Stadia Corporate Advisory (‘SCA’) are mid-market corporate finance specialists. We are sector and country agnostic, though much of our work relates to the growth sectors in Africa which international capital is focussing: whether old-economy businesses such as FMCG, property or manufacturing, or technology-driven businesses addressing Africa’s growing need for connectivity, off-grid power, agriculture, financial inclusion and education.
We have worked for African clients with a wide range of business models, and developed relationships with a diversity of African and international funders from traditional private equity and venture capital to Development Finance Institutions and all points in between. Every combination of founder and investor is unique; at SCA we pride ourselves on our bespoke approach to every transaction.
In addition to preparing our clients to meet institutional investors, our role is to do the heavy lifting during the capital raising process, allowing them to keep running the business. With a relatively senior team, we aim to give our clients more contact time with the SCA principal leading the deal. Our engagement is straightforward, transparent and designed to align our interests with those of our client.
Our leadership team has a collective of 50 years’ experience in corporate finance, private equity, asset management and listed equities across global markets. Since 2013, we have advised on transactions in excess of $300mm in various sectors across several African countries.
At Stadia Corporate Advisory we know that raising capital can be a life-changing event for founders and a pivotal moment in their company’s evolution. Finding the right investor at an appropriate valuation makes all the difference; as an experienced, independent advisor we deliver the appropriate outcome for our client.
SCA partners with African entrepreneurs who seek equity and debt capital for growth. We prepare them to encounter institutional investors, often for the first time, by interrogating their strategy and creating effective investment models and materials. We identify and engage with investors who can bring strategic value and capital. As those investor conversations progress we advise our client on structuring, negotiating and manage the process through due diligence and legals to financial close.
SCA has experience in the development of large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa. We perform comprehensive evaluations of project and development timelines in order to establish the funding requirement, source capital and present a coherent investment narrative to potential investors, supported by investment materials.
SCA raises short-term debt for trade finance and working capital. We source capital and support transactions, but particularly understand the deal structures that specialist investors are looking for and help our clients present the appropriate profile.
SCA has the skills to find and evaluate local or international potential acquisitions for our clients. SCA conducts a search and assessment of potential and existing targets and runs the acquiring process, producing the necessary models and supporting documentation to drive the negotiation and transaction to close.
SCA analyses of our client’s operations to identify suitability for disposal. We will conduct a full investment analysis before identifying and engaging with potential buyers. As above, SCA will advise on the structuring of the deal, negotiate terms and manage the process to close.
SCA evaluates our clients’ existing business models to develop strategic insights on structure, efficiency and growth. As appropriate we make recommendations for new capital, restructuring, disposal or acquisition, supported by robust financial analysis.
As an independent engagement, or a part of a capital raise or disposal SCA conducts financial analysis of our clients’ operations to establish values under various accepted business valuation methodologies.
Property Development Capital Raise
Connectivity ISP Capital Raise
Beef Abattoir Capital Raise
Financial Services Valuation
Smart-Agricultural Farming Capital Raise
Retail Valuation
Connectivity Capital Raise
BEE Capital Raise
ICT Advisory
Railway Valuation
Mining Capital Raise
Security Services Debt Raise
Biomass Renewable Energy
Property Listing
Club Med Property Sale and Leaseback
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Rob has worked in a variety of roles in the financial industry over a 17-year career. He joined UBS in London in 1996 having graduated in political science at the University of Edinburgh. Rob worked in corporate finance for two years before joining and eventually leading the merger arbitrage desk for a further four years. In 2002, he was appointed head of hedge funds non-Japan and Asia for UBS equities in Hong Kong where he structured and placed several public and private equity and equity lined trades. In 2006, Rob was portfolio manager for two long short catalyst driven equity funds, Optis Global and Oystercatcher. Rob has been sourcing, structuring and funding deals with a bias towards Africa since 2011. Rob joined Stadia Corporate Advisory in November 2013.
Doreen is an SME advisor and financial analyst with over 10 years’ experience working with companies listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange as well as SME’s and Corporates based in Kenya. Her expertise includes but is not limited to business valuation and transaction advisory services for companies looking to capital raise or change ownership.
Doreen also has experience in business advisory – providing guidance to businesses on how to implement sturdy systems and structures to absorb capital injections as well as increase efficiency and profitability. She also has experience in insolvency matters.
Doreen studied Actuarial Science at Cass Business School (now Bayes University) and has previously worked at Zamara as an Actuarial Analyst and African Alliance Investment Bank and Kestrel Capital in the roles of Equity Analyst and Corporate Advisory.
Kudzai graduated from the Midlands State University in Zimbabwe in 2017 with a Bachelor of Commerce Economics (Honours). After which, Kudzai joined Corporate Excellence Financial Advisory Services in Zimbabwe where he gained experience as financial analyst focusing on Mergers and Acquisitions and capital raising in Africa for listed and unlisted clients. Kudzai also has considerable experience in advising SMEs in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Kudzai’s skills set include financial modelling and analysis, business valuation and deal structuring.
Harry has worked in finance since he graduated from Cambridge University in 1994 with a degree in Japanese. After two years of corporate finance with S.G. Warburg he moved into the Japanese equity market, working for a number of bulge bracket firms and ultimately running European client franchises for Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital. In 2011 he resigned from Barclays Capital to move to Cape Town where he helped start up BPI Capital Africa, a sub-Saharan listed equities business. Having built a global client franchise for BPI, in 2015 Harry became Head of Equities for African Alliance, a top tier African equity house based in Johannesburg with a network of offices across the continent. Harry joined the Stadia Corporate Advisory team in 2017.
Andrew graduated with a Bachelor of Business Science (Honours) in Finance, and a Post-graduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of Cape Town in 2011, before completing his articles and qualifying as a chartered accountant with EY in 2014. During his time with the firm he worked in both the assurance and transaction advisory divisions in Cape Town, servicing various public and private entities across numerous sectors, including retail and financial services. Following a secondment to EY’s Wealth and Asset Management division in New York, Andrew returned to South Africa and joined the Stadia Corporate Advisory team in August 2015.
Vincent graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Economics, and Honours in Economics from the University of Zululand in 2014. He then worked in the banking sector before moving over to academia to lecture on the regulatory fundamentals in banking and finance. During this time he also lectured and authored study material for investments topics regarding finance. In August 2016, Vincent joined the Stadia Corporate Advisory team.
Stuart graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Economics from the University of Cape Town. Throughout his undergraduate studies Stuart has interned in a variety of roles within the asset management industry. Upon completing his studies, Stuart joined the Stadia Corporate Advisory team in February 2018.
Sian graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) from the University of Cape Town in 1997. After completing her Masters in Laws (LLM) degree ( in 2003, she held legal consulting roles working with clients ranging from private to publicly listed companies. She worked for Michalsons Attorneys as a Senior Associate Attorney for 20 months following which she then established Sian Evans and Associates in November 2009. Her commercial legal expertise comprise of all facets of contract negotiation and drafting across different continents. Sian has been at the helm in own legal consulting firm for the past 9 years. She joined Stadia Corporate Advisory team as in-house council in October 2018.