Benchmark International successfully facilitated an investment in Barracuda Holdings (Pty) Ltd by Secha Capital (Pty) Ltd, 27four (Pty) Ltd, and Shade Tree Capital (Pty) Ltd.

Benchmark International successfully facilitated an investment in Barracuda Holdings (Pty) Ltd by Secha Capital (Pty) Ltd, 27four (Pty) Ltd, and Shade Tree Capital (Pty) Ltd.

Benchmark International is proud to announce the successful facilitation of an investment in Barracuda Holdings (Pty) Ltd by Secha Capital (Pty) Ltd, 27four (Pty) Ltd, and Shade Tree Capital (Pty) Ltd. The new investment partnership positions Barracuda for its next phase of growth while maintaining the same quality, reliability and service that customers and suppliers have come to expect.

Secha Capital invests execution capital in Southern Africa’s latent dynamism, unlocked by the operator-investor model. Secha’s Operator-Investor and CEOI models embed experienced operators into portfolio companies to drive growth, de-risk execution and build enduring businesses.

“The next decade in South Africa won’t be defined by capital alone; it will be defined by execution capital, money that arrives with an embedded CEOI, an operating playbook and a deep focus on delivery,” said Brendan J. Mullen, partner at Secha Capital. “Barracuda is a great example of this partnership in action: experienced founders, an on-the-ground CEOI through Shade Tree Capital and aligned institutional investors.”

27four is a diversified financial services group providing multi-management solutions, private equity and impact investment products across Africa. The firm partners with leading entrepreneurs and investors to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns.

“South Africa’s industrial and electronics sectors are critical to the country’s competitiveness and scarce skills development,” added Rory Ord, Head of Private Markets at 27four. “By backing locally embedded owner-operators and founder teams, we believe this model can be replicated across many founder-led industrial and engineering businesses over the coming years.”

Shade Tree Capital is an entrepreneurial investment firm founded by Aengus Stanley. The firm focuses on acquiring and building founder-led industrial and technology businesses in Southern Africa, partnering with management teams and institutional investors to drive operational excellence and long-term, responsible growth.

“This next chapter for Barracuda is about building on the strong foundation,” said Aengus Stanley. “We are excited about combining the experience we bring from other industries with the current team's deep EMS expertise.”

Barracuda Holdings is a leading manufacturer of electronic products, established in 2010. With over 40 years of combined experience in the contract manufacturing industry, the founding partners have built a company that prides itself on quality, innovation and strong relationships with customers and suppliers. The company specialises in manufacturing a wide range of electronic products for various industries, both locally and internationally. Barracuda (Pty) Ltd’s commitment to agility and customer satisfaction sets it apart in a rapidly changing technology sector. Barracuda (Pty) Ltd has the equipment and expertise to assemble electronic products, from sourcing of electronic components to assembling the printed circuit board and testing and integration to a final product.

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Founders Rob Steltman and Ryan Webb echoed that sentiment: “What excited us about this partnership was that it wasn’t just ‘sell and walk away’. It was about handing the keys to a new entrepreneur, staying involved in the areas where we can add the most value—especially with our key customers and complex projects—and supporting Barracuda’s next phase of growth.”

Zelda De Kock, Transaction Director at Benchmark International, stated: “We were privileged to support a transaction marked by sophistication, transparency and a strong alignment between the parties. We are excited to see how this relationship evolves and how the company continues to grow on the back of the combined capabilities and shared commitment”

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