Constantinos TRIPODIS

• Advise and support portfolio company executives with their pre-and Series “A” capital raise and debt funding.
• Design and implement budgeting, forecasting and investor financial models, Pitch Decks, Information Memorandums and set up Investor Data Room.
• Participate in investor calls

Responsibilities:
• Advise and assist the CFO and CEO of Inq. Holdings (a portfolio company) with post-M&A planning and integration of businesses acquired from Vodacom in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, and Cameroon - including completion accounting, 100-day plan, implementing ERP system change and upskilling of the current finance team to PE standards.

Selected Achievements:
• Developed and implemented Group-wide budget planning and financial models, standardised Chart of Accounts, internal controls, DOA, policies & procedures,
• “Cleaned up” grossly misstated AR and AP accounts for the Tanzania subsidiary by implementing interaction between the billing system (Reeve) and accounting software (Sage X3) which produced meaningful/accurate information and thus substantially improving the working capital and cash position.
• Rolled out a new accounting software system (Sage X3) across the Group.
• Successfully concluded “post-completion” analysis with lead to a reduction in the purchase price - potential claim of approx. $5m.

Responsibilities:
• Create annual and long-term plans and budgets that support strategic direction set by the board and correlate with annual operating budgets
• Develop and implement appropriate strategies for ensuring long-term financial viability, maximise long-term growth, efficiency and profits of the group.
• Ensure achievement of annual performance objectives by establishing priorities, assessing business opportunities, determining financial targets and taking operational decisions.
• Provide prompt, thorough, and accurate information to keep the board appropriately informed of the organisation’s financial position.
• Board, Exco and Deal Committee member.
• Lead investor presentations and roadshows.
Selected Achievements:
• Increased YoY Lending by >30% and Net Fee Income >20% by improving data analysis and focused cost and credit management.
• Successfully launched new products - WayaWaya money transfers USA/Kenya and UK/Kenya corridors, Air Rewards in India, Ad-Rewards for MTN in Cote d’ Ivoire, Nano-cash loans in Kenya and Mozambique and new markets, i.e., Indonesia, Oman, Mozambique, amongst others.
• Raised US60mn debt funding and US25mn Series A equity.
• Accomplished a reduction in tax from 30% to 15% by means of a comprehensive tax restructuring.
• PE exit in 2019 - sold to strategic buyer.

CFO - Nigaria
Responsibilities:
• Overhaul the quality/accuracy of budgeting plans, financial reports and cash flow forecasting.
• Automate the manual billing process, as well as drive and oversee the implementation of additional Oracle modules.
• Improve and enhance policies/procedures/ internal controls.

Selected Achievements:
• Achieved an increase in profits through improved margins - prepared and implemented pricing procedures and margin metrics for evaluating all sales proposals.
• Implemented automated billing/invoicing process on Siebel (CRM) and rollout of additional Oracle modules.

CFO - East Africa
Responsibilities:
• Oversight and lead the financial function for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.
• Prepare and budget plans and forecasts.
• Review, restructure and improve financial department, as well as train and mentor finance team.
• “Thought Partner” and “sounding board” to the CEO with formulation & implementation of strategy.
• Improve existing pricing/costing of products and services.
• M&A - in-country member of assisting with the acquisition of Access Kenya Group (listed on Nairobi Stock Exchange).

Selected Achievements:
• Increased operating profit from 7% to 13% through effective cost management.
• Increased cash conversion from 78% to 100% by introducing strict credit management.
• Transformed finance department to meet Group expectations.
• M&A - successfully concluded purchase and integration of Access Kenya and member of the PMI (Post Merger Integration) team responsible for the integration of the finance departments.

Responsibilities:
• Reduce operating costs and tax liability, improve collections, cash flow and quality of financial reporting.
• Restructure loans.
• Product/services - improve costing and pricing.
• “Prep” company for “exit.”

Selected Achievements:
• Increased stagnant revenue by increasing customer/subscriber base by means of “targeted” below-the-line marketing.
• Reduced operating costs - “right-sizing” the company and disposed of unnecessary assets.
• Recovered more than US$15mn of overdue debtors through stringent working capital management.
• ReFi of all loans and improved credit terms with suppliers which substantially improved cash flow.
• Business sold to strategic investor.

Responsibilities:
• Formulate and implement growth strategy.
• Increase revenue and profits.
• Fund raising.

Selected Achievements:
• Increased revenue - initiated new real estate/construction and Agri. Projects in Lagos, Agbara and Keffi.
• Attained an increase in cash through the disposal of industrial property to P&G for US16mn.
• Debt funding - raised US$15mn through Shelter Afrique for tower block apartments in Ikoyi, Lagos.
• Debt funding - raised US12mn for residential project in Agbara.

Responsibilities:

• Overall financial management - responsible for group budgeting, internal controls, financial planning, financial reporting, and establish a treasury function.
• Funding initiatives.

Selected Achievements:
• Set up effective treasury department and transformed finance department.
• Debt restructuring and REFI of existing loans - significantly reducing Group-wide interest expense.
• Arranged funding for hotel project - Radisson Hotel, Lagoon, Lagos.
• Project appraisal and syndicated debt funding of $30m for Honeywell Superfine Foods (Pasta and noodle manufacturer).
• M&A - advised stakeholders on Honeywell’s disposal of minority interest in V-Mobile.

Responsibilities:
• M&A and private placement advisory.
• Source, structure, negotiate and close deals.
• Member of Investment Committee (IC).

Selected Achievements:
• Successfully launched the Natural Resources Advisory department.
• DPP oil lease funding - Denver Energy Exploration LLC, US$18mn, Energex Partners, US$11mn.
• Equity $19, 5mn - Ambiorix Gold-Mining Mozambique, ZAR32, 5mn, Interstate Gold-Mining Co. SA.

Responsibilities:
• Operations - responsible for overall management and increasing revenue and profitability.
• Implement financial systems, internal controls, financial reporting, and cost savings.
• M&A -“prep” and negotiate the disposal of the company.

Selected Achievements:
• Improved profits - increased operating profit margin by 31% by discontinuing loss-making publications.
• Cost reduction - reduced operating costs by 23% through right-sizing work force and wastage.
• Transformed finance department - timeous/accurate financial reporting and internal controls/processes.
• M&A - successful sale of the company to a Private Equity backed strategic buyer.

Responsibilities:
• Strategy formulation and execution.
• Revenue growth.
• Responsible for financial function.
• Stock exchange liaison - engaged with exchange officials and investment community, e.g., analysts, stockbrokers, and fund managers.
• M&A - lead negotiations, structuring and executions of acquisitions.
• Launch IPO.

Selected Achievements:
• Increased revenue from ZAR300mn to ZAR1bn by means of organic growth and acquisitions.
• M&A - acquired and successfully integrated six companies.
• New business development - entered new markets - Australia, Canada, Israel, Norway, and France.
• Implementation of Groupwide ERP financial system.
• IPO - successfully listed the company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in July 1998.

Responsibilities:
• M&A and private placement advisory.
• Source, structure, negotiate and close transactions.

Selected Achievements:
• M&A advisory - Canon Candy, ABC Sweets, Poco Chips for Nimbus Holdings for ZAR117mn.
• Equity and debt for Afritech.com and Trio-Tech.
• Equity financing & IPO advisory for Inter-Trading (Agri-commodities).

Responsibilities:
• Responsible for budgeting, financial reporting, internal controls/procedures, audit, taxation, and treasury.

Selected Achievements:
• Improved costing, pricing, and financial reporting.
• Reduced corporate tax by 17% through group restructuring.
• Reduction in debt costs through improved treasury management.
• Reduced input costs and improved the procurement process through centralisation.