1. 22 / www.bcmscorporate.com
As BCMS’operation in South Africa, Xigo
has successfully introduced BCMS’unique
methodology into Southern Africa, challenging
and changing conventional ways of selling
privately owned businesses. Since inception
four years ago, Xigo has expanded operations
to conclude transactions with clients in many
Southern African countries, including South
Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania as
well as interest from Uganda & Namibia. With
foreign interest in emerging markets on the
increase, Xigo continually experiences 35-40%
of NDAs returned coming from international
companies requesting more information about
Xigo’s activities and transactions in sub-Saharan
Africa. Further to this, Xigo receives over five
enquiries a week from companies wanting to
increase their African footprint. Specifically, there
is interest for acquisitions in telecoms, mining,
finance and insurance companies. “Africa is an
exciting investment destination at present”says
Xigo’s Managing Director Richard Pople.“There is
considerable interest in the large consumer market
that the continent represents, and investors are
looking for a way to mine it.”
To capitalise on these increasing numbers of strategic
acquirers and Private Equity investors, Xigo has
created a new division – Xigo Africa. The intention of
Xigo Africa is to expand the physical presence of Xigo
into sub-Saharan Africa – where healthy returns have
been forecast over the next three years – starting
with the French speaking countries in theWest
African region.
To lead the new division is King Kabobole, a South
African national with 20 years of practical and
academic understanding of corporate finance.
Fluent in French, English and Swahili, Kabobole
read a BComm (Applied Economics) and his
Master’s degree in Financial Management at the
University of Lubumbashi, in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC). Xigo Africa’s business
development will be strengthened by the mindset
and academic qualifications of this believer in
lifelong learning; subsequent qualifications include
an Advanced Diploma in Projects and Programme
Management, Project Management Systems,
certificates in Corporate Finance, Power Speaking,
Export Management, and his current training for
USA certification as a business appraiser at NACVA,
the National Association of Certified Valuators and
Analysts.
Africa is an
exciting
investment
destination and
investors are
looking for ways
to capitalise
on this
BCMS AND XIGO OPEN NEW OPERATION
in sub-Saharan Africa
By Alison Budge
Taking advantage of growth trends in emerging markets and
international interest in investing in sub-Saharan Africa, Xigo is spearheading
expansion into French-speaking African countries
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2. Kabobole says“20 years’diverse experience
working on various projects and in a range of
business fields created and developed my style
of systematic and logical thinking. I have come
to rely on this experience to be innovative in
finding solutions, yet always continue to complete
the initiated project.”He continues,“As a senior
manager, I recognise leadership in how individuals
respond to challenges; I actively encourage
leadership by positive management. Imaginative
and successful results are therefore inevitable.”
This training, coupled with experience in working
with international companies, has positioned
Kabobole well to continue Xigo’s drive for growth
in West Africa. This growth typically comes
from strategic decisions to increase investment
portfolios through cross-border deals and capital
investment for operational expansion into new
geographical areas. Kabobole is no stranger
to cross-border transactions, and past project
experience in Africa includes:
• Project planning and execution for the
renovation of the Zambian government
properties in the DRC
• Econometrics research and analysis of the
South Africa Reserve Bank economic data,
in order to obtain a licence for a Congolese-
based company to be able to conduct a
money remittance business between South
Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Planning and execution of the dismantling of a
Moroccan fertiliser plant for transportation to
the DRC, for the account of the Belgium-based
company
• Financial planning, control and risk
management for the civil works at three
different electrical sub-stations, executed
under the sponsorship of the Germany-based
ABB group
Leading Xigo’s
expansion into
Africa is King
Kabobole (left),
with support
from Xigo’s
Managing
Director Richard
Pople (right)
Continual
academic
training coupled
with extensive
practical
experience in
cross-border
projects have
positioned
Kabobole well to
continue Xigo’s
drive for growth
in West Africa
In 2008, as the Vice President of the South Africa
Katanga Business Forum – the association of all
South African companies working in the Katanga
Province in DRC – Kabobole welcomed in the DRC
a delegation of South Africa’s GEDA (Gauteng
Economic Development Agency) accompanied
by the provincial Premier in order to conduct
business seminars with the Congolese Chamber of
Commerce and visit established mines in the area.
At the same time, King was improving financial
negotiations between South African financial
institutions and the financial ministry of the DRC
government. In addition, he provided training
in collaboration of the South African General
Consulate to members of the“Federation des
entrepreneurs du Congo”(chamber of commerce)
under the sponsorship of the local provincial
government.
Kabobole has already completed six months of
orientation with Xigo and BCMS, and interaction
with potential clients has recently commenced.
Seminars in West African countries are planned
for Q1 in 2015, and Xigo is looking forward to
interesting projects and developing solutions for
uniquely African challenges.
Business valuation, project financing and business
research are the key skills that Kabobole will need
for successful transactions, while deep respect,
a love of people and understanding of different
countries, languages and cultures are the softer
skills needed for effective communication and
building the trust that underpins all of Xigo
and BCMS’transactions.“That, and a good golf
handicap of course,”laughs Kabobole, which, like
everything else in his life, he pursues with passion
and determination.
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