Amethis invests in Sodigaz – Burkina Faso
Amethis acquires a significant minority stake in the Sodigaz, leader in the distribution of LPG bottled gas in Burkina Faso.
Amethis is happy to announce the acquisition of a minority stake in the Sodigaz Group, leader in the distribution of LPG bottled gas in Burkina Faso. This transaction was concluded via Amethis West Africa, its investment vehicle dedicated to West Africa.
The Sodigaz Group is one of the pioneers in the distribution of LPG bottled gas for Burkinabe households and stands today as one of the most important companies in Burkina Faso. Since its creation 40 years ago, Sodigaz succeeded in building a market share of over 60%, facing major international oil and gas companies, thanks to its unique network of near 2,000 exclusive resellers. The Group, which sells annually over 45,000 tons of gas throughout the country, is active on a dynamic market boasting a growth rate of over 20% on the 5 past years.
Amethis invests in Sodigaz at a turning point in its development: the company’s management has been taken over by Lala Bolly, who joined the Group in 2011 after a career abroad. The CEO shows a strong will to institutionalize the Group, to consolidate its national coverage and to launch its regional expansion: “Our choice went to Amethis because we identified the team as a strong partner sharing the same vision for our development strategy and bringing not only capital but also experience and best practices on organization and management, supporting us to overcome our growth’s challenges” announced Lala Bolly, Sodigaz’s CEO.
Amethis supports Sodigaz’s structuration: the group reorganized at the occasion of this transaction the legal structure of its subsidiaries covering the distribution as well as the national and international transport of gas. Amethis will support the new impulse given by the management: “We are happy to support the growth of an ambitious Burkinabe group, managed with energy by a young CEO and with a dynamic senior team. The management’s desire to build on the national success by densifying its territorial coverage and to transform into a regional champion is very promising for the future growth of Sodigaz and matches the value creation strategy of Amethis” underlined Khady Koné-Dicoh, Investment Director, responsible for the transaction for Amethis.
Finally, Sodigaz, by providing LPG bottled gas and gas stoves to middle class households, participates to the energetic transition of Burkina Faso: “The positive impact of Sodigaz on the fight against deforestation, on the improvement of living conditions for Burkinabe families and on the creation of direct and indirect employment via its network of resellers throughout the country, aligns with Amethis’ strong environment and social commitment” declared Khady Koné-Dicoh.
About Amethis – Created in 2012 by Luc Rigouzzo and Laurent Demey, former heads of Proparco, in partnership with the Edmond de Rothschild Group, Amethis’ team is composed of experienced investors who dedicated their careers to long-term investment and advisory services on the African continent. Amethis positions itself at the center of a network of investors, corporates and public and private financial institutions, sharing a reputation of professionalism and integrity.
About Amethis West Africa – Created in 2014 by Amethis, Amethis West Africa (AWA) is one of the first investment vehicles incorporated in Ivory Coast: this pioneering initiative contributed to the mobilization of local savings and to the development of the economic fabric in Francophone Africa, thanks to the support of major West African institutional investors.