Dentons Morocco has advised private equity firm Mediterrania Capital Partners (MCP) on the acquisition of a minority stake in Groupe Compagnie Financière Africaine (Groupe COFINA), through its third fund (MC III). This acquisition represents MCP's first investment in the Ivory Coast.

Along with technical assistance, MCP's funding will enable Groupe COFINA to raise up to €50 million in capital and debt during the next three years. The arrival of MCP among Groupe COFINA’s stakeholders will allow for both the consolidation of Groupe COFINA 's finances and the increase of its available funds to finance entrepreneurs.

Founded in 2013, Groupe COFINA is the leading meso-finance institution in West and Central Africa and the first African financial institution dedicated to meso-finance, which offers the opportunity for African SMEs to have access to finance. Present in six French-speaking African countries – Congo-Brazzaville, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Guinea Conakry, Mali and Senegal – Groupe COFINA has financed more than 40,000 projects.

MCP focuses on growth investments for SMEs in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. It started its operations in 2008 under Fons Mediterrania Capital, and since 2013 has been an independent General Partner Structure. In addition to its headquarters in Malta, MCP has offices in Abidjan, Algiers, Casablanca and Cairo.

The Casablanca-based Dentons team advising MCP was led by Morocco managing partner Patrick Larrivé, of counsel Benoit de Monval, and senior associate Zakia Jabri-Abbadi.