Nigeria-based e-commerce company Jumia raised €120m ($150m) in series C funding on Tuesday, with parent company Africa Internet Group (AIG) contributing $135m of the total.
AIG is a partnership between mobile phone networks MTN and Millicom International Cellular, and corporate-backed venture firm and incubator Rocket Internet. Rocket Internet increased its stake in Jumia from 26.9% to 28.7% through the round.
The rest of the cash came from Jumia’s existing shareholders, which include venture capital firm Summit Partners. They invested the cash through BGN Brillant Services, a holding company overseen by Rocket Internet.
Incubated within Rocket Internet and launched in 2012, Jumia sells lifestyle products, consumer electronics and home appliances online. It operates in nine African countries, as well as the UK, and claims to be the largest e-commerce company on the continent.
Summit led the company’s $26m series A round in March 2013, and Millicom itself contributed a further $35m three months later. The latest round pushed Jumia’s post-money valuation to $555m.
Pieter Verkade, MTN’s chief commercial officer, said: “Working with our strategic partners, we have the best possible set-up to accelerate the growth of online businesses in Africa and bring even more exciting e-commerce services to our customers. MTN believes that Africa is better placed to drive the next stage of growth in global e-commerce.”