Press

Ascendis Health (Pty) Limited, the wholly owned health and lifestyle subsidiary of Coast2Coast Investments, today made an announcement that it had, along with existing management, acquired the Efekto business. The Landbank and Vantage Risk Capital, the BEE mezzanine financiers, provided part of the funding for the transaction.

As indicated by strong results from SAs listed pharmaceutical companies, the pharmaceutical sector is a highgrowth area of industry

Cris Dillon, COO of C2C said, “Well-run companies with top class operations and a great product will always perform well, even in a difficult financial climate. As a low cost, popular fast food, pies are a wonderfully resilient product. St Pie is growing strongly, with over 20 percent growth in sales per annum, year-on-year for the last five years. This transaction is in line with our strategy of investing in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in South Africa.”

Newly launched private equity company Coast2Coast applies a unique investment model in that they use their own funds and allow the non-corporate route to invest in smart, complementary industries, including the food industry.

ADVICE for starting a business is easy to find, but what happens when the business owner decides to sell that company? Perhaps because the time has come to retire, emigrate or diversify capital? That sale could be the most important financial deal that the entrepreneur ever makes. So it is very important to get it just right, says Cris Dillon, COO of Cape Town-based Coast2Coast (C2C).

Cape Town, October 13, 2008: Advice for starting a business is easy to find, but what happens when the business owner decides to sell that company? Perhaps because the time has come to retire, emigrate or diversify capital? That sale could be the most important financial deal that the entrepreneur ever makes so it is very important to get it just right. Cris Dillon, chief operating officer of Coast2Coast (C2C), a private equity company which acquires established entrepreneurial businesses with huge potential, offers the following advice to help business owners get their companies ready to sell.

Venture Capitalism in South Africa is starting to pick up again. Since it’s launch a year ago Coast2Coast Investments has invested in six entreprenerial companies in industries..

Coast2Coast was featured in Finweek – Not business as usual

IT’S NOT A MINI Bidvest – yet. But the immediate objective of private equity firm Coast2Coast is squarely in line with building a series of focused conglomerates in the mould of a Tiger Brands or Pioneer Foods. Company CE Gary Shayne hopes its alternative approach to investment will lead to a listed entity within the next two years. Unlike traditional private equity players who deal with individual companies, Coast2Coast is looking to cluster together smaller companies in industry sectors and bring them to market.

The private equity market is not immune to the ravages of the tighter credit environment and falling business values, but two entrepreneurs from Zimbabwe have carved a niche in the local market and have ambitious plans for the future.