Nikhath Zigmund
Private Equity And Investment Professional
Nairobi
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Head of Energy, Africa
FORTESCUE
1 2023 - Current
- Primary responsibility for developing Fortescue’s green hydrogen strategy in Africa
- Leading the development of c
- $800m green hydrogen-based fertilizer project in Kenya and ammonia export project in Namibia
- Responsibilities include overseeing the deal structuring, economic and market analysis, investor engagement, securing financing, leading negotiations with key stakeholders (e.g
- State utility, government ministries)
- Incorporate strategic insights on global green hydrogen trends, regulatory changes and government policies to evaluate M&A opportunities
- Manage multidisciplinary teams across Kenya and Namibia, reporting to global Investment Committee
Business Development Director, Kipeto Board Director
BTE Renewables
01.2017 - 01.2023
- Company Overview: Renewable energy company, 100% owned by Actis
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Led the development of the 100MW Kipeto Energy PLC (KEP) wind project, the second largest in Kenya
- Responsible for bringing the $310m project to financial close, including raising $232m of external debt from the DFC
- Liaised with all major stakeholders including government entities, project lenders, shareholders, political risk insurance providers, community members
- Structured innovative $10m debt-for-nature instrument from The Nature Conservancy to fund biodiversity programmes at KEP
- Member of the Board of Directors for KEP and of the Board Audit Committee, providing strategic oversight in financial, regulatory matters
- Led acquisition of an 86MW operational solar project in South Africa, including leading the financial and commercial due diligence
- Led the development of a 50MW wind and battery storage project in Kenya, secured $1.3m USTDA grant
- Led the establishment of the Kipeto Community Development Trust, negotiating directly with the Maasai community and government stakeholders to create a unique governance structure where local community interests are represented through locally elected Trustees in partnership with KEP
- Business development activities on utility scale solar, wind and battery storage projects and developing pipeline across several African markets
- This includes leading due diligence workstreams, commercial structuring, contract negotiations, market analysis, stakeholder engagement, and presenting investment opportunities to the BTE Board/Actis Investment Committee
- Supported Actis in the BTE exit, including overseeing transaction materials, financial model, valuation, deal negotiations with minority partner, managing due diligence process
- Renewable energy company, 100% owned by Actis
Investment Manager, Africa Renewable Energy Fund
BERKELEY Energy
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Company Overview: Private equity fund focussed on renewables in sub-Saharan Africa with $200m funds under management
- Led the development of the 42MW Achwa hydro project in Uganda, responsible for bringing to financial close with $84m of external syndicated debt
- Led investment strategy on renewable energy projects across Africa with a focus on projects in Ghana and Ethiopia
- Liaised with fund investors on renewable energy sector, project updates, pipeline, presented investment committee papers
- Private equity fund focussed on renewables in sub-Saharan Africa with $200m funds under management
Investment Principal, Africa Energy Team
ACTIS
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Company Overview: A global sustainable infrastructure investor with c.$15bn under management
- Key deals include:
- $202m acquisition of Eneo, the national integrated electricity utility in Cameroon
- Led commercial negotiations, financial analysis and valuation, tax, structuring and operational due diligence
- Led negotiations with project lenders (8 Development Finance Institutions, 5 commercial banks)
- Post-acquisition, closely involved in business transformation and led financial workstreams on working capital management, budget and forecasting, commercial analysis and lender refinancing
- Member of the Board of Directors
- $255m share purchase agreement for three integrated electricity, water and waste-water utilities, Morocco
- Led technical, environmental, commercial and structuring due diligence
- Involved on all key commercial contract negotiations including share purchase agreement
- Evaluated investment opportunities across throughout Africa, presenting new deal opportunities to investment committee
- Investment management of existing deals and investor reporting
- A global sustainable infrastructure investor with c.$15bn under management
- Key deals include:
Manager, Business Development
EMPOWER LTD
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Company Overview: Emerging markets start-up 100% owned by Actis, providing modular power generation solutions
- Created market entry strategy across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia
- Managed sales pipeline by originating deals, facilitating client interactions, structuring proposals and project scope; defining bidding strategy for international tenders
- Created all financial and operational models for power plant operations, fuel supply and return analyses
- Emerging markets start-up 100% owned by Actis, providing modular power generation solutions
Strategy Consultant, Energy Group
PA Consulting GROUP
01.2005 - 01.2008
- Company Overview: Global Management Consultancy firm with over 3000 employees
- Worked on numerous consultancy projects across USA, South Africa and the UK
- Key clients include independent power producers, electricity sector regulators and utilities
- Global Management Consultancy firm with over 3000 employees
Education
Master in Business Administration -
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
BOSTON, ma 01.2010 - 01.2012
Master of Arts - Computer Science
CAMBRIDGE University
cambridge, UK 01.2001 - 01.2004
Timeline
Business Development Director, Kipeto Board Director
BTE Renewables
01.2017 - 01.2023
Investment Manager, Africa Renewable Energy Fund
BERKELEY Energy
01.2016 - 01.2017
Investment Principal, Africa Energy Team
ACTIS
01.2012 - 01.2016
Master in Business Administration -
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
01.2010 - 01.2012
Manager, Business Development
EMPOWER LTD
01.2008 - 01.2010
Strategy Consultant, Energy Group
PA Consulting GROUP
01.2005 - 01.2008
Master of Arts - Computer Science
CAMBRIDGE University
01.2001 - 01.2004
Head of Energy, Africa
FORTESCUE
1 2023 - Current
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