January 4th, 2023- SPE Capital, an investment firm focused on Africa and the Middle East, announces the acquisition, by its private equity fund SPE AIF I, of a majority stake in Vital, the leading nutritional supplements producer in Tunisia. Vital constitutes the fund’s 9th investment and the 4th in 2022.
Established in 2000, Vital has grown into the leading dietary supplements and herbal medicine manufacturer in Tunisia, with a portfolio of over 400 high quality branded products, marketed in Tunisia and internationally, and 8 million units manufactured each year. Over the past few years, the company has grown to 400 employees and established itself as the leader in the nutritional supplements market in Tunisia, on the back of continuous new product development and consistent organic growth.
This investment confirms SPE Capital’s commitment to furthering the healthcare and wellness sectors in North Africa and comes on the heels of investments in sectors including pharmaceuticals manufacturing and fitness. The investment in Vital includes a primary capital investment to further scale up the company’s product portfolio, boost its sales & marketing and drive its international expansion over the coming years.
Hela Hariz, Partner at SPE Capital said: “This is a first step towards establishing Vital as a major pan-regional player in the rapidly growing nutritional supplements space. This investment is also an opportunity for us to contribute to the company’s ambitious growth plans by boosting its offering to clients, broadening its reach to communities and maximizing its social impact”.
Hatem Ben Rhouma, CEO of Vital added: “Vital is a prosperous company which has grown consistently and has maintained its leading position in Tunisia. This partnership with SPE Capital will enable us to strengthen our position in our markets and improve our quality, social and environmental standards. It will be an important step in the life of the company.”
The SPE Capital team was led by Hela Hariz and Hatem Ben Chaabane.
SPE Capital was advised by Louati & Associates Law Firm (legal advisor), PwC Tunisia (financial and tax advisor), ERM and IBIS (ESG and Impact advisors), Galenisys and BlueBirds (Commercial and strategic advisors).
About Vital
Founded in 2000 in Tunisia, Vital is specialized in the field of phytotherapy, therapy, well-being, and cosmetology. Vital is the leader in natural herbal food supplements with a portfolio of over 400 high quality products, 8 million units are manufactured each year. The company has about 400 employees of which 24% are managers.
For more information, please visit: https://vital.com.tn
About SPE Capital
Founded in 2016, SPE Capital is an independent Private Equity firm focused on Africa and the Middle East. SPE Capital is led by an experienced on-the-ground investment team, with strong local knowledge and a proven track record of investing in growth companies. With offices spanning across the region, SPE Capital has a thorough understanding of businesses in the region and strives to apply best international practices and governance standards. SPE Capital is a signatory to the United Nations Impact Principles, an investor initiative developed by the UNEPFI and the UN Global Compact and supports the “2X Challenge” – an initiative of development finance institutions of the G7 countries.
For more information, please visit: www.spe-capital.com