Corporate Women to Venture into Private Equity

There is a strong business case for private equity inSouth Africa but local top corporate women are unable to take advantage of it, for lack of proper networking, said Zarina Bassa, Vice Chairman, Absa Retail Bank.

Speaking at the first ever Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event held at the Jenna Clifford Studio in Sandton, Bassa said that businesswomen had failed to capitalize on a corporate environment geared for men where “everything” leaned towards facilitating contact, building relationships and “doing a great deal together” and venture in the private equity sector.

“Despite enabling mechanisms such as gender and employment equity legislation, women will not really play a meaningful role in the business landscape unless they create their own networks and start doing business on their terms rather than conforming and adapting to male archetypes,” said Bassa.

In contrast, their male counterparts were taking full advantage of existing networks to support and nurture each other and subsequently grow their business.

“As women, we must support and nurture each other, too. It is my sincere wish that we can achieve this through these networking sessions.”

Bassa said that the time was ripe for SA corporate women, seeking to grow their business through finance mechanisms or BEE deals, to consider private equity.

In 2007, the country experienced one of the highest growth levels of private equity activity – compared to GDP – among emerging economies and was ranked the highest emerging market in absolute terms for fundraising. It ranked fourth in investment activity.

A year earlier, 803 investments were made by the private equity sector. “It is our view that this positive trend is set to continue,” said Bassa. “There is a strong business case for private equity.”

Key contributors included the growing middle class, infrastructure development (estimated to R482bn) and BEE. Other attractive sectors for private equity included construction, commodities, logistics, facilities management, staffing, tourism, healthcare, both locally and across the African continent.

Access to such opportunities is possible through the country’s first Women’s Empowerment Private Equity Fund, launched last August. It gave women access to all the future private equity deals to be concluded by Absa Capital, Bassa said.

“We can start here tonight by making sure that we leave here with at least one new contact, one new acquaintance and hopefully many new friends,” she said.

The Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event will take place on a quarterly basis.

Speaking at the first ever Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event held at the Jenna Clifford Studio in Sandton, Bassa said that businesswomen had failed to capitalize on a corporate environment geared for men where “everything” leaned towards facilitating contact, building relationships and “doing a great deal together” and venture in the private equity sector.

“Despite enabling mechanisms such as gender and employment equity legislation, women will not really play a meaningful role in the business landscape unless they create their own networks and start doing business on their terms rather than conforming and adapting to male archetypes,” said Bassa.

In contrast, their male counterparts were taking full advantage of existing networks to support and nurture each other and subsequently grow their business.

“As women, we must support and nurture each other, too. It is my sincere wish that we can achieve this through these networking sessions.”

Bassa said that the time was ripe for SA corporate women, seeking to grow their business through finance mechanisms or BEE deals, to consider private equity.

In 2007, the country experienced one of the highest growth levels of private equity activity – compared to GDP – among emerging economies and was ranked the highest emerging market in absolute terms for fundraising. It ranked fourth in investment activity.

A year earlier, 803 investments were made by the private equity sector. “It is our view that this positive trend is set to continue,” said Bassa. “There is a strong business case for private equity.”

Key contributors included the growing middle class, infrastructure development (estimated to R482bn) and BEE. Other attractive sectors for private equity included construction, commodities, logistics, facilities management, staffing, tourism, healthcare, both locally and across the African continent.

Access to such opportunities is possible through the country’s first Women’s Empowerment Private Equity Fund, launched last August. It gave women access to all the future private equity deals to be concluded by Absa Capital, Bassa said.

“We can start here tonight by making sure that we leave here with at least one new contact, one new acquaintance and hopefully many new friends,” she said.

The Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event will take place on a quarterly basis.

Speaking at the first ever Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event held at the Jenna Clifford Studio in Sandton, Bassa said that businesswomen had failed to capitalize on a corporate environment geared for men where “everything” leaned towards facilitating contact, building relationships and “doing a great deal together” and venture in the private equity sector.

“Despite enabling mechanisms such as gender and employment equity legislation, women will not really play a meaningful role in the business landscape unless they create their own networks and start doing business on their terms rather than conforming and adapting to male archetypes,” said Bassa.

In contrast, their male counterparts were taking full advantage of existing networks to support and nurture each other and subsequently grow their business.

“As women, we must support and nurture each other, too. It is my sincere wish that we can achieve this through these networking sessions.”

Bassa said that the time was ripe for SA corporate women, seeking to grow their business through finance mechanisms or BEE deals, to consider private equity.

In 2007, the country experienced one of the highest growth levels of private equity activity – compared to GDP – among emerging economies and was ranked the highest emerging market in absolute terms for fundraising. It ranked fourth in investment activity.

A year earlier, 803 investments were made by the private equity sector. “It is our view that this positive trend is set to continue,” said Bassa. “There is a strong business case for private equity.”

Key contributors included the growing middle class, infrastructure development (estimated to R482bn) and BEE. Other attractive sectors for private equity included construction, commodities, logistics, facilities management, staffing, tourism, healthcare, both locally and across the African continent.

Access to such opportunities is possible through the country’s first Women’s Empowerment Private Equity Fund, launched last August. It gave women access to all the future private equity deals to be concluded by Absa Capital, Bassa said.

“We can start here tonight by making sure that we leave here with at least one new contact, one new acquaintance and hopefully many new friends,” she said.

The Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event will take place on a quarterly basis.

Speaking at the first ever Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event held at the Jenna Clifford Studio in Sandton, Bassa said that businesswomen had failed to capitalize on a corporate environment geared for men where “everything” leaned towards facilitating contact, building relationships and “doing a great deal together” and venture in the private equity sector.

“Despite enabling mechanisms such as gender and employment equity legislation, women will not really play a meaningful role in the business landscape unless they create their own networks and start doing business on their terms rather than conforming and adapting to male archetypes,” said Bassa.

In contrast, their male counterparts were taking full advantage of existing networks to support and nurture each other and subsequently grow their business.

“As women, we must support and nurture each other, too. It is my sincere wish that we can achieve this through these networking sessions.”

Bassa said that the time was ripe for SA corporate women, seeking to grow their business through finance mechanisms or BEE deals, to consider private equity.

In 2007, the country experienced one of the highest growth levels of private equity activity – compared to GDP – among emerging economies and was ranked the highest emerging market in absolute terms for fundraising. It ranked fourth in investment activity.

A year earlier, 803 investments were made by the private equity sector. “It is our view that this positive trend is set to continue,” said Bassa. “There is a strong business case for private equity.”

Key contributors included the growing middle class, infrastructure development (estimated to R482bn) and BEE. Other attractive sectors for private equity included construction, commodities, logistics, facilities management, staffing, tourism, healthcare, both locally and across the African continent.

Access to such opportunities is possible through the country’s first Women’s Empowerment Private Equity Fund, launched last August. It gave women access to all the future private equity deals to be concluded by Absa Capital, Bassa said.

“We can start here tonight by making sure that we leave here with at least one new contact, one new acquaintance and hopefully many new friends,” she said.

The Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event will take place on a quarterly basis.

Speaking at the first ever Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event held at the Jenna Clifford Studio in Sandton, Bassa said that businesswomen had failed to capitalize on a corporate environment geared for men where “everything” leaned towards facilitating contact, building relationships and “doing a great deal together” and venture in the private equity sector.

“Despite enabling mechanisms such as gender and employment equity legislation, women will not really play a meaningful role in the business landscape unless they create their own networks and start doing business on their terms rather than conforming and adapting to male archetypes,” said Bassa.

In contrast, their male counterparts were taking full advantage of existing networks to support and nurture each other and subsequently grow their business.

“As women, we must support and nurture each other, too. It is my sincere wish that we can achieve this through these networking sessions.”

Bassa said that the time was ripe for SA corporate women, seeking to grow their business through finance mechanisms or BEE deals, to consider private equity.

In 2007, the country experienced one of the highest growth levels of private equity activity – compared to GDP – among emerging economies and was ranked the highest emerging market in absolute terms for fundraising. It ranked fourth in investment activity.

A year earlier, 803 investments were made by the private equity sector. “It is our view that this positive trend is set to continue,” said Bassa. “There is a strong business case for private equity.”

Key contributors included the growing middle class, infrastructure development (estimated to R482bn) and BEE. Other attractive sectors for private equity included construction, commodities, logistics, facilities management, staffing, tourism, healthcare, both locally and across the African continent.

Access to such opportunities is possible through the country’s first Women’s Empowerment Private Equity Fund, launched last August. It gave women access to all the future private equity deals to be concluded by Absa Capital, Bassa said.

“We can start here tonight by making sure that we leave here with at least one new contact, one new acquaintance and hopefully many new friends,” she said.

The Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event will take place on a quarterly basis.

Speaking at the first ever Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event held at the Jenna Clifford Studio in Sandton, Bassa said that businesswomen had failed to capitalize on a corporate environment geared for men where “everything” leaned towards facilitating contact, building relationships and “doing a great deal together” and venture in the private equity sector.

“Despite enabling mechanisms such as gender and employment equity legislation, women will not really play a meaningful role in the business landscape unless they create their own networks and start doing business on their terms rather than conforming and adapting to male archetypes,” said Bassa.

In contrast, their male counterparts were taking full advantage of existing networks to support and nurture each other and subsequently grow their business.

“As women, we must support and nurture each other, too. It is my sincere wish that we can achieve this through these networking sessions.”

Bassa said that the time was ripe for SA corporate women, seeking to grow their business through finance mechanisms or BEE deals, to consider private equity.

In 2007, the country experienced one of the highest growth levels of private equity activity – compared to GDP – among emerging economies and was ranked the highest emerging market in absolute terms for fundraising. It ranked fourth in investment activity.

A year earlier, 803 investments were made by the private equity sector. “It is our view that this positive trend is set to continue,” said Bassa. “There is a strong business case for private equity.”

Key contributors included the growing middle class, infrastructure development (estimated to R482bn) and BEE. Other attractive sectors for private equity included construction, commodities, logistics, facilities management, staffing, tourism, healthcare, both locally and across the African continent.

Access to such opportunities is possible through the country’s first Women’s Empowerment Private Equity Fund, launched last August. It gave women access to all the future private equity deals to be concluded by Absa Capital, Bassa said.

“We can start here tonight by making sure that we leave here with at least one new contact, one new acquaintance and hopefully many new friends,” she said.

The Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event will take place on a quarterly basis.

Speaking at the first ever Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event held at the Jenna Clifford Studio in Sandton, Bassa said that businesswomen had failed to capitalize on a corporate environment geared for men where “everything” leaned towards facilitating contact, building relationships and “doing a great deal together” and venture in the private equity sector.

“Despite enabling mechanisms such as gender and employment equity legislation, women will not really play a meaningful role in the business landscape unless they create their own networks and start doing business on their terms rather than conforming and adapting to male archetypes,” said Bassa.

In contrast, their male counterparts were taking full advantage of existing networks to support and nurture each other and subsequently grow their business.

“As women, we must support and nurture each other, too. It is my sincere wish that we can achieve this through these networking sessions.”

Bassa said that the time was ripe for SA corporate women, seeking to grow their business through finance mechanisms or BEE deals, to consider private equity.

In 2007, the country experienced one of the highest growth levels of private equity activity – compared to GDP – among emerging economies and was ranked the highest emerging market in absolute terms for fundraising. It ranked fourth in investment activity.

A year earlier, 803 investments were made by the private equity sector. “It is our view that this positive trend is set to continue,” said Bassa. “There is a strong business case for private equity.”

Key contributors included the growing middle class, infrastructure development (estimated to R482bn) and BEE. Other attractive sectors for private equity included construction, commodities, logistics, facilities management, staffing, tourism, healthcare, both locally and across the African continent.

Access to such opportunities is possible through the country’s first Women’s Empowerment Private Equity Fund, launched last August. It gave women access to all the future private equity deals to be concluded by Absa Capital, Bassa said.

“We can start here tonight by making sure that we leave here with at least one new contact, one new acquaintance and hopefully many new friends,” she said.

The Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event will take place on a quarterly basis.

Speaking at the first ever Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event held at the Jenna Clifford Studio in Sandton, Bassa said that businesswomen had failed to capitalize on a corporate environment geared for men where “everything” leaned towards facilitating contact, building relationships and “doing a great deal together” and venture in the private equity sector.

“Despite enabling mechanisms such as gender and employment equity legislation, women will not really play a meaningful role in the business landscape unless they create their own networks and start doing business on their terms rather than conforming and adapting to male archetypes,” said Bassa.

In contrast, their male counterparts were taking full advantage of existing networks to support and nurture each other and subsequently grow their business.

“As women, we must support and nurture each other, too. It is my sincere wish that we can achieve this through these networking sessions.”

Bassa said that the time was ripe for SA corporate women, seeking to grow their business through finance mechanisms or BEE deals, to consider private equity.

In 2007, the country experienced one of the highest growth levels of private equity activity – compared to GDP – among emerging economies and was ranked the highest emerging market in absolute terms for fundraising. It ranked fourth in investment activity.

A year earlier, 803 investments were made by the private equity sector. “It is our view that this positive trend is set to continue,” said Bassa. “There is a strong business case for private equity.”

Key contributors included the growing middle class, infrastructure development (estimated to R482bn) and BEE. Other attractive sectors for private equity included construction, commodities, logistics, facilities management, staffing, tourism, healthcare, both locally and across the African continent.

Access to such opportunities is possible through the country’s first Women’s Empowerment Private Equity Fund, launched last August. It gave women access to all the future private equity deals to be concluded by Absa Capital, Bassa said.

“We can start here tonight by making sure that we leave here with at least one new contact, one new acquaintance and hopefully many new friends,” she said.

The Absa Capital Private Equity women’s networking event will take place on a quarterly basis.