Kaizen Venture Partners is organizing the 1st Nigerian Annual Distressed and Restructuring Conference to be held in Lagos on March 8th 2010. The theme of the conference is “The Emergence of a New Asset Class” and will focus on ways in which Nigeria can transform the recent local banking crisis into a catalyst for growth.

Kaizen is an investment advisor that seeks to be the premier distressed investment firm in Africa and is committed to promoting distressed assets as a new asset class in Africa. Kaizen is also sponsoring the Kaizen Nigeria Special Situation Fund targeting distress investment opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. We hope to use the conference to highlight the Nigerian opportunity through the voices of the professionals that have legal, financial and operational expertise necessary for distressed asset resolution.

The recent global meltdown and a Nigerian banking system weakened by years of lax supervision culminated in a local crisis that threatens the economic stability of the country. Following a Central Bank audit in the third quarter of 2009, the Nigerian Central Bank Governor injected US$4.13 billion in 10 banks and replaced their executive management. These failed banks represent 32% of the total banking assets in Nigeria and required CBN intervention to prevent a systemic failure. We believe that Nigeria is at the initial phase in the origination of the market for distressed investing and restructuring. The Central Bank has taken the lead in proffering solutions to the financial crisis through the recapitalization of weak banks and the formation of an Asset Management Company (AMCO). Kaizen seeks to support the national effort by leading the private sector in creating a new distressed asset class through the provision of both external capital and scarce technical expertise.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Chijioke Dozie
Director
Kaizen Venture Partners

Ngozi Dozie
Director
Kaizen Venture Partners