Established in 1918, in France under the iconic brand “La Cigogne,” Solevo boasts a heritage spanning over a century. Rooted in reliability and quality, our journey in Africa began in 1946, evolving into a pan-African brand with over 75 years of impactful operations.
Today, Solevo’s influence extends across 8 capillary networks in West and Central Africa, with a team of 80+ experts distributing over 1000 products. Originally acquired by Helios Investment Partners and Temasek in 2017, and later by a consortium led by Development Partners International in 2023, Solevo continues to adapt and thrive.
Solevo Group traces its roots back to 1918 when it was established in France under the iconic brand “La Cigogne,” part of the Societe Commercial de Potasse D’Alsace.
Solevo’s journey in Africa began in 1946 with the opening of Solevo Madagascar. Over the years, Solevo evolved into a pan-African brand with a significant impact on the continent. Today, Solevo’s influence extends across 8 capillary networks in West and Central Africa, with a team of 80+ experts distributing over 1000 products.
In 2011 Fertilizer and Input Holding BV was acquired by the Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), becoming the African fertilizer and inputs platform of the commodities firm. The product portfolio encompassed fertilizers, crop protection, chemicals, and seeds.
In November 2016, Helios Investment Partners, in collaboration with Temasek, completed the acquisition of 100% of the African fertilizers and inputs platform of Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC). This acquisition was part of the corporate carveout of LDC’s African Inputs business. Under the new ownership, the fertilizers and inputs platform underwent a transformation and was rebranded as Solevo. Over the years, the distribution network expanded to include Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mali, Ghana and Senegal.
In April 2023, Solevo was acquired by the Africa-focused private equity firm Development Partners International (DPI, alongside minority co-investors South Suez and European development finance institution, DEG. Working with new owners, Solevo will focus on continuing to deliver on its ambitious growth strategies of product and market expansion, in addition to digitalising its supply-chains, to consolidate its position as Africa’s “partner of choice” and leading distributor of critical specialty chemical products.
