D I V E R S I F I E D I N V E S T I N G
Investment Portfolio
Norsad has invested in more than 170 companies in various sectors and countries in Africa. We seek diversified opportunities towards our portfolio construction and target investments that generate attractive returns and create positive social impact. Our current diversified investment portfolio comprises over 30 companies.
Case Study - Diversifying into Sub-Saharan Africa
Watu Credit - Asset Financing for Motorbikes in Uganda
As part of our 2030 strategy to expand into new markets, we invested in Uganda for the first time in 2022 with a US$5 million disbursement to Watu Credit. Our mission is to positively impact lives by supporting millions of Africans to fulfil their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs. Financial inclusion is a significant bottleneck for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the African continent. Access to finance is needed to support and help SMMEs grow into sustainable businesses. Watu is an asset FinTech company committed to transforming urban mobility and the financial lending landscape. The Company offers asset financing to meaningfully improve employment and opportunities for those with the greatest barriers to accessing financial services. Watu works with authorised dealers to provide access to affordable and flexible financing for two and three-wheelers motorbikes through flexible payment terms of up to 24 months. The loan comes with comprehensive insurance and a GPS tracking service included in the repayment instalment. Creating an enabling environment with boda boda’s loan from Watu Boda bodas (motorbikes) plays a significant role in Uganda’s transport industry and contributes towards its socio-economic growth. For many people struggling to earn a sustainable livelihood, the boda boda business has enabled them to become entrepreneurs and indirectly offers employment opportunities to many others. From the urban centres in Uganda to the most remote villages, boda bodas are quick, inexpensive, and readily available to get the people where they need to be. They provide a huge boost to small business owners who make substantial savings while using boda bodas to transport goods across the country. To date, Watu has created over 3,000 direct jobs and has provided over 700,000 loans across 7 countries which have positively impacted the lives of more than 4.5 million people. Through an easy application process, Watu has significantly lowered the barriers to access to finance, providing SMMEs with ease of access and convenience.`
