INVESTMENTS
The Fund aims to empower and develop the businesses it works with through its role as a strategic partner. WPEF targets investments that range between R2 million and R19 million. The Fund supports ambitious businesses with impressive track records where we can add value. Before the Fund makes a commitment to the company, it is important that a suitable exit strategy be in place. Finally, and proudly, the Fund is committed to economic growth and focuses mainly on companies operating in South Africa.

At WPEF we implement a 3-5 year investment period, following our initial investment.

INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY
At the heart, WPEF is concerned with facilitating the success of women in the business world. This unique private equity fund seeks out female entrepreneurs in South Africa in all economic sectors, with the exception of mining, real estate ownership and gambling. However businesses supplying goods and services to these areas will be considered. WPEF offers woman-owned and managed businesses the opportunity to expand and develop.

WPEF INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES

• Acquisition of significant interests (20% - 49%), on a deal by deal basis.
• Target high-growth women owned / run businesses
• To be able to add value to the Fund's investments through exposure to its national and international business and financial networks
• Assist investments to perform with a sharpened strategic and marketing focus
• Stimulate enhanced management processes and reporting within investee companies
• To ultimately exit investments – through a sophisticated capital market and an active mergers and acquisitions environment that allows for the exiting of investments at reasonable valuations, either through IPO's, trade sales, international exits or management buy-backs.

Take a look at some of the businesses we have invested in:

FEATURED PROFILE

BEYOND OUTSOURCING

Beyond Outsourcing  is an outsourcing/co-sourcing operations implementation company firmly positioned within the Business Transformation Outsourcing space to provide speed, agility and overall performance improvement, in various areas.

HISTORY   Beyond Outsourcing was founded by Suzanne Ravenall in 1997. Ravenall realized that many companies boasted strategic minds, but did not possess the capacity or skills required to execute their ideas. This could be overcome by outsourcing execution and implementation to Beyond Outsourcing. Suzanne Ravenall and Beyond Outsourcing have won numerous awards and Beyond Outsourcing is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner.

SECRET TO SUCCESS   Beyond Outsourcing is dedicated to providing operational implementation excellence at the “transformation” and performance improvement level as a trusted advisor. By following strict Total Quality Management principles within the framework of a unique, proprietary generic & scalable management toolkit, operated by the managed services factory. Beyond Outsourcing delivers sustainable business results.

Website: http://www.beyondoutsourcing.com

QPHOTO:
QPhoto is a chain of 10 photographic retail branches operating in Tshwane with a focus on digital image printing, photocopying and ancillary services.

HISTORY: QPhoto opened in 1984 with one shop in Sunnyside Pretoria, then known as Express Foto. The company now consists of 8 Photographic Retail outlets, a Professional Copy Centre and a Finishing Department which does large format laminating, encapsulating and mounting. 50% of QPhoto is owned by a BEE consortium (including WPEF) which is focused on the empowerment of women in business.

SECRET TO SUCCESS: The combination of service excellence and technological innovation has placed Q-Photo as the market leaders in analogue and digital photographic services. Q-Photo stores are situated in all the major shopping centers in Pretoria.

 

Website: http://www.qphoto.co.za


ILIAD AFRICA LIMITED:
Iliad focuses on sourcing, distributing, wholesaling and retailing general and specialized building materials. A range of customers from large-scale contractors and developers to do-it-yourself homeowners are serviced through market niche-focused clusters of outlets totaling 104 stores.

HISTORY: Iliad Africa is listed on the JSE in the Industrial Suppliers sub-sector.

SECRET TO SUCCESS: Iliad focuses on excelling at; gathering market intelligence, procurement and in its trading skills.  

Website: http://www.iliadafrica.co.za


RESPIRATORY CARE AFRICA (RCA):
The RCA business was started August 1998 by Sean Reitz and Eleanor Hamer (Clinical Director) and has positioned itself to be the market leader in the supply and service of specialized ICU, PFT and Neurological equipment and related accessories and ancillary consumable products. RCA is an equal opportunity employer with a current staff compliment of 53.

HISTORY: Since RCA’s first trading month in February 1999, the company has expanded and prospered, winning numerous distribution awards and achieving a position of respect both domestically through a loyal Customer base, as well as within the international community.

SECRET TO SUCCESS: RCA’s growth has been accelerated through the aggressive expansion plans of its suppliers, its sales and marketing strengths and a focus on customer service.  

Website: http://www.respiratorycare.co.za

I-SLICES

eyeSlices® are innovative eye treatment pads that combine the natural essence of nature with bio-innovation to bring about an all-in-one solution to all common eye concerns. eyeSlices® is a global first in cryogel polymer technology.  These dermal delivery eye masks reduce the appearance of red eyes, dark circles under eyes, tired eyes, wrinkles and puffy eyes within 5 minutes of use.

HISTORY  Kerryne Krause-Neufeldt spent five years refining a nonchemical eye therapy technology, originally developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in her home before launching the eyeslices brand. Kerryne has won numerous awards for the development of the eyeslices product.

SECRET TO SUCCESS  The innovation behind the eyeSlices’ products and the entrepreneurial energy and sound values will drive the business’ success. 

Website: http://www.eyeslices.com