The Abraaj Group, a leading investor in global growth
markets, has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Mouka Limited.
Mouka Foam is Nigeria’s a leading mattress manufacturer. The private equity
company acquired its stake from previous majority shareholders, Actis and the
founding family, although the latter still retains a minority stake in Mouka.
Actis, the pan-emerging markets investor, invested in 2007
and since then it has expanded the company and its operations across Nigeria;
built best-in-class manufacturing facilities; expanded production and distribution; brought in a first-rate board
and helped Mouka evolve from a well-respected, family-owned business into a
sustainable, successful corporation.
Established in Kano in 1959 as Moukarim
Metalwood Factory Limited, today, Mouka is a household brand name in
Nigeria and a leading manufacturer in the Nigerian foam and bedding space,
producing a wide range of mattresses and bedding products.
Speaking on the exit, John Opubor, Director in Actis’s
Nigerian office, said: “Favourable demographics are driving growth and a
positive consumer environment in Nigeria — the country boasts a large and
fast-growing population, high GDP per capita growth, rising urbanization
levels, and an expanding middle class. We saw an opportunity to help Mouka capitalize
on this trend and have been pleased with the growth we’ve been able to help the
company achieve.”
Abraaj and the Moukarim family will focus on enhancing
Mouka’s product offering, customer service, as well as its sales and
distribution strategy by increasing its market penetration across the region.
Abraaj, which invests with a rigorous approach to sustainability, plans to
further strengthen the corporate governance structures already in place within
the Company, and optimize the health and safety standards at Mouka’s production
facilities, including key areas pertaining to fire safety and chemical storage,
amongst others.
Abraaj has over a decade of investing experience, and its
portfolio in Nigeria includes Fan Milk Nigeria, AOS Orwell, C&I Leasing,
Custodian & Allied Insurance, Computer Warehouse Group, The Bridge Clinic
& PathCare, and Lily Hospitals.
Non-executive Director of Mouka, Hasib Moukarim, said: “The
Moukarim family recognized the Abraaj team’s deep local experience and the
Group’s successful track record of developing businesses in growth markets
globally. We are confident that Abraaj is the ideal investor to carry Mouka
into its next phase of growth and look forward to our partnership.”
KPMG acted as financial and tax advisor, while Freshfields
Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Olaniwun Ajayi acted as legal advisors to The Abraaj
Group on the transaction.
Credit: financialnigeria.com
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