RNS Number : 3784E
PME African Infrastructure Opps PLC
26 September 2008
 



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


26 September 2008



PME AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES PLC

("PME")(AIM: PMEA.L; PMEW.L)

PME announces an investment in the Econet Wireless group

 

PME African Infrastructure Opportunities plc, an investment company established to invest in sub-Saharan African infrastructure and infrastructure related opportunities, announces today the exchange of contracts for it to invest into a subsidiary company of the Econet Wireless group ("EWG").

  

PME's investment will allow EWG to accelerate the build-out of its regional network infrastructure and thereby achieve better economies of scale. EWG will continue to be responsible for running the network and providing all management and technical expertise going forward.

 

EWG is a Botswana based international telecommunications operator, with operations and investment interests in ZimbabweBotswanaNigeriaBurundiLesothoKenya and the United Kingdom as well as a minority interest in a US based operator with operations in New ZealandHaitiBolivia and the Dominican Republic.  EWG has a wealth of experience in building and managing large telecommunications networks internationally with a particular focus on Africa.

 

PME will invest $10 million in cash by way of equity and debt financing into a joint venture with EWG for the expansion of an EWG owned GSM network in Central Africa, which in its latest fiscal year was loss making as a result of the limited turnover associated with a Greenfield project of this nature.  

 

The investment in EWG will be PME's fifth completed transaction and takes total completed investments to $89.5 million.

 

Richard BoumaCEO of PME Infrastructure Managers Limited commented: 

"PME believes that sub-Saharan Africa's overall and continued economic development and the spectacular growth in mobile penetration rates that have been witnessed over the last years are inextricably linked.  Due to a number of considerations, some countries have lagged significantly in terms of mobile penetration.  We believe this situation will change rapidlyand will be driven by investment in improved network quality, expanded coverage and increased competition.  PME is delighted to be investing in EWG."

 

Further enquiries:

Principle Capital on behalf of                    Anne Dalen                                     +44 20 7240 3222

PME Infrastructure

Managers Limited


Smith & Williamson                                  Siobhan Sergeant                            +44 20 7131 4000

Corporate Finance Limited


Fairfax I.S. PLC                                      James King                                      +44 20 7598 5368


Bell Pottinger                                          Dan de Belder                                  +44 20 7861 3232


 

Note to Editors:
-        PME African Infrastructure Opportunities plc ('PME') is a company investing in sub-Saharan African infrastructure 
and infrastructure related industries. Its shares were admitted to AIM in July 2007 raising US$180 million.
-        PME was established to invest in sub-Saharan African infrastructure and infrastructure related industries with a view 
to generating attractive returns, principally through capital growth. It is targeting opportunities arising from years of
under investment in sub-Saharan African infrastructure where that infrastructure will be instrumental in allowing the
continent's economic development to continue to grow.
-        The Investment Manager is PME Infrastructure Managers Limited ('PMEIM'). The Investment Manager is responsible 
for identifying new investment opportunities.
-        PMEIM is a joint venture between Principle Capital Holdings S.A. (AIM: PCX.L), Unicos Partners LLP (holding company of the Helvetica Group of companies), Masazane Capital (Pty) Limited and the interests of Richard Bouma, CEO of PMEIM.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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