What Agile Capital does

Agile Capital is a South African private equity firm headquartered in Johannesburg (Illovo, Sandton) that invests in mid-market businesses with EBITDA of approximately R35 million and above, committing R75m-R150m per transaction into companies with enterprise values of R300m-R1bn. The firm manages more than R2 billion in assets under management across four funds (Fund I and II at R500m each, Fund III at R380m, and Fund IV at R1bn), with FirstRand Group through Rand Merchant Bank as the anchor capital provider since 2008. Agile operates as a 100% black-owned firm with significant black women ownership, providing BEE-credentialed transformation partnerships to portfolio companies, and explicitly does not face typical private equity exit timing pressure due to FirstRand's long-term capital commitment.

The firm pursues a sector-agnostic mid-market strategy, with current and historical investments spanning catering and facilities management (Feedem Group), medical devices distribution (SA Biomedical), water testing and laboratory services (Aquatico Group), out-of-home media (Provantage Media Group), mining and construction services (Provest, Bluhm Burton Engineering), environmental and industrial cleaning (SpillTech, Séché South Africa, Berry Astrapak), automotive supply (Autovest, AutoZone, Henkel South Africa), cash solutions (G4S Cash Solutions), gaming (Goldrush Gaming Group), and benefits administration (UniQ Benefit Solutions, formerly Adcorp Support Services). The portfolio encompasses 14-15 companies across South Africa with operational reach into Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, DRC).

Agile Capital is a direct private equity investor that generates returns through equity investments, value-creation initiatives, and eventual exits, with recent realizations including the sale of Aquatico to Bidvest Group (2025) and the exit of Feedem to Empact Group (2026). Its go-to-market is relationship-driven, partnering with management teams of established businesses through bilateral negotiations and co-investing alongside RMB Corvest in multiple transactions. The firm is run by a small team (1-10 employees) led by CEO Tshego Sefolo and Principal Liz Kolobe, with The Agile Foundation providing a social impact overlay supporting education and skills development in underprivileged South African communities.

Name

Agile Capital

Legal name

Agile Capital (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://agilecapital.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Agile Capital is a 100% black-owned South African private equity firm managing >R2bn in AUM. It invests R75m-R150m per transaction in mid-market businesses with EBITDA of R35m+, providing BEE-aligned capital and strategic partnership alongside FirstRand/RMB.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Equity Investment Returns: Generates returns through equity investments in portfolio companies, value creation initiatives, and eventual exit transactions. As an on-balance sheet investor, the firm does not face exit timing pressure, enabling longer investment holding periods for superior returns.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Agile Capital is a South African private investment firm that manages multiple private equity funds (Fund I through Fund IV) with over R2 billion in assets under management. It invests R75m–R150m per transaction in mid-market South African businesses with EBITDA of approximately R35 million and above, taking significant minority or controlling stakes and partnering with management teams. Beyond capital, the firm provides strategic, governance, financial, and commercial support to portfolio companies over long-term holding periods.

Product overview

Agile Capital is a South African private investment firm offering a unified suite of private equity investment products through multiple funds (Fund I through Fund IV with approximately R2bn in assets under management). The core offering consists of mid-market private equity investment funds targeting businesses with solid records, tangible growth prospects, and strong management teams. The firm supplements its capital deployment with strategic investment advisory services providing governance support, financial expertise, and commercial partnerships. Additionally, The Agile Foundation extends the firm's impact through social development initiatives in education and skills training. Together, these products form a comprehensive investment and value-creation ecosystem focused on long-term partnerships and sustainable growth across diverse South African sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Equity Investment Funds (Fund I, II, III, IV) Multi-fund private equity investment programme deploying equity into established South African mid-market businesses, typically R75m–R150m per transaction for companies with EBITDA of approximately R35m+ and enterprise values of R300m–R1bn; invests via significant minority or controlling stakes and partnerships with incumbent management teams.
• Fund IV (R1bn)

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully exited Feedem Group to Empact Group in strategic buyout approved by South Africa's Competition Tribunal
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Empact GroupminorOthersFacilities services provider owned by Thebe Investment Corporation that acquired Feedem Group from Agile Capital and RMB Corvest in strategic buyout approved by South Africa's Competition Tribunal.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Carlyle (Sub-Saharan Africa funds): Global private equity powerhouse with dedicated Africa-focused funds targeting mid-to-large cap investments; overlaps with Agile's deal universe at the larger end of mid-market.
• Old Mutual Alternative Investments: Large South African financial institution with a private equity arm investing in mid-market opportunities; comparable as an institutional alternative-investment manager operating in the same geography and deal range.
• Brait: Former South African-listed investment holding company transitioning to private equity and consumer brands; competes in similar mid-market opportunities though with a more concentrated consumer focus.
• Actis: Global private equity firm with a long-standing dedicated Sub-Saharan Africa platform investing in mid-market businesses; directly comparable deal universe though larger fund sizes and broader geographic mandate.

Direct peers

• Ethos Private Equity: One of South Africa's largest independent private equity firms focused on mid-to-large cap buyouts with multiple fund vintages; directly comparable as a mid-market buyout investor with similar geographic focus on South Africa.
• RMB Corvest: The private equity arm of Rand Merchant Bank (within FirstRand), Agile Capital's repeat co-investment partner. Directly comparable as an established South African mid-market PE investor with sector overlap.
• CapitalWorks Investment Partners: South African mid-market private equity firm with comparable fund size and sector-agnostic approach targeting established businesses, making it a direct competitor for similar deal flow.

Emerging players

• HAVAÍC: Pan-African investment firm active across venture and growth-stage capital with similar mid-market exposure; comparable as an emerging African private investor competing for mid-market deals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/agilecapitalsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agile-capital-pty-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A13 records

Investments7 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Agile Capital