The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has appointed Bubune Sorkpor as the Fund’s first chief investment officer.
Sorkpor, an investment banker and venture capitalist, is expected to spearhead the investment strategy of the Fund.
He has extensive experience working in investment teams covering North America, Mauritius and Ghana.
Before joining MIIF, Bubune Sorkpor was the lead venture strategist with the Toronto- and New York-based venture capital firm Highline Beta Inc, where he advised Fortune 1,000 companies on new venture acquisitions and partnerships.
Bubune’s portfolio on advisory included the state-owned Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), a $35 billion asset bank, the insurance subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC-I) – a C$1.6 trillion asset group – and Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV).
Before joining Highline Beta, Bubune was chief operations officer at Argon Holdings, the largest integrated media group in Ghana, with investments in media companies such as DDP Outdoor.
While at Argon Holdings, he led negotiations for and acquisition of a life insurance company in partnership with a private equity firm.
He also led the group’s incorporation offshore in Mauritius, as well as acquisitions and investments in the media and real estate industries.
Background in financial services and fintech
Bubune acted as the chief executive of Weston Capital in Ghana, spearheading the launch in 2012 of Ghana’s first specialty mutual fund focused on oil and gas.
Before this, he was an associate consultant at Cedinomics Consulting (now Temple Advisory). At Cedinomics, he led a major revamp of how banks were rated based on customer surveys and a LACE model, a process which involved C-Suite strategy leaders from 25 banks in Ghana and the multinational accounting firm EY (formerly Ernst & Young).
He was the principal advisor on a rights issue for an insurance company and developed growth strategies for banks and insurance companies in Ghana.
Bubune has also focused on supporting and advising start-ups across the world, with a particular interest in fintechs.
He supported seed fundraising efforts of the Delaware-incorporated Inclusive Innovations Inc, serving as its chief operating officer and advisor in raising pre-seed funding, as well as rolling out its service in five African countries.
He has also advised the South Korea-based Asimula, a virtual reality start-up, and is on the advisory board of Pantech Technologies of Ghana.
Academic qualifications
Bubune is an investment advisor, licensed on the Ghana Stock Exchange.
He holds a Master’s degree in management innovation and entrepreneurship from the Smith Business School of Queens’ University, Canada.
He holds another Master’s degree in finance and investment analysis from Amity University in India as well as a BSc (Hons) in statistics and actuarial science from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana.
About MIIF
The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) is a state institution created by an Act of Parliament, the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act 2018 (Act 978) as amended.
This law authorises the establishment of the Fund to manage the equity interests of the Republic of Ghana in mining companies, to receive mineral royalties and other related income due Ghana from mining operations, and to provide for the management and investment of the Fund’s assets.
MIIF has recently acquired a 4.65% stake in Asante Gold Corporation, which is listed on the Toronto and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges and now on the Ghana Stock Exchange.
MIIF also owns 100% of Agyapa Gold Royalties Company Ltd, which it intends to list on the London and Ghana Stock Exchanges.
Source:MIIF appoints Bubune Sorkpor as chief investment officer (asaaseradio.com)