Africa’s biggest PE exits are already happening, but only for investors who know where to look. Recently, African PE exits have drawn sharper attention as global economic pressures, currency swings, and shifting investor expectations heighten the demand for clearer liquidity paths. Africa recorded 63 exits in 2024, a striking 47% year-over-year increase and its highest level since the post-pandemic peak in 2022 (82 exits), outperforming global peers such as the United States and Europe, which saw 17% and 19% year-over-year increases, respectively, while Asia declined by 17%.
Behind those numbers lies a sharper story: exits aren’t elusive, they’re increasingly sector-specific. The real question is no longer whether PE firms can exit in Africa, but where and how.
But raw numbers don’t tell the whole story. Africa’s exit-to-investment ratio remained modest at 0.13x, trailing the US (0.36x) and Europe (0.42x). This isn’t a blanket failure. It’s a map. Some sectors, despite
