LeapFrog Investments & Prudential democratize insurance in Africa
LeapFrog Investments, the specialist investor in financial
services in Africa and Asia, has successfully exited from leading Ghanaian
insurer Express Life, selling its majority stake to Prudential PLC for an
undisclosed sum. The transaction marks the entry of one of the world’s largest
insurers into the fast-growing African insurance industry; and into an emerging
consumer market pioneered by LeapFrog. The successful exit recognizes
substantial value created, drawing on LeapFrog’s operational expertise since
investment.
LeapFrog’s lead partner in Ghana, Doug Lacey, said, “Our
experience with Express Life demonstrates the value of specialist fund managers
who can source promising investment opportunities in emerging markets and work
closely with these companies to create customer and shareholder value. And now
we see that they become attractive to global players also committed to building
sustainable and impactful businesses.”
When LeapFrog invested in Express Life, the company was reaching
some 60,000 people. Today, the company reaches over 730,000 people, most of them first-time
users of insurance and savings products. Express Life CEO, Mokobi Aryee, said
“From the start, LeapFrog provided us with strategic support and operational
know-how. As a hands-on investor, they helped us lay the platform for a
promising future. Now, as part of Prudential we can achieve our common vision:
to lead the insurance industry in Ghana, in service delivery and in meeting the
needs of our current and future clients. ”
Said Lacey: “LeapFrog worked closely with Express management to
introduce new talent, redesign the product range to enhance client value, and
swiftly build the distribution force. We also connected the company with BIMA,
a LeapFrog portfolio company that distributes insurance via mobile phones. As a
result, Express now profitably distributes highly affordable products to a
whole new group of first-time users. We are privileged to have worked with
Express Life CEO Mokobi Aryee and his talented team, and are confident they
will enjoy further success with Prudential.”
LeapFrog announced the US$ 204m first close of its most recent
fund in September 2013. The group has been hailed by Sir Richard Branson for
“making a huge difference and making a significant profit at the same time” and
for its “innovative approach to democratizing insurance”.
LeapFrog also has investments in insurance underwriters and
distributors in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and India. Says
founder and president, Dr. Andrew Kuper, “We believe that the emerging consumer
represents a tremendous opportunity for financial services businesses, and
insurance in particular. Given the size of the underserved market, visionary
financial services businesses that provide scalable solutions can be expected
to provide top-tier investor returns.”
LeapFrog Investments is a specialist investor in emerging
markets financial services, seizing the growth opportunity presented by two
billion emerging consumers in Africa and Asia. LeapFrog’s portfolio companies
currently provide insurance, savings and pensions products to over 18 million
people in countries such as India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya
and South Africa.
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