjuma partnership aims to turn around the fortunes of Notore Chemicals and transform it into a leading force in Nigeria’s fertiliser sector.

As production ramps up, the investment is expected to not only generate profits for shareholders but also contribute to the country’s agricultural self-sufficiency by increasing the availability of fertiliser for local farmers and supporting the export market.

The acquisition of Notore Chemicals comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s economy, where the agriculture sector plays a key role in diversification efforts.

The revitalisation of Notore is seen as a step toward ensuring a steady supply of fertiliser, which is essential for increasing crop yields and supporting food security initiatives.