As part of its first close, the Sahel Capital Agribusiness Fund II (SCAF II) has completed its debut investment, marking an important step in the rollout of the fund’s investment strategy. SCAF II has acquired a significant minority stake in Delifrost Caterers, a leading Nigerian cold‑chain distribution company that focuses on the delivery of chilled and packaged food products. This investment not only signals the fund’s active deployment phase but also reflects its broader objective of strengthening and modernizing agribusiness value chains across West Africa.
SCAF II follows the Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN) and is structured as a blended finance vehicle, incorporating a first-loss tranche to help de‑risk investments and crowd in commercial capital. The fund is also designed with dual domiciliation in Mauritius and Nigeria, supporting seamless regional deployment.
The vehicle will invest growth equity across the agribusiness value chain in West Africa, with priority markets including Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. Its investment strategy targets businesses that:
- Strengthen regional food security
- Enhance climate resilience
- Support import substitution
- Improve overall value-chain efficiency
Commenting on the new partnership, Nadim Beydoun, Managing Director of Delifrost, expressed strong optimism about the collaboration:
We are thrilled to welcome Sahel Capital as a strategic partner. Their impressive track record in agribusiness and their long‑term, impact-driven philosophy closely align with Delifrost’s mission and growth aspirations. This investment marks a transformational milestone for our company, providing the necessary support to bolster our governance structure, enhance institutional capabilities, and propel Delifrost into its next phase of expansion.
Sahel Capital brings deep sector expertise and a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s food supply chain. Their involvement strengthens our commitment to scaling cold‑chain infrastructure in a more efficient, resilient, and environmentally sustainable manner—particularly through the deployment of renewable energy technologies and the development of reliable, high‑quality distribution systems.
Together, we see immense potential to unlock new growth pathways, improve supply chain reliability, and deliver measurable social and economic benefits to communities across Nigeria.
