What Africa Union Holdings does

Africa Union Holdings is a privately-held investment holding company headquartered at 204 Rivonia Road, Morningside, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. Originally incorporated as Combination Therapy Medical Supplies Limited in 1998 and rebranded under its current name in 2003, the group is led by Chairman James Ndambo and operates with a stated "win-win" philosophy aimed at generating wealth for shareholders and stakeholders through self-sustaining business units. The group operates across ten countries on four continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East) with a workforce exceeding 200 individuals, and reports immediate objectives of establishing 15+ business units across mining, financial services, aviation, cargo, ICT, energy, logistics, healthcare, telecom, and hospitality.

The operating portfolio spans AUFS (destination and pre-shipment customs inspections under contract with the DRC Department of Customs and Excise across Kongo-Central, Katanga, and Kivu); mining operations via AU Mining Corp covering chrome and coal exports to China and India, a 4,000-ton-per-month low-carbon ferrochrome allocation through a joint partnership with Ferro Chrome Furnaces in Rustenburg, and a recent joint venture with Guanxi Kaizeng Group for copper production in Katanga; logistics via AU Cargo from Walvis Bay Namibia (15+ years operating), AU Trading in Cape Town (launched March 2022 under Nisa Dawood), and a partnership with Ajex Logistics Services of Saudi Arabia; telecommunications via AU Mobile, a Zambia-licensed next-generation fixed/mobile/internet/TV/mobile-money operator incorporated April 2020; business aviation via AU Aviation/Pan Africa Airlines (PAA) targeting a DRC domestic launch and international expansion; healthcare via AU Health including telehealth pediatric cardio-catheterization with a Lusaka hospital, partnership with Cape Town Children's Hospital, and a planned factory with an Egyptian pharmaceutical manufacturer; hospitality across three branded properties (Protea Hotel Midrand, Michelangelo Lodge Ndola, Mambushi Lodge Choma); and emerging-tech units including AU Technologies (holographic/audiovisual solutions with Samsung), AU Belarus (satellite connectivity via Belintersat transponder for DRC customs border points and access to 54,000+ IT specialists in Minsk), AU Development SARL (Kinshasa project incubator), AU Commercial Investment (property portfolio management), and the AUH UAE office in Dubai and Sharjah acting as a Middle East/Africa gateway.

Revenue is generated through a mix of professional services fees (AUFS customs inspections), recurring/subscription streams (AU Mobile telecom, hospitality, healthcare), and transaction-based income (mining commodity exports, cargo handling, trading). Go-to-market is direct enterprise and government sales via regional offices; named customers and partners include the DRC Department of Customs and Excise, ECC/Église du Christ au Congo (45 million church members, 1,080 healthcare facilities) via La Marje, the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE, 11,000+ commodities across 52 countries), Ferro Chrome Furnaces (Rustenburg), and Guanxi Kaizeng Group (southern China). No revenue, ARR, funding rounds, or valuation are publicly disclosed.

Name

Africa Union Holdings

Legal name

Africa Union Holdings

Website

https://africaunion.holdings

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Africa Union Holdings is a Johannesburg-based, privately-held investment holding company operating 15+ diversified business units across mining, logistics, telecom, healthcare, customs inspection, hospitality, and aviation in ten countries spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diversified Investment Holdings

NAICS

Offices of Other Holding Companies (551112), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995), Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategic / Balance-Sheet CVC (On-balance-sheet investing) (FSANAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate International / Emerging Markets CVC (FSANAHAM), Corporate Strategic Real Assets & Infrastructure Venture Investing (FSANAHAN), Corporate Strategic Partnership & Ecosystem Investment Arms (FSANAHAF)

Keywords

• Investment holding company
• Logistics and freight forwarding
• Mining and commodities trading
• Telecommunications services
• Customs inspection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: Holding company generating wealth for shareholders and stakeholders through diversified business units. Strategy involves establishing self-sustaining business units aligned with long-term goals for sustainable growth.
2. Customs Inspection Services (AUFS): Destination inspections for imports into DRC and pre-shipment inspections for exports on behalf of DRC Department of Customs and Excise. Operates across three service regions: Kongo-Central, Katanga, and Kivu.
3. Cargo Handling and Logistics: Cargo handling and logistics support services from Walvis Bay Namibia. Full supply chain solutions including door-to-door cargo movement. Services include commodity sourcing/trading and project management.
4. Business Aviation Services: Private air travel and aviation services, including aircraft leasing and Pan Africa Airlines (PAA) domestic airline operations in DRC.
5. Mining Operations: Chrome Ore and Coal exports to China and India. Joint partnership with Ferro Chrome Furnaces in Rustenburg with 4,000 tons monthly allocation of low carbon ferrochrome for Australasia distribution. Joint venture with Guanxi Kaizeng Group for copper production in DRC Katanga region.
6. Supply Chain and Trading Services: Transport, handling, shipping and logistics services for project cargoes, bulk cargoes, locomotives, railway equipment, mining and construction equipment. Customs clearing, freight forwarding, air/sea shipping, warehouse handling.
7. Telecommunications Services: Africa Union Mobile provides fixed, mobile, internet, TV, mobile money, ICT and digital services in Zambia as a Next Generation Operator.
8. Healthcare Services and Products: Medical supplies, telehealth services including pediatric cardio-catheterization, pharmaceutical products, teleconsultation platforms, and partnership with ECC church organization managing 1,080 healthcare facilities in DRC.
9. Hospitality Services: Three premier hotels: Protea Hotel Midrand (South Africa), Michelangelo Lodge (Zambia), and Mambushi Lodge (Zambia) catering to business and leisure travelers.
10. Property Portfolio Management: Management of Africa Union's property portfolio including portfolio management, asset management, financial analysis, risk management, and relationship management.
11. Software Development Services: Software development hub in Minsk, Belarus with access to over 54,000 IT specialists. Strategic partnership with Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE) providing access to over 11,000 commodities in more than 52 countries.
12. UAE Business Facilitation: Four companies in UAE (Dubai and Sharjah): Above borders Aircraft and Requisites Leasing, AUH information technology services, China machinery construction (Sinoconst) group Limited, China gateway group limited. Catalyst for group business in Middle East and gateway to Africa.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Africa Union Holdings is a privately held investment holding company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded in 2003. It operates 15+ self-sustaining business units spanning mining, financial services, aviation, cargo and logistics, telecommunications, healthcare, technologies, and hospitality. Operations span 10 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Product overview

Africa Union Holdings operates as a diversified investment holding company with 15+ business units spanning multiple sectors. The portfolio includes financial services (AUFS), aviation, cargo/logistics, commercial real estate investment, development projects, healthcare, telecommunications, mining, trading, technologies (including audiovisual and holographic solutions), and hospitality. Each business unit operates independently with distinct focus areas, enabling the group to offer comprehensive services from financial and customs services to logistics, telecommunications, and healthcare across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AUFS: Africa Union Financial Services - Investment and financial services with customs inspection operations in DRC
• AU Aviation
• AU Cargo
• AU Commercial Investments
• AU Dev
• AU Belarus
• AU Health
• AU Technologies
• AU Mobile
• AU Mining Corp
• AU Trading
• AUH UAE
• Protea Hotel Midrand
• Michelangelo Lodge
• Mambushi Lodge
• Pan Africa Airlines
• Above Borders Aircraft and Requisites Leasing
• Union Mining Corporation

Products and services

• AU Cargo Logistics

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• BelintersatcoreTechnology or IntegrationAUFS owns a transponder from Belintersat to provide secure and closed satellite connectivity between remote customs border points in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This partnership ensures reliable communication and data transfer in remote locations, supporting customs operations.
• Belarusian State-Owned CompanystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with a Belarusian state-owned company to enhance satellite services. The Minsk office was established to leverage Belarus's strong ICT industry with access to over 54,000 IT specialists.
• Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with BUCE granting access to over 11,000 commodities in more than 52 countries. This partnership facilitates extensive trading opportunities and enhances global reach through the AU Belarus/Commodity House operations.
• La Marje (ECC Representative)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUH is partnering with La Marje as representative management entity for ECC (Église du Christ au Congo), a protestant church organization headquartered in Kinshasa with 45 million church members and 1,080 healthcare facilities throughout DRC.
• Egyptian Pharmaceutical ManufacturerstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUH is engaged with Egyptian pharmaceutical manufacturer to open a factory for ointments, anti-infectives and primary health medicines in DRC. Chairman has pledged two clinics for DRC and donation of Zinc and Vitamin A.
• Children's Hospital Cape TownstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUH partnered with Cape Town based Children's Hospital for telehealth services in Pediatric Cardio-Catheterization at a hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. International teams provide demonstration and training.
• Ferro Chrome Furnaces RustenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership with monthly allocation of 4,000 tons of low carbon Ferrochrome for distribution to Australasia region. Positioning for ferrochrome market access.
• Guanxi Kaizeng Group of Southern ChinastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecent joint venture for copper production in the Katanga region of DRC. Expansion into copper mining alongside chrome and coal operations.
• Protea Hotels by MarriottcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates Protea Hotel Midrand as part of the hospitality portfolio, offering conference and business hotel services for leisure and business travelers.
• Pan Africa Airlines (PAA)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company for PAA (Pan Africa Airlines) - a new airline to be launched in DRC as a domestic airline with ambition to become international carrier within 3 to 5 years.
• Ajex Logistics Services of Saudi ArabiastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrica Union Trading and Africa Union Aviation subsidiaries partnered with Ajex Logistics Services of Saudi Arabia for logistics services.
• SamsungstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrica Union Technologies partnered with Samsung showcasing Samsung S24 technology and holographic/audiovisual solutions for breaking language and communication barriers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Grindrod Limited: Grindrod is a South African freight, logistics and port operator with Walvis Bay presence — directly comparable to AU Cargo's port-based cargo handling and supply chain operations from Walvis Bay, Namibia.
• Mara Group: Mara Group is a multi-sector African conglomerate with operations in technology, financial services, real estate and hospitality across multiple African countries — directly comparable to AUH's diversified, cross-border holding-company model.
• Liquid Intelligent Technologies: Liquid Intelligent Technologies operates fibre networks, data centres and cloud services across Africa, comparable to AU Mobile's telecom/ICT offering and AU Belarus's technology services within AUH's portfolio.
• HOSKEN Consolidated Investments: HOSKEN Consolidated Investments is a South African diversified holding company with operating businesses in media, gaming, mining, healthcare and transport — closely comparable to AUH's conglomerate structure spanning multiple sectors and geographies.
• Remgro: Remgro is a Stellenbosch-based investment holding company with stakes in financial services, healthcare, mining, industrial and consumer businesses across South Africa and beyond — comparable as a long-duration diversified holding company on the African continent.
• Lonrho: Lonrho is a historic Africa-focused conglomerate with operating businesses in logistics, mining, agribusiness, infrastructure and hospitality across multiple African jurisdictions — comparable as a diversified African operating group with cross-border operations.
• Rand Merchant Investment Holdings: Rand Merchant Investment Holdings is a Johannesburg-based diversified investment holding company with interests across financial services and infrastructure in South Africa — a similar South African-domiciled holding vehicle with diversified operating subsidiaries.
• Imperial Logistics: Imperial Logistics is an African-focused logistics and freight management group operating across multiple countries — directly comparable to AU Cargo's Walvis Bay-based cargo handling and AU Trading's supply chain operations.

Broad incumbents

• MTN Group: MTN Group is Africa's largest mobile operator with operations in multiple African markets including Zambia — a broad incumbent competing with AU Mobile on the same Zambian subscriber base and mobile money opportunity.
• Glencore: Glencore is a global commodity trader and miner with significant African mining and trading exposure — a broad incumbent that operates at scale in similar commodity flows (chrome, coal, copper, ferrochrome) that AU Mining Corp serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/africa-union-holdings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Africa Union Holdings