The InReturn East Africa Fund reviews around 200 potential investments per year coming from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. From this deal flow the target is to invest on average in 4 companies per year with the goal to invest in 15 to 20 SMEs.
Portfolio Companies across East Africa:
Reltex Tarpaulins Africa Limited
http://www.reltex.net/reltexafrica.html
Reltex UK has been a leading supplier of relief materials to the humanitarian sector since it began operations in the 1990s. Reltex Tarpaulins Africa, established as a separate entity in 2010, manufactures tarpaulins which are woven and laminated plastic sheets used for emergency shelter and settlement by many of the world’s major international relief agencies such as UNICEF and the Red Cross. This product used to be produced in Asia and exported mostly to Africa, the recipient of 60% of global humanitarian relief annually. The African production entity provides for logistic and environmental advantages.
Reltex has established itself as one of the world’s market leaders through its commitment to quality, speed of response and proximity to relief recipients. The company maintains exceptional standards of ethical business practice. Employees receive competitive wages, health insurance, a daily meal and they operate in a safe, respectful environment. Reltex is fully compliant with tax and environmental regulations and applies clean waste disposal practices. The company is run by a seasoned management team with extensive experience in the distribution and production of tarpaulins.
InReturn and the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO)’s co-investment in Reltex enabled the company to double its production capacity, create 80 new jobs and respond to emergency situations with greater speed and volumes.
Horizons Office Limited
Bringing life into your work & work into your life.
Horizons Office Limited is a provider of serviced offices in Kenya. Operations began in 2009 by offering short- and long-term rentals for fully serviced offices. Currently the company occupies some 5,200 sq ft of floor space at Luther Plaza in Nairobi where more than 20 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operate.
Serviced offices enable enterprises to hit the ground running without having to undergo the time and capital-intensive process of setting up offices on their own. Horizons Office offers tremendous flexibility in terms of space and lease period at very competitive rates. These services allow clients to focus on their core business, removing a significant hurdle for many SMEs.
InReturn has entered into a partnership with Horizons Office to finance the expansion of the business. This partnership will see Horizons Office complete fit-outs in early 2012 for two wings at the new ultra-modern 14 Riverside Office Park in Nairobi, occupying a further 8,000 sq ft and comprising 32 new office suites. A further expansion at another location is scheduled for the latter part of the year. As a result of this partnership, 13 new permanent positions will be created within the company. The partnership is also a unique opportunity for InReturn to help provide an essential service for the SME space as a whole.
Hurlingham Eye Care Services Ltd
http://hurlinghameyecare.co.ke/
Hurlingham Eye Care Services (HECS) is a medical practice in Nairobi, Kenya. Until 2010 the company focused on eye consultations, supplying glasses and contact lenses , eye surgeries and other medical eye treatments. The main shareholders are four respected eye surgeons, three Kenyans and one German who built a very successful laser clinic in Germany. End 2010, HECS opened the Eagle Eye Laser Center (EELC) and started performing eye laser surgery and and treatment of glaucoma and cataracts . InReturn and HECS have made substantial investments to grow EELC into a one stop eye care centre with two fully equipped operating theatres in which all common eye related treatments can be performed. The company is the second laser clinic in East Africa and is now equipped with the most state of the art equipment in the broader East African region. The company will eventually create 30 jobs, make different eye surgery more affordable for a larger audience and the promoters are pursuing mid-long term opportunities to be able to operate in the rural areas.
http://vipingostonemining.com/
Vipingo Stone is a quarrying company located in Kilifi, 80 km north of Mombasa, The company produces machine-cut coral stones, the most commonly used construction material in this coastal region. InReturn’s investment allowed Vipingo to set up their operations. InReturn also provides business advice to help management build a solid business. Since early 2011 Vipingo has been producing and selling stones and their production levels have been increasing steadily. Currently the company employs 30 people, who all have protective closing, insurance, a good remuneration package and a healthy meal a day. The company expects to expand its operations in 2012.
