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AKOKO NAN
"the leg of a hen"
symbol of nurturing and discipline

Overview
ACA was formed in 1997 by six founding partners - Dick Kramer, Okey Enelamah, Tom Barry, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and Pascal Dozie. Subsequently, Rotimi Oyekanmi and Arnold Ekpe were admitted into the partnership bringing the number of partners to eight. Each partner brings a unique and complementary set of strengths and background.

Why Nigeria and Africa ?

We expect private investors to help open a window of opportunity in Africa.Given this region's historical record of underdevelopment, political instability and resource mismanagement, we cannot expect breakthrough and rapid progress. We expect demanding and experimental development ahead and as the investment environment gradually but inevitably, becomes conducive for progress, professional investors and managers will be willing to take prudent risks.

Several powerful and sustainable forces are driving this transition including a movement towards properly functioning democratic institutions; increased adoption of economic policies conducive to market forces and competition; externally imposed requirements necessary to attract funds from both public and private sources; and internal pressures from citizenry no longer willing to accept a declining quality of life.

Given the distance African nations have to travel to close the gap with an improving global economy and their relatively weak institutions, the road ahead can be expected to be long, but the gaps make the opportunities enormous. We believe that well-managed businesses in high potential niches can be positioned to achieve expectional results. The keys to successful investment will be to manage risk properly; to craft strategies specifically for this market; and to transfer in the best global practices through proper timing, practical adaptation and innovative skill. The key ingredient is superior management.

Why African Capital Alliance ?

Our Shared Values
We are a learning organization - our people never stop learning; we are builders - our focus is long-term value creation; We are deeply committed to excellence, professionalism and personal integrity; we are action-oriented and proactive - we are change agents; we are a creative team that builds on trusting relationships developed through proven performance.

Our Core Competencies
Our core competencies are built around proven global best practices for private equity investing such as: sourcing and creating attractive investment opportunities; strong research capability; advising in suitable entry and operating strategies for our local market; specialized knowledge and specific competence in selected industries; creative transaction structuring and capital raising capability; and strategy development and implementation capability.

Investment Philosophy
We partner with exceptional management teams, who participate significantly in the value they help create to build the long-term value of businesses well positioned in high potential industries or market niches.

Value-Added Approach
ACA's role is to add value to already proven management teams. Our principals and professional staff have the capability and experience to support management teams directly in strategy development, market research, finance, accounting, management recruiting and key relationships with public and private sector leaders.

Creative Deal-Making
We use in-depth understanding of finance; optimal sharing of risks and rewards; and sources of value creation to develop innovative and practical
capital structures. By using multi-tiered debt and equity structures, and by
identifying the right capital partners, ACA ensures that investee businesses have the right capital structures to support growth and maximize value.

Financial Capability
We use two managed private equity funds, Capital Alliance Private Equity (CAPE) and SME Partnership to make equity and equity- related investments. In addition, CAPE and SME Partnership investors include many of the leading financial institutions active in Nigeria and are willing to provide additional equity and debt financing to ACA-backed businesses.

Strategic Focus
Our partners and staff are experienced in providing extensive strategic and
operating support to investee businesses. These capabilities enable investee
businesses to develop and execute strategies that create competitive advantage and superior returns. Additionally, our close working relationships with a number of alliance partners, can selectively supplement ACA's core resources.

Strong Relationships
Our partners and staff have built strong relationships of trust with many key players in Nigeria/West Africa over many years. ACA's partners' local expertise combined with international experience and relationships position ACA as a leader in global best practices in Nigeria.

Our Disciplined Work Approach
We have developed methodologies that guide all our investment and advisory activities. Our methodologies are continually evaluated and improved to ensure continuing relevance and responsiveness to varying investment and advisory situations.
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