By Kefiloe Kajane
Africa’s crucial aquaculture industry has been boosted by an investment into SanLei™, a leading aquaculture company headquartered in Lesotho.
The transaction positions SanLei to accelerate its expansion towards becoming the largest trout operation of its kind in Africa. The company supplies premium trout to regional and offshore export markets while creating jobs and contributing to food security in Lesotho. Sanlei currently sustains 90 jobs in Lesotho. With planned expansion of the production facilities over the next two to three years, this number is expected to double.
The capital restructuring of SanLei was undertaken by One Thousand & One Voices®, a private family capital fund backed exclusively by industry-leading families largely from the USA.
As part of the transaction, Mergence Investment Managers (Lesotho) (Pty) Ltd acquired a significant minority interest in SanLei on behalf of the Basotho.
SanLei is located on the shores of the Katse Dam in the remote highlands of Lesotho, a site known for its deep, pristine waters and highly favourable environment for growing premium trout.