CONTACT US

  eaif@ninetyone.com

  

Fund Manager and team

Ninety One is a large third party investor in private and public credit, equities and sovereign debt across Emerging Markets. The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund is managed by and fully integrated into Ninety One’s African private credit investment platform. Ninety One manages the entire process on behalf of the EAIF. It markets the Fund, seeks projects, evaluates loan applications, including due diligence, manages transaction administration and monitors the loan portfolio.

Since May 2016, when it was awarded the management mandate, Ninety One and its EAIF team have doubled the active loan portfolio and committed c. USD 1.5bn in loans to well over 55 infrastructure transactions. The team also leads EAIF’s fundraising efforts, raising in excess of US$ 650 million in debt facilities from Allianz Global Investors, African Development bank, Standard Bank, Standard Chartered, FMO and KFW.

Ninety One is an independent, active global asset manager listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Established in South Africa in 1991, as Investec Asset Management, the firm was a pioneer in emerging markets in Africa. In 2020, almost three decades of organic growth later, the firm de-merged from Investec Group and became Ninety One. Today, Ninety One offers distinctive, active strategies across equities, fixed income, multi-asset and alternative investments to institutions, advisors and individual investors around the world.

Find out more at www.ninetyone.com.

The team

Martijn Proos

Co-Head EM Alternative Credit & Managing Director for EAIF

Martijn has over 15 years of infrastructure finance experience gained in various advisory, project, corporate and structured finance roles in both emerging and developed markets. He has been working with EAIF since 2008. Prior to Ninety One, he worked at FMO’s Africa Infrastructure department, T-Mobile and Tebodin Consultants & Engineers. Martijn holds an MSc in Business Administration from Nyenrode Business University, The Netherlands.

Roland Janssens

Managing Director

Roland has over 30 years of banking experience, gained in project and structured finance as well as M&A, corporate finance, private equity and venture capital transactions in both emerging and OECD countries. Prior to when he started to represent EAIF in August 2007, Roland worked at Ermgassen & Co (Monitor Group), EBRD, Citigroup and Merrill Lynch. Earlier in his career he worked in industry for Joseph E. Seagram & Sons.

Alastair Herbertson

Managing Director

Alastair has 12 years of experience in infrastructure businesses with 10 years in structuring, arranging and investing in project finance and infrastructure assets. Prior to working with EAIF, Alastair worked on the Investec Credit Opportunities strategy within the South African Credit team from 2014. Previously Alastair spent six years working at Investec Bank in Johannesburg and three years with Amey Ventures as a commercial manager and bid manager. Alastair graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and completed an MBA at Imperial College in London in 2004.

Olivia Carballo

Managing Director

Olivia has over 12 years of infrastructure finance experience gained in project, corporate and structured finance roles in both developed and emerging markets. She has worked with the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund since 2008 providing debt and mezzanine financing. Prior to this she worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland in the Project and Export Finance business and at Santander Bank in the credit department. Olivia has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and an MSc from the London School of Economic and Political Science.

Esther Chan

Director

Esther has started working in debt financing in Emerging Markets in 2004, and has extensive experience as a portfolio manager and credit analyst investing in companies across Asia, South America, Emerging Europe and Africa. She joined EAIF in Cape Town in 2023, after working in Ashmore Asset Management and Aberdeen Asset Management (now called ABRN) in London and Singapore.

Esther was named in Financial News’ “Rising Stars of Asset Management” (2010) and “40 under 40 Asset Management” (2011, 2013), and in the Asset Magazine’s “Most Astute Investors in Asia G3 denominated bonds” (2012, 2013). Esther graduated with a Law degree from University College London and is also a CFA® Charterholder.

Sumit Kanodia

Director

Sumit has worked with EAIF since April 2011 and transitioned with the team to Ninety One when the contract transferred in May 2016. Prior to that, Sumit has gained considerable experience in transaction modelling and conducting financial due diligence across a variety of sectors working at Pitcher Partners Consulting in Australia. Sumit is a CFA ® charterholder and holds a BCom/BEc from the University of Monash in Australia, with majors in finance, econometrics and accounting.

Paromita Chatterjee

Director

Paromita has 8 years of infrastructure finance experience gained in project, corporate and structured finance as well as M&A in primarily developing and emerging economies. She has worked with the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund since late 2009. Prior to this, Paromita worked for DVB Bank in their Global Advisory & M&A business in London, for Ernst & Young (India) in Transaction Advisory Services as well as in the Structured Finance department of SBI Capital Markets, India. She is an Electrical Engineer and holds an MBA with majors in finance and operations.

Folatomi Fayemi

Investment Specialist

Folatomi joined Ninety One in 2019 and is an Investment Specialist within the Ninety One EAIF team. Folatomi has lived in 10 countries and graduated from ESSEC Business School with a Bachelor in Business Administration. In addition to the above, Folatomi is bilingual and has contributed to thought leadership, namely through Virtuel Vertueux Virtuose book on the effects of COVID 19 on cultural leadership and is an advisor to a Black-led pharma-tech startup.

Mariana Graca

Investment Specialist - Sustainability and Impact

Mariana is an Investment Specialist – Sustainability and Impact in the EAIF team at Ninety One. She is responsible for supporting, building and evolving capabilities, systems, expertise and practices in relation to measuring and monitoring development impact. Through her work she ensures Ninety One’s EAIF and PIDG objectives to contribute to poverty reduction, job creation, sustainable infrastructure businesses and sectors, long-lasting economic multiplier effects, women economic empowerment and climate change mitigation are effectively achieved and appropriately measured. Prior to joining the firm, Mariana was founder and principal consultant at MG Advisory Ltd. In this role Mariana provided consultancy services to impact investors, DFIs, philanthropic family offices and start-ups operating in Africa with a focus on agriculture, agriculture technology and impact investing. Before this she spent 7 years as an investment manager at AgDevCo, an impact fund investing solely in agriculture in Africa. She helped to build the company into a leading pan-African agri-investor with USD 250m AUM. Mariana led a number of investments across multiple value chains and in multiple jurisdictions including Ghana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Kenya.

Mariana graduated with a Master of Science degree (MSc) in International Relations from the London School of Economics and has gained advanced qualifications in investment appraisal and corporate finance from the London School of Business and Finance and has a CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing.

Neil Winspear

Investment Specialist – ESG

Neil is an ESG Specialist within Ninety One’s Fixed Income team. He is responsible for the ESG due diligence and portfolio management of the private credit investments in the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund. He supports the oversight of Ninety One’s sustainability approach, with a focus on the impact and sustainable development frameworks, which include reporting requirements and expectations. Prior to joining the firm, Neil was an ESG officer at The Abraaj Group, responsible for portfolio companies in sub-Saharan Africa and implementing ESG policies across the Group. He joined The Abraaj Group from IQ Business Group, where his role as principle included building various models for users to rate clients and produce pricing rates.

Neil has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wits University, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management and a Master of Business Administration from Wits Business School.

Tidiane Doucoure

Director

Tidiane Doucoure joined Ninety One in 2021 as an Investment Specialist in the SA and Africa Fixed Income team to focus on EAIF infrastructure financings and strengthen the team’s origination and execution capabilities in that field. Tidiane has +10 years of experience in the infrastructure sector and combines both industry and investment management skills. Prior to joining Ninety One, Tidiane worked at CDC Group Plc, ABN Amro PE Infra Fund (Eiser), Atkins SNC-Lavalin Group and EDF. Tidiane is a dual citizen of France and U.K. and holds an MSc. in Infrastructure Investment and Finance from University College London (U.K.) and an advanced master’s in Civil & Structural Engineering from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees (Paris, France).

Thanzi Ramukosi

Investment Specialist

Thanzi is a credit analyst in Ninety One’s SA & Africa Credit team. His focus is on project finance and infrastructure debt, with key responsibilities including building and maintaining financial models, credit applications and reviews, assisting in structuring and reviewing documents and preparation of presentations on research.

Prior to joining the firm, he was credit analyst at Nedbank Limited’s Corporate and Investment Banking Division.

Thanzi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering (with Honours) from the University of Cape Town.

Ed Brand

Head of Transaction Management

Ed is Head of Transaction Management within Ninety One’s operations team. He manages the team responsible for monitoring, administration and reporting on the private market portfolios, covering infrastructure, private equity, credit and real estate.

Prior to joining the firm, he held various managerial roles during his 11 year tenure at Man Group, the most recent as chief operating officer for product development, legal and regulatory. Before that, he was an associate corporate lawyer at Bowman Gilfillan.

Ed holds a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Cambridge as well as a Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Organisational Psychology and Bachelor of Arts degree in Law & Psychology from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Anthony Bosco

Transaction Manager

Anthony is a transaction manager within Ninety One’s Transaction Management team, which is part of the broader Operations team. He has worked on the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) since March 2008 and transitioned with the team to Ninety One when the contract transferred in May 2016. He is responsible for monitoring, administration, KYC and reporting on the private market portfolios, covering infrastructure, private equity and credit.

Prior to joining the firm, Anthony was the senior operations, finance and portfolio manager for EAIF and GuarantCo with Frontier Markets Fund Managers and in early 2007 he had worked in Energy Operations with Standard Bank Plc.

Anthony holds a postgraduate degree in Credit Analysis from Middlesex University London and Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from the University of Westminster.

Tania de Beer

Transaction Manager

Tania is a transaction manager within Ninety One’s Transaction Management team, which is part of the broader Operations team. She is responsible for the management of the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, looking after all relevant obligations and reporting requirements.

Prior to joining the firm, Tania was an operational risk manager at Investec Specialist Bank, responsible for operational risk and part of the leadership team. Prior to that she was a private banker and team leader, servicing clients’ banking and finance needs, whilst heading up teams of bankers. Tania was at Investec Specialist Bank for 22 years.

Razia Parker

Transaction Manager

Razia is a Transaction Manager within Ninety One’s Transaction Management team, which is part of the broader Operations team. She is responsible for ongoing monitoring, administration, reporting and  KYC oversight for the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund.

Prior to joining the firm in 2016, Razia practiced as a legal associate at Shepstone & Wylie within their International Trade, Transport, Energy Law and Litigation cluster.

Razia holds a Bachelor Social Science degree majoring in Psychology and Law as well as a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Cape Town.

Bilal Osman Latib

Investment Specialist – Legal

Bilal is a legal counsel in Ninety One’s Legal team. He provides legal assistance for privately negotiated infrastructure transactions undertaken by Ninety One on behalf of the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund.

Prior to joining the firm he practiced as an associate in the Banking, Projects & Regulatory Practice at Webber Wentzel (in alliance with Linklaters LLP) where he worked on privately negotiated projects in Sub Saharan Africa and projects under the South Africa Government Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Programme.

Bilal holds a Bachelor of Law (summa cum laude) degree.

Naasir Roomanay

Investment Specialist – ESG

Naasir is an Investment Specialist within the Emerging Market Alternative Credit team at Ninety One. Naasir is responsible for ESG integration across alternative credit strategies, and ESG due diligence on project finance transactions. Prior to this he was involved in the establishment of the ESG capability and supported investment teams with integration of ESG considerations, led the development of the firm-wide ESG risk monitoring capability, and led integration of climate data across the business.

Prior to joining the firm, Naasir spent two years at thinkstep (formerly PE International) as a Life Cycle Engineer and Consultant covering cross sector environmental and sustainability analysis, with a focus on product life cycle modelling and corporate sustainability reporting. He began his career as a research analyst in chemicals and materials at Frost & Sullivan.

Naasir holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, and passed Level II of the CFA Program.

Wendy Mlotshwa

Investment Specialist – ESG

Wendy is an ESG Analyst within the ESG team at Ninety One. She is primarily responsible for providing ESG support to the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF).

Prior to joining the firm, Wendy worked as a professionally registered Senior Environmental Assessment Practitioner, working on small-scale to transboundary infrastructure projects in Africa. Her role involved undertaking environmental and social impact assessments, water-use license applications, sustainability reporting, environmental auditing/ monitoring and project procurement & management.

Wendy holds an MSc degree in Ecological Science (Water Quality) and a BSc Honours in Environmental Science from the University of KwaZulu Natal.

Puleng Pitso

Investment Specialist

Puleng joined in January 2022, as an Investment Specialist at Ninety One, focusing on the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund. Prior to joining, Puleng spent 3 years as an associate transactor at The Standard Bank of South Africa (Standard Bank) in the Corporate Investment Banking division, where she gained considerable Sub-Saharan Africa transaction experience in Power & Infrastructure and Oil & Gas. Before this she spent 7 years at KPMG (Johannesburg) where she completed her articles and was a manager in the Infrastructure and Financing Deal Advisory division where she provided financial, strategic and commercial advisory services to clients entering Power & Infrastructure transactions across Africa.

Puleng is a qualified Chartered Accountant South Africa (CA(SA)) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting (in Accounting and Economics) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA) both from the University of Cape Town.

Nazmeera Moola

Chief Sustainability Officer at Ninety One

Nazmeera is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Ninety One. In this role, she oversees the firm-wide initiatives, including the commercial imperatives, investment integration, and the inhabit and advocacy work. Prior to this she was Head of SA Investments, where she worked across  public and private strategies in Africa.  Before that she was co-Head of SA & Africa Fixed Income.  Nazmeera has covered the macro-economy in South Africa and other emerging markets since 2000. She is passionate about making financial markets work to support development. Her remit has included the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, which provides debt financing for infrastructure projects across Africa.

She Joined the firm in 2013 from Macquarie First South where she was Head of Macro Strategy. She began her career as an economist at Merril Lynch in South Africa and London.

Nazmeera graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor of Business Science degree and is a CFA® Charterholder.

Nicolaas Alberts

Client Director

Nic is a client director and team leader within Ninety One’s SA Institutional team, responsible for some of our larger client relationships globally. He initially joined our fixed Income team as an analyst in London and gained valuable investment experience covering global financials and Africa credit for our credit teams for a number of years.

Prior to returning back to South Africa and joining the client management team in 2012, Nic spent time in Angola and Mozambique helping us understand the markets with a view to potentially open an office in Angola as well as scouting for investment opportunities.

Nic graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with a Bachelor of Honours degree in Accounting as well as a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Cambridge University. Nicolaas is a CFA® Charterholder.