Africa Finance Corporation Clinches Six Top Awards for Pioneering Capital Market Deals

Africa Finance Corporation Earns Global Acclaim with Six Prestigious Awards for Excellence in Capital Markets, Treasury Innovation, and Transformational African Infrastructure Financing.

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has once again cemented its reputation as a trailblazer in African capital markets, receiving six distinguished honors at the 2025 Global Banking & Markets Africa Awards. The awards were presented during the renowned Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa—a premier platform recognizing exceptional achievements in African financial markets.

These accolades, which span multiple categories and highlight landmark transactions across various regions and sectors, underscore AFC’s pivotal role in advancing sustainable infrastructure, unlocking global capital, and driving economic transformation across Africa.

Award-Winning Transactions Reflect Deep Financial Expertise

1. Quasi-Sovereign/GRE Treasury & Funding Team of the Year

AFC’s Treasury and Funding team stood out for its strategic leadership in crafting complex financing structures that successfully draw international investment into African infrastructure. Key milestones include the closure of a US$400 million Shariah-compliant Commodity Murabaha facility and a groundbreaking US$1.16 billion syndicated loan—both of which significantly expanded AFC’s global investor reach. These achievements were further validated by the Corporation’s top-tier credit ratings from S&P Global (China) Ratings and China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. Ltd (CCXI), marking a new era of Asian investor confidence in African infrastructure.

2. Syndicated Loan Deal of the Year: €1.87 Billion for Nigeria’s Bank of Industry (BOI)

AFC’s role as Global Coordinator, Lead Co-Arranger, Underwriter, Bookrunner, and Guarantor for the €1.87 billion syndicated loan for Nigeria’s Bank of Industry (BOI) marks one of the largest and most significant transactions in the continent’s development finance landscape. The deal represents BOI’s largest-ever capital raise and enhances its capacity to finance trade and industrial projects throughout Nigeria.

AFC’s comprehensive involvement and risk-sharing position in the transaction earned it earlier accolades, including:

• Guarantor of the Year, Africa

• Market Innovation Award, Africa (IJGlobal Awards)

• African Deal of the Year (Global Capital Syndicated Loan Awards)

This transformative financing reinforces AFC’s role as a trusted orchestrator of complex, high-impact deals.

3. West Africa Deal of the Year: Nigeria’s Inaugural US$917 Million Domestic Dollar Bond

AFC served as Global Coordinator for the historic inaugural domestic dollar bond issuance by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN). The US$917 million bond issuance, carrying a 9.75% coupon with a five-year tenor, was heavily oversubscribed by 180%, reflecting strong investor confidence. Listed on both the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and FMDQ Securities Exchange, the deal drew participation from a wide base of investors, including Nigerian diaspora and institutional investors, setting a precedent for future sovereign capital market activity within the region.

4. Securitization Deal of the Year: BUA Industries US$200 Million Corporate Finance Facility

AFC also earned high praise for its advisory role in structuring a US$200 million securitization facility for BUA Industries Limited. Facilitated by Afreximbank, this facility is critical to BUA’s expansion across a range of sectors including cement, sugar, flour, oil processing, and real estate. This marks AFC’s second advisory engagement with the BUA Group, demonstrating a successful, ongoing partnership aimed at supporting African industrial champions and catalyzing economic diversification.

5. Financial Institutions Bond Deal of the Year: Ecobank Transnational’s US$400 Million Bond

In a major step toward revitalizing Sub-Saharan Africa’s capital markets, AFC acted as Joint Lead Manager in the successful issuance of Ecobank Transnational’s US$400 million bond. This 10.125% senior bond, maturing in 2029, was issued under the 144A/Reg S format and represents the first public Eurobond by a Sub-Saharan African bank since 2021. The transaction marks a milestone in market re-entry and showcases AFC’s unwavering commitment to enabling financial institutions to tap global capital to fund inclusive growth.

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6. Quasi-Sovereign/GRE Bond Deal of the Year: AFC’s US$500 Million Eurobond

Capping off the recognition, AFC’s own return to global debt markets was celebrated with the award for Quasi-Sovereign/GRE Bond Deal of the Year. The US$500 million 144A/Reg S Eurobond, issued with a competitive 5.55% coupon and five-year tenor, achieved more than 2.5x oversubscription and a record-tight Treasury spread for AFC. This reflects robust investor confidence in the Corporation’s credit profile, financial performance, and governance standards.

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Driving Africa’s Development with Innovation and Impact

AFC President and CEO Samaila Zubairu expressed profound appreciation for the recognition, stating:

“These awards affirm AFC’s unwavering dedication to pioneering innovative financial solutions that enable sustainable development across Africa. We are honored to be recognized by our industry peers and grateful to the exceptional AFC team whose talent and tireless work continue to drive Africa’s transformation.”

Banji Fehintola, Executive Board Member and Head of Financial Services at AFC, added:

“These accolades reflect AFC’s role as a trusted partner in both African and global capital markets. They showcase our collective achievements in shaping a dynamic, resilient financial landscape across the continent.”

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Outlook: Scaling Impact, Unlocking Africa’s Full Potential

AFC continues to expand its strategic footprint globally, leveraging its strong capital markets capabilities to finance high-impact infrastructure projects across Africa. The Corporation remains committed to promoting:

• Industrialization

• Intra-African trade

• Economic diversification

• Sustainable development

By bridging capital gaps and de-risking projects, AFC plays a critical role in accelerating Africa’s path to a more resilient, self-sustaining future.

For more information, visit www.AfricaFC.org.

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