Kessner Capital Management Expands to Abu Dhabi, Secures First African Financing Deal

Abu Dhabi's emergence as Africa's financial gateway continues as Kessner Capital Management, a London-based alternative investment firm focused on African markets, announces its strategic expansion into the UAE capital. This move represents more than geographical diversification; it signals a calculated positioning within the Gulf's institutional ecosystem that increasingly views Africa through an investment lens rather than aid dependency.

Strategic Gulf Positioning for African Capital

Kessner's Abu Dhabi expansion comes through a strategic partnership with a UAE-based family office, establishing an operational and relationship hub in the heart of the Gulf's institutional investment ecosystem. This positioning allows the firm to maintain its London headquarters while accessing the growing pool of Middle Eastern capital seeking African opportunities.

The timing is strategic. Abu Dhabi has systematically built itself into an international financial platform, attracting global asset managers while deepening its infrastructure capabilities. For African-focused investment firms, the emirate offers something London cannot: proximity to sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors increasingly viewing Africa as the next frontier for sustainable returns.

According to Bruno-Maurice Monny, co-founder and Managing Partner of Kessner Capital Management, "Abu Dhabi has become essential for investors looking to engage with Africa." This statement reflects a broader shift in how African investment is being structured and sourced globally.

First Transaction Anchored in Real Economy

Alongside its Gulf expansion, Kessner has closed its inaugural transaction: a credit facility extended to Harlequin International Ghana (HIT). The financing supports a procurement contract execution for the Ghanaian industrial player, which operates in engineering and technical services across key sectors.

This first deal illustrates Kessner's positioning in Africa's private credit landscape. Rather than pursuing extractive or commodity-focused investments that have historically characterized foreign capital in Africa, the firm targets companies with solid operational fundamentals requiring tailored financing solutions.

The Ghana transaction represents something significant for African capital markets: patient, structured financing that supports local industrial capacity rather than resource extraction. Harlequin International Ghana's focus on engineering and technical services positions it within Africa's growing industrial ecosystem, supporting infrastructure development across multiple sectors.

Beyond Traditional Development Finance

Kessner's approach challenges traditional development finance models that have dominated African investment narratives. The firm emphasizes private credit oriented toward sustainable value creation, combining structuring expertise, risk discipline, and local partnerships.

This methodology acknowledges Africa's capital needs while rejecting paternalistic approaches that have characterized much Western engagement with the continent. The firm's philosophy extends beyond financing to accompanying growth trajectories through governance and transparency requirements that build institutional capacity.

The Abu Dhabi expansion and Ghana transaction together signal a maturing approach to African investment. Gulf capital, with its longer investment horizons and patient capital characteristics, may prove more aligned with Africa's development needs than traditional Western financial models focused on quick returns.

Implications for African Capital Markets

Kessner's dual announcement reflects broader trends in African capital markets. The continent's financing needs remain substantial, but the sources and structures of that capital are evolving. Gulf sovereign wealth funds and family offices bring different risk appetites and time horizons compared to traditional Western investors.

The firm's focus on operational fundamentals over political connections or commodity exposure suggests a sophistication in African market analysis that goes beyond surface-level risk assessments. This approach may prove more sustainable for both investors and African economies seeking to diversify beyond resource dependence.

For Ghana specifically, Harlequin International Ghana's access to structured financing for procurement contracts demonstrates growing confidence in local industrial capabilities. This type of financing supports economic diversification and industrial development that creates sustainable employment and builds technical capacity.

Kessner Capital Management operates as an alternative investment management firm focused exclusively on African markets. The company emphasizes ground-level approach and international-local partnerships to navigate market complexity, mitigate risks, and pursue risk-adjusted returns that support sustainable development across the continent.