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Africa Lighthouse Capital, the private equity firm founded by Motswana financier Bame Pule, has acquired a controlling 76% stake in Medlane Holdings, a leading day hospital in Botswana.
The Gaborone-based Medlane specializes in ophthalmic procedures, from corneal transplants to retinal surgeries. With the fresh capital injection, founders Warren Lane and Dr. Tyler Lane plan to widen the hospital’s therapeutic offerings, roll out new medical specialties, and expand into preventative care and pharmacy services.
The deal comes as Botswana faces mounting pressure to localize specialized healthcare and cut its dependence on outbound medical tourism. “We’re excited to work with Medlane’s founders to build a citizen-owned national champion in a sector still dominated by foreign players,” Pule said in an interview. He added that Africa Lighthouse will also back the launch of Medlane’s occupational health and wellness unit, aimed at driving down healthcare costs and easing the country’s disease burden.
Founded in 2012, Africa Lighthouse Capital has carved out a niche as a transformation-focused investor in southern Africa. The firm’s portfolio spans insurance brokerage, pension fund management, funeral cover, healthcare and consumer credit. In 2017-18, ALC raised $50 million from Botswana’s Public Officers Pension Fund to bolster its pan-African expansion.
