“Strong execution and sector expertise remain critical in delivering successful exits, even in challenging market conditions.”
Global private equity firm Apis Partners achieves milestone driven by strategic exits and value creation across financial services investments
Global private equity firm Apis Partners has announced that cumulative portfolio realisations across its funds have exceeded $1 billion, marking a significant milestone achieved during the first quarter of the year despite a challenging global exit environment.
The firm, which specialises in investments at the intersection of financial services and technology, said the achievement reflects the strength of its investment strategy and its disciplined approach to building and exiting portfolio companies.
Apis Partners has fully or partially exited 14 out of 21 investments across its first two funds, with most of these realisations completed through strategic sales to larger industry players. This level of activity highlights the firm’s ability to generate returns even during periods of market uncertainty.
The company also noted its efficient capital return strategy. Proceeds from Fund I were distributed within a 10-year period, while over $400 million has already been returned to investors in Fund II, which raised $563 million in 2019 and is still relatively early in its lifecycle.
A major contribution to the milestone came from recent exits, including Baobab and iKhokha, which were acquired by Beltone Capital and Nedbank, respectively. These transactions pushed total portfolio realisations beyond the $1 billion mark and underscored the firm’s focus on building scalable businesses that attract strategic buyers.
During its investment period, Apis played an active role in supporting portfolio companies through leadership development, operational improvements and technology upgrades. At Baobab, for example, the firm helped expand access to financial services, such as microloans, savings products, and mobile payments, for over 1.6 million customers, reinforcing its focus on financial inclusion.
Similarly, Apis contributed to the transformation of iKhokha as part of the Adumo platform, combining multiple businesses to create South Africa’s largest independent payments platform. The platform now serves more than 20,000 SME and enterprise merchants and processes over ZAR 20 billion in annual payment volumes, reflecting significant scale and impact.
Additional exits that contributed to the milestone include the sale of DPO Group, Star Health, Efficient Group (EFG) and a partial exit from Coda, demonstrating the breadth of the firm’s portfolio and its ability to execute successful exits across different markets and sectors.
Matteo Stefanel said: “Surpassing $1 billion in realisations in today’s market reflects the strength of our investment approach, combining sector expertise with early engagement and disciplined exit strategies.”
Co-founder and Managing Partner Udayan Goyal highlighted that the firm’s success is built on deep sector expertise and a partnership-driven model that focuses on creating value from the early stages of investment.
Udayan Goyal said: “Our ability to drive value creation and execute exits effectively is rooted in strong partnerships and a focused sector strategy, enabling us to deliver consistent outcomes for investors.”
Apis Partners manages or advises on approximately $2.3 billion in assets under management (AUM) and operates with a team of more than 40 professionals across global hubs. The firm focuses on investing in profitable, scalable businesses that have the potential to transform financial services in emerging markets.
A distinguishing feature of Apis’ strategy is its emphasis on impact-driven investing, particularly in financial inclusion and access to essential services. Many of its portfolio companies are focused on serving underserved populations and small businesses, contributing to broader economic development.
Industry observers note that achieving such a milestone during a period of reduced deal activity and exit challenges highlights the importance of sector specialisation, operational involvement and long-term planning in private equity.
As global markets continue to evolve, Apis Partners is expected to maintain its focus on identifying high-growth opportunities in financial infrastructure and technology, while leveraging its experience to drive value across its investment portfolio.
With more exits anticipated in the coming years, the firm remains positioned to build on its momentum, delivering returns to investors while continuing to support innovation and financial inclusion across global markets.
