Catalyst Principal Partners

Catalyst Principal Partners is a private equity firm established in 2009 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. The firm focuses on investments in medium-sized companies across various sectors, including consumer goods, healthcare, retail, financial services, manufacturing, and technology. Catalyst primarily targets companies in North and Eastern Africa, with particular attention to markets such as Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco. The firm typically invests between $5 million and $20 million per transaction, pursuing both majority and minority stakes. Catalyst seeks to enhance the value of its investments by providing strategic and operational support, leveraging its extensive network of co-investors and industry experts. The investment horizon ranges from four to six years, with exit strategies that involve trade sales, financial buyers, and capital markets. Catalyst Principal Partners adheres to high standards of integrity, governance, and social responsibility in its operations.

Javin K Hutchinson

Investment Manager

Wairimu Karungu

Associate

Paul Kavuma

CEO

Vaishal Shah

Managing Director

Fulton Shiundu

Investment Manager

Davinder Sikand

Executive Director

Rajal Upadhyaya

Founding Partner and Managing Director

Biniam Yohannes

Managing Director

13 past transactions

Mammoth Foam Africa

Acquisition in 2019
Mammoth Foam Africa formed by the merging of the three mattress manufacturers Euroflex Limited, Vitafoam Limited, and Superfoam Limited into a consolidated company.

Britania Foods

Acquisition in 2017
Jambo Biscuits (K) Ltd. (founded 1987) is situated on Kampala Road in the Industrial Area of Nairobi. Its key activity is manufacture of biscuits, now successfully diversified into snack food and confectionery products. Its ultra-modern manufacturing facility comprises high-tech production and packaging lines employing over 300 workers. Its brand name BRITANIA stands fo rthe mark of quality that has become synonymous with biscuits in Kenya and in many parts of the COMESA Region to which it exports.

Kensta Group

Private Equity Round in 2017
Kensta Group is a family-owned print and packaging company. It manages a diverse set of companies namely Transpaper and Express Automation in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda; and Vivid Printing Equipment, Fusion Inks, Zenith Rubber Rollers and Phiramid in Zambia.

Zenufa Laboratories

Acquisition in 2016
Zenufa Laboratories (T) Ltd. is a pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, established in 2005. The company produces a variety of pharmaceutical products, including capsules, suspensions, dry syrups, syrups, and tablets. It operates as a subsidiary of Zenufa Laboratories S.P.R.L. Zenufa Laboratories is part of the larger Zenufa Group of Companies, which originated as a trading company in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976. Over the years, the group has expanded into a medium-sized conglomerate with business interests across Africa, India, and Canada, primarily focusing on pharmaceuticals as well as foods and beverages. The group also has ventures in polymer packaging, personal care, international trade, and construction, aiming to meet the growing market demands in the African region.

Orbit Chemical

Private Equity Round in 2016
Orbit Chemical Industries Ltd., established in 1972 and based in Nairobi, Kenya, specializes in the manufacture of commercial cleaning chemicals, hygiene solutions, and agrochemicals for both local and international markets. The company produces a diverse array of products, including detergent powders and liquids, toilet soaps, scouring powders, disinfectants, and various industrial chemicals such as sulphonic acids and plant growth regulators. Additionally, Orbit Chemical is involved in manufacturing plastic packaging products, catering to industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and food services. The company has transitioned from chemical trading to a vertically integrated model, allowing it to provide high-quality finished products along with packaging and labeling services. This evolution supports its commitment to serving both regional and global clients in fast-moving consumer goods and other sectors.

Jamii Bora Bank

Private Equity Round in 2014
Jamii Bora Bank (JBB) is a household brand with a rich heritage in Kenya associated with enabling Kenyans achieve their full potential. With its roots anchored in the most ordinary neighborhoods and homes in Kenya, helping entrepreneurs grow Micro Businesses into Medium Enterprises, JBB has emerged as a premier bank dedicated to entrepreneurship and savings, with a focus on innovation and relationship banking. JBB has grown its total capital consistently over the last 5 years to stand at an impressive Kshs. 4.4 billion placing it among the top 20 highest capitalized Banks in a country with 43 banks and other multiple financial services companies. We have 26 branches and continue to open branches across the country to increase our foot print and bring our services closer to our customers. We recognize that the future is being driven by technology and we have deployed state of the art mobile and internet banking, agency banking, ATMs and card services that enable our clients transact whenever and wherever they want and from any type of device. We will continue to invest in technology as a key differentiator.

Goodlife Pharmacy

Private Equity Round in 2014
GoodLife Pharmacy is a retail pharmacy chain headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, serving over 600,000 customers across 19 locations in East Africa. The company specializes in providing a wide range of health and personal care products, including pharmaceuticals and wellness items. In addition to its retail offerings, GoodLife Pharmacy also delivers essential health services such as blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, body mass index assessments, malaria testing, family nutrition guidance, doctor consultations, and laboratory services. This comprehensive approach enables patients to access affordable and convenient healthcare solutions.

EFFCO Solutions Group

Acquisition in 2014
EFFCO SOLUTIONS TANZANIA LIMITED provides heavy haulage, logistics, and civil engineering works in the mining and road construction sectors. The company also supplies a range of equipment, including excavators, trucks, graders, dozers, rollers, cranes, and forklifts for short and long term hire purposes. It serves commercial, industrial, and private clients in Tanzania. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania with additional offices in Gaborone, Botswana; Bryanston, South Africa; and Windhoek, Namibia.

Jamii Bora Bank

Private Equity Round in 2013
Jamii Bora Bank (JBB) is a household brand with a rich heritage in Kenya associated with enabling Kenyans achieve their full potential. With its roots anchored in the most ordinary neighborhoods and homes in Kenya, helping entrepreneurs grow Micro Businesses into Medium Enterprises, JBB has emerged as a premier bank dedicated to entrepreneurship and savings, with a focus on innovation and relationship banking. JBB has grown its total capital consistently over the last 5 years to stand at an impressive Kshs. 4.4 billion placing it among the top 20 highest capitalized Banks in a country with 43 banks and other multiple financial services companies. We have 26 branches and continue to open branches across the country to increase our foot print and bring our services closer to our customers. We recognize that the future is being driven by technology and we have deployed state of the art mobile and internet banking, agency banking, ATMs and card services that enable our clients transact whenever and wherever they want and from any type of device. We will continue to invest in technology as a key differentiator.

Yes Brands

Private Equity Round in 2013
Yes Brands is an Ethiopian beverages business with the leading bottled water brand in the country. Yes is a bottled natural mineral water recognised for its taste, purity and quality in Ethiopia and sourced from springs at Wechecha Mountain, located in the Oromia Region.

Yes Brands Foods and Beverages Plc

Private Equity Round in 2013
Yes Brands Food & Beverages PLC manufactures bottled mineral water.

Chai Bora

Acquisition in 2013
Chai Bora Limited is a Tanzanian company specializing in the manufacturing, blending, packaging, and marketing of tea and coffee. Established in 1994 and incorporated as an independent entity in 2006, Chai Bora offers a variety of products, including herbal teas such as hibiscus, lemon symphony, chamomile, peppermint, green, and highlands teas, as well as sauces like tomato, chili, and garlic chili, alongside tomato ketchup. The company operates a factory in Mafinga, a region known for its tea production, and has achieved market leadership through its commitment to quality, evidenced by its ISO 22000:2005 certification. Additionally, its African Infusions herbal products hold ECOCERT organic certification. Chai Bora has recently been acquired by Catalyst Principal Partners, with aspirations to expand its presence in Tanzania and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region while fostering employment opportunities. The company's products are available for purchase online, contributing to its growing popularity both locally and regionally.

ChemiCotex

Private Equity Round in 2011
CHEMICOTEX is one of East Africa’s leading fast moving consumer goods companies .The company‘s largest and best know brand is Whitedent toothpaste which is used by more than 20 million Tanzanians everyday ! Whitedent is the clear market leader in Tanzania and is also available to consumers in Rwanda, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi and South Africa. In skin care Bannisters Glycerine is used everyday by families to protect and care for their skin. Other leading brands in the skin care portfolio include Sweetheart, U&Me and Siri creams while Bodyline and Zawaddi Zanzibar are the key petroleum Jelly and Pomade lines. ChemiCotex also has a range of hair care brands marketed under the Afro-Gel and Soft Touch brands. The company operates a food division in Tanzania selling and marketing - Chemi-Cola squashes which have been used by Tanzanian families for decades and the Simba Chef range of ingredients that consists of bi-carbonate, baking soda, vinegar, jams and pickles. Vits is our glucose energy brand available broadly in retail outlets and pharmacies. The company also operates a stand alone business to business division specializing in the provision of speciality plastics and metals. (wwww.ccilB2B.com) The company was initially founded in the late 1970s but expanded rapidly from 2000 with the merger of Chemipack and Cotex Industries to create ChemiCotex and establish a modern facility in Mbezi in Dar es Salaam. The plant has seen significant investments in the latest filling and mixing technologies to ensure our brands offer outstanding quality . The regional headquarters remain on the same site. In 2003 the company invested heavily in building its own distribution network in Tanzania and today you can see the companies vehicles taking our brands from our 12 branches and distribution centers to almost 10,000 customers every week. Internationally ChemiCotex started exports in 2009 and now has a full subsidiary in Rwanda and partner distributors who manage our brands in Kenya (2009), South Africa (2010) , Zambia (2011) and most recently Angola. 2011 saw a major investment in the company with HSBC (www.hsbc.com) Satya Capital (www.satyacapital.com) Catalyst Principal (www.catalystprincipal.com) becoming shareholders in the company with the Mac Group the original owners. This is providing additional expertise that will ensure we take Chemicotex achieve its goal of , becoming a pan African Consumer goods company providing consistently high quality, trusted by consumers and available whereever and whenever they are needed.