AFEX launches second round of funding to strengthen Nigeria's agricultural sector

AFRICA, 1 February 2022: AFEX has announced the reopening of its USD 240m Asset-Backed Commercial Paper (ABCP) to help stabilize Nigeria's agriculture sector by providing low-cost loans to Agro-processors to bridge the funding gap between lenders and borrowers, according to media report.

In 2014, Nigeria's AFEX launched its commitment to increasing Africa's agro-tech sector. It helps assist the continent in feeding itself, boosting food security and ensuring more efficient production.

With this new round of funding, the second in AFEX's three-year Commercial Paper program that started in Q4 2021 and raised USD 65 million, it seeks to raise an additional USD 175 million for processors unable to borrow in the commercial paper markets.

AFEX is enhancing the efficiency of commodity trading and enabling capital markets to tap into the African commodities market. The ABCP is a short-term debt instrument typically providing investors with a competitive 15 percent return on their investment, and maturity is up to 270 days, report added.

Agriculture remains one of the most important economic sectors for the continent, employing the majority of the population and accounting for 14 percent of GDP in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, many African economies struggle with food security issues due to the gap between supply and demand.

While banks or other financial institutions typically issue the security itself, the ABCP Notes are sponsored by AFEX Commodities Exchange and the proceeds of the issuance will be used by AFEX Investment Limited to provide pre-qualified Agro-processors with working capital support to enable them to purchase commodities required for their production processes at an agreed price.

AFEX’s security is backed by the commodities serving as the credit enhancement in the transaction. AFEX lists the ABCP on ComX, its commodities trading platform, then engages capital market operators for subscriptions for a set time. Funds raised are used to provide pre-qualified Agro-processors with working capital to purchase commodities required for their production processes at an agreed price.

Ayodeji Balogun, CEO at AFEX said, “AFEX has a strong track record in offering distinctively differentiated and innovative financial instruments to the marketplace, and this new Asset-Backed Commercial Paper will help bridge the gap between Agro-processors and investors.  Access to low-risk funding and capital is critical to empowering Africa to feed herself. We believe in making capital that is a right fit, in terms of timeliness and structure, available for all players in the value chain. Based on our past performance, we are confident that we will attract even more financing from private investors and, subject to value for money, they will help us secure this USD 175m investment in Africa’s food security.”

Image credit: thecapitalquest.com