Optomise provides investors with access to unique alternative investments.

Optomise Ventures Limited is an Authorised Financial Service Provider.   FSP Name: OPTOMISE VENTURES LIMITED    FSP License No.: 49628

About Optomise

Optomise Ventures provides investors with access to unique private investments both in South Africa and abroad.

 

We provide investors with access to high growth sectors that deliver strong, sustainable and measurable returns.

 

Optomise has over R500m of assets under management across 28 diversified portfolio investments.

Philosophy of the Fund

The philosophy of the fund is to generate high income for investors while ensuring preservation of their capital.

 

Optomise achieves the above by funding businesses with a strong asset base that are generating predictable and regular cash flows.

Team

Gadi Cohen
Managing Director  I  BBusSci CA(SA) 

Gadi is a cofounder of Optomise, an alternative investments company which offers investors alternative investment opportunities including private real estate both domestically and offshore. Gadi has raised over R550 million in equity from individual investors and facilitated more than 30 portfolio investments. Noteworthy South African real estate investments include The Rockefeller in Cape Town, The Voco in Rosebank and The Apollo in Sunninghill. Collectively, these prime developments have more than 1,200 units and have won various awards. Gadi has extensive experience in business development, product innovation and tax structuring.

Maqhawe Dlamini
Investment Committee  I  Business
Administration (Mast), Bachelor of Science

Maqhawe has over 25 years’ experience in the South African investment industry in various roles spanning Quantitative Analysis, Research Analyst, Portfolio Manager and eventually Chief Investment Officer. Maqhawe is currently the Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Amada Investment Management. Previously he worked at Mvunonala/Vele Asset Managers where he was the executive head of investments, and prior to that, he served as the General Manager for Listed Equities at the Public Investment Corporation. With Metal Industries Benefits Fund Administrators, Maqhawe served for a period of six years in the role of Chief Investment Officer and was a portfolio manager in the same entity prior to that. He commenced his investment industry career with Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank – Asset Management division, as an analyst followed by the portfolio management role.

Namir Waisberg
Executive Director  I  Actuary CFA

Namir is a cofounder of Optomise and CEO of Willis Burton Capital Partners, an investments and advisory business that specialises in domestic & offshore alternative investments. Namir has experience in M&A, Private Equity,
Real Estate and Venture Capital. In 2009 Namir cofounded StorageWorx, a self-storage business, with over 2,500 storage units located across fifteen prime locations throughout South Africa. StorageWorx was sold to a JSE listed REIT. Prior to this Namir was an Investment Banker with Investec Bank. Namir was previously a Board Member of CFA South African and is currently a Board Member of the FTSE-JSE Index Committee.

Mark Collie
Executive Director  I  BCom

Mark is the cofounder of Airvantage, a fintech provider of mobile financial and value-added services for mobile network operators. Airvantage was sold to JSE-listed Blue Label telecoms in 2018. In 2009, he founded Icon South Africa in partnership with Icon UK. Icon was appointed by FIFA to design, produce and install the signage and branding for the FIFA Confederation Cup 2009 and the FIFA World Cup 2010. Mark was previously the operations director of Wideopen Platform, the leader in large format outdoor advertising in South Africa which he sold to Primedia Limited in 2006. Mark was previously involved in corporate finance and private equity with the Buffet Investment Group.

Rakgomo Masilela
Investment Committee  I  Equity & Data Analyst

Rakgomo is an experienced Equity & Data Analyst as well as a Client Experience Specialist. With over six years in the FinTech industry, he has a proven track record of working collaboratively with sales, marketing and development teams to achieve company goals through product developments to increase customer experience, revenue gains, and advance the sales cycle of the company. Having this thorough background in data analytics, sales management and customer service & communication, Rakgomo is able to build strong, long lasting relationships with organisation’s key customers. Rakgomo’s experience is underpinned by a deep and varied academic record, which is most appropriate and sought after in the financial sector; he leads in investment analysis & management, banking & payments systems, financial management and data science amongst others

Michael Roffey
Executive Director  I  BCom CA(SA)

Michael is a cofounder of Optomise and brings an in-depth knowledge of Private Equity, Real Estate and innovation to Optomise’s offering. He pioneered cellular micro-lending and device financing in South Africa and has been involved in the telecommunications industry for more than 10 years. His products and services are today available in over 15 countries across three continents. Together with partners, he founded the largest independent cellular retail credit business and handset finance business in South Africa.
These businesses were sold to a JSE-listed company in 2013 and 2017 respectively.

Lloyd Priestman
Portfolio & Risk Management  I  CA(SA), (CAIA)

Lloyd has over 15 years of experience in Financial Services. Lloyd is both a Charted Accountants CA(SA) as well as a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA). With his vast industry skillset and sector experience, Lloyd has become an expert in asset management, private equity and debt and corporate finance. In addition to consulting for several organisations and non-profits as an ‘external’ FD function.
Lloyd specialises in Portfolio and Risk Management.

Private Credit Fund

Philosophy of the Fund

The philosophy of the fund is to generate high income for investors while ensuring preservation of their capital.

 

Optomise achieves the above by funding businesses with a strong asset base that are generating predictable and regular cash flows.

Investments that are asset backed provide a significant level of

 

downside protection should the operating partner be unable to repay

 

both returns and capital.

 

 

Optomise seeks to fund operating businesses that own tangible assets

 

(for example vehicles or fixed property) in order to recover capital in

 

the event of any defaults that may occur.

 

 

A fundamental component of a target investment for Optomise, is the

 

management team of the business. Optomise values the reputation,

 

moral and ethical values of the management team on an equal basis

 

to that of the financial position and performance of the business.

Fund Details

The fund is close ended, meaning capital will be returned to investors at the end of the agreed investment term.

 

The investment term will vary deal by deal. The target investment terms will be between 4 – 5 years.

Returns

Optomise targets returns in excess of the prevailing South African

 

prime interest rate plus an additional 5% per annum.

 

*The above targeted returns are before fees.

Deal Sourcing

Optomise sources deals from the following:

• The Optomise network of high-net-worth individuals and


    entrepreneurs.

• Partners that Optomise has already successfully deployed capital

    with through its various S12J managed venture capital funds.


• Portfolio companies of the Buffet Investment Services Group.

Asset Allocation

The Optomise fund exposure to any single investment position will

 

be as follows:


• Maximum Exposure: 20%


• Minimum Exposure: 5%

Note in T&C: Initial exposure may be lower but with high probability to achieve minimum amount within 6 months.

We believe this approach allows us to focus on and build a deeper  understanding of the underlying companies. In addition, it allows for enhanced portfolio monitoring.

Portfolio

1. The Voco Hotel

In 2020, Optomise raised over R100m for The Voco Hotel situated at the Bank development in the heart of Rosebank. The hotel was developed by the Blend Property Group.

The multi-use property boasts a 4 Star Hotel, large co-working space, numerous luxury office spaces and one of the most popular restaurants in South Africa, “Proud Mary”.

Optomise secured the following investment terms:

  • 70% net income yield (guaranteed by the Blend Property Group)- Income guarantee in place for 48 months
  • Put option to sell the investment at a minimum of initial investment value plus 10% after 48 months
  • Net IRR achieved of 16.09%.

*Net IRR is after all tax benefits, fees and exit taxes. All income has been paid out to investors on a semi-annual basis in line with all investor commitments.

2. The Apollo

In 2021, Optomise raised and deployed over R70m in the largest ever office to residential property conversion in South Africa.

Redeveloped and operated by Africrest Property Group, the Apollo has over 600 residential units, as well as an extended stay hotel catering to business travelers.

Optomise secured the following investment terms:

  • 25% net income (guaranteed by the Africrest Property Group)
    – Income guarantee in place for 60 months
  • Put option to sell the investment at a minimum of initial investment value plus 10% after 60 months
  • Net IRR is currently tracking 16.14%.

*Net IRR is after all tax benefits, fees and exit taxes.

3. WeBuyCars

In 2020, Optomise partnered with WeRentCars (WRC), a retail vehicle rental company based in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

WRC works in conjunction with car dealerships to offer clients who do not traditionally qualify for vehicle finance, the option of renting the vehicle from WRC for a 54-month period.

Optomise has assisted WRC in expanding their business into Gauteng by raising over R50m in capital in order to fund the purchases of vehicles. Optomise secured the following investment terms:

  • 25% net income yield (guaranteed by the WRC shareholders)
  • Income guarantee in place for 36 months
  • Monthly payments consist of interest and capital, and amortise the capital invested to a residual value of 25% of intital cost
  • Put option to sell the vehicles to WRC at the end of the 36-month period for predefined residual value of 25% of cost
  • Net IRR achieved of 25.18%.

*Net IRR is after all tax benefits, fees and exit taxes.

4. The Rockefeller

The Rockefeller apartments and hotel is a mixed-use development located in the Foreshore in the Cape Town Central Business District.

The Rockefeller boasts 395 luxury apartments with multiple restaurants, sky bar and co-working spaces. The Rockefeller has won the award for the 2021/2022 Best High-Rise Residential Development in Africa.

Optomise has secured the following investment terms:

  • 7% net income guarantee
  • Income guarantee in place for 60 months
  • Annual Income growth fixed at CPI
  • Current Net income (7.9%)
  • Net IRR is currently tracking 14.92%.

*Net IRR is after all tax benefits, fees and exit taxes. Since 2019, Optomise has delivered net income from The Rockefeller in excess of 7% (currently 7.9%). All income has been paid out to investors on a semi-annual basis in line with all investor commitments.

5. Optomise Solar

Optomise has partnered with Green Matters Engineering in order to successfully deploy capital into multiple Solar Systems in the Gauteng area.

Optomise secured the following investment terms:

  • 9% Guaranteed Yield
  • Monthly payments consist of interest and capital, and amortise the capital invested to a residual value of 30% of initial cost.
  • Put option to sell the solar plant to the relevant property owner at the end of the 36 months for a predefined residual value of 30% of cost

Net IRR achieved of 18.40%.

*Net IRR is after all tax benefits, fees and exit taxes.

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