Enko Capital

Enko Capital is an asset management firm established in 2008 with a focus on African markets. It was co-founded by brothers Alain and Cyrille Nkontchou. Before Enko, Cyrille founded LiquidAfrica Holdings, a pan-African investment bank, and headed Sub-Saharan research at Merrill Lynch & Co. Alain has over 30 years of experience in financial markets, having held senior trading roles at Credit-Suisse and JP Morgan. The firm manages over $1 billion in assets through strategies including public debt, private debt, and private equity.

Enko Capital's business model is centered on offering a range of investment products to institutions and high-net-worth individuals who want to invest in African securities. The firm operates several funds, each with a distinct focus. The Enko Africa Debt Fund, launched in 2016, invests in sovereign and corporate debt, in both hard and local currencies, across Africa (excluding South Africa). The Africa Private Equity strategy targets mid-market growth companies across various sectors, taking minority stakes with a typical holding period of four to five years and an exit strategy geared towards an IPO or strategic sale. The firm's private debt strategy provides mezzanine and senior debt financing to mid-market SMEs, with a focus on SDG-aligned and women-led businesses.

The company serves clients such as pension funds, development agencies, and other institutional investors. Revenue is generated through management fees on its assets under management. Enko Capital has expanded its presence across the continent with offices in London, Johannesburg, Abidjan, Port Louis, and Kigali, among others. In 2025, an Enko-led consortium agreed to acquire Société Générale's subsidiary in Mauritania, expanding its platform from asset management into banking. The firm has also launched the Enko Impact Credit Fund (EICF), which aims to raise $150 million to provide growth capital to SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: African asset management, private equity, public debt, private debt, emerging markets, fixed income, sovereign debt, corporate debt, mezzanine finance, growth capital, impact investing, pre-IPO, Sub-Saharan Africa, investment banking, capital raising, institutional investors, SME financing, financial services, hedge funds, West Africa