African deal flow. International capital. One firm on both sides.
South African businesses reach UK, European and US investors and buyers through Caban’s London desk — and international allocators reach vetted African deals through our teams on the ground. The corridor is the firm.
The gap on both sides
African businesses are structurally under-capitalised at home: the domestic pool of growth capital is small, concentrated, and conservative. International capital, meanwhile, is structurally access-constrained into Africa: allocators in London, Amsterdam and New York cannot verify a business, its numbers, or its market from a distance — so most never try, and those who do move slowly. Two large pools of unmet demand, separated by a trust gap. Everything Caban does sits in that gap.
For businesses: reaching capital that doesn’t exist at home
Through Caban Capital in London, qualifying South African and Sub-Saharan businesses reach UK, European and US investors — growth funds, private equity, family offices and strategic buyers. The preparation, structuring and introductions are handled by the same team that assessed the business on the ground here, which is precisely why offshore allocators take the introduction seriously. The route works for raises and for exits alike: the strongest sale prices frequently come from offshore strategic buyers who pay for market access the local pool cannot.
For allocators: vetted deal flow with a team on the ground
For DFIs, private equity and private debt funds deploying into Sub-Saharan Africa, Caban is the local partner: proprietary origination through operator networks and advisory relationships, preliminary commercial due diligence done in-market, and execution with regulatory and cultural fluency. The allocator desk → For the full picture — routes, exchange control, sector flows — see Investing in South Africa: the allocator guide.
Why this corridor is credible
Corridor claims are cheap; evidence is not. Caban’s is built on structure, not marketing: teams in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban alongside the London desk; a US-domiciled private equity fund managed by the group’s General Partners; and public-listing experience on two continents — Dave Romero has taken two of his own companies public on the JSE, and Ben Botes has taken an impact fund public in Europe. The firm has executed more than 200 M&A, capital raising, advisory and turnaround transactions since 2012, working within professional confidentiality standards throughout.
What moving capital across the corridor involves
Cross-border raises and exits carry work a domestic deal does not: exchange-control approvals, cross-jurisdiction structuring and tax, investor qualification on both sides, and the diligence standard an offshore committee applies. This is the firm’s daily work, not an add-on — the same discipline behind our Investor Readiness Programme applied at international standard.
Where to start
Businesses raising or selling: start with a confidential conversation below — a principal reviews every enquiry and answers within five working days. Allocators: the origination desk and the African Growth Capital Monitor are the right first stops.
Questions, answered
How can a South African business get international investors?
Through prepared access, not cold outreach. International funds and buyers back African businesses via trusted local intermediaries who have already vetted the company. Caban prepares businesses to international standard, then introduces them to UK, European and US investors through its own London desk — the same team on both sides of the corridor.
Can I sell my South African business to a UK or European buyer?
Yes — and offshore buyers frequently pay stronger prices and offer better terms than the local pool alone, because strategic buyers pay for market access. Caban runs sell-side processes that include UK, European and international trade buyers, private equity and family offices reached through Caban Capital in London.
Why do African businesses struggle to raise international capital?
Distance kills trust: international allocators cannot easily verify a business, its numbers or its market from London or New York. The gap is bridged by intermediaries with genuine presence on both sides — which is why Caban maintains teams in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban alongside its London desk.
Does Caban work with international investors looking for African deals?
Yes. Caban acts as a local origination, due-diligence and execution partner for DFIs, private equity and private debt funds deploying into Sub-Saharan Africa — sourcing proprietary opportunities and verifying them on the ground before an allocator commits deal-team resource.
What makes Caban different from a local advisor or a global firm?
Local advisors know the businesses but not the offshore capital; global firms have the capital relationships but are priced for corporates and thin on the ground. Caban is built on the corridor itself: principals based in both markets, a US-domiciled fund, and public-listing experience on two continents — with more than 200 transactions executed since 2012.