Cairo, 05 August 2014 – The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) today in Cairo announced the successful closing of a US$150 million financing facility for Econet Wireless Global Limited, Mauritius, to enable the company fund its expansion programme.
The syndicated facility was arranged by Afreximbank, acting as global coordinator and mandated lead arranger, while Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG), acting co-arranger, mobilised funding from a pool of European development finance institutions comprising DEG, Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij Voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. and Societe De Promotion Et De Participation Pour La Cooperation Economique (PROPARCO).
African financial institutions participating in the syndication include the Southern African Trade and Development Bank and Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Limited.
Under the terms of the syndication, Econet will use the proceeds of the facility for the expansion of new business areas, such as its mobile banking and solar energy businesses, as well as for refinancing existing debt relating to its telecommunications network infrastructure.
“The closing of this facility represents a clear demonstration of Afreximbank’s commitment to partnering with African and international financial institutions to support the growth of African multinationals,” said Jean Louis Ekra, President of Afreximbank, in an address at the close of the facility. “Afreximbank is determined to continue to working with leading African entities, like the Econet Group, which are making great strides in connecting Africa through their innovative telecommunications solutions and, in-turn, enhancing intra-African trade, which is a cornerstone of the Bank’s mandate.”
Commenting, Craig Fitzgerald, Econet Group CEO, said, “Afreximbank has again shown its leadership in enabling the expansion of African companies by leading this syndication which will provide Econet with the ability to further expand its product ranges and footprint across the African continent.”
The new syndication is part of a multi-creditor security sharing arrangement coordinated and arranged by Afreximbank, which closed in May 2012. Under the arrangement, Afreximbank, as global security agent, holds security for Econet’s various creditors, including the China Development Bank Corporation, Ericsson Credit AB and Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa.
Transaction details:
Afreximbank Syndicated Term-loan Facility ($150m)
Borrower:
Econet Wireless Global Limited, Mauritius
Operating Subsidiaries and Guarantors:
Econet Renewable Energy Systems Limited; Econet Services Limited; Solarway FZE; Econet Investments Limited.
Mandated Lead Arranger:
Afreximbank
Co-Arranger:
DEG
Lenders:
Afreximbank, PTA Bank, DEG, FMO, Proparco, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Limited,
Lenders Legal Counsel:
Hogan Lovells International LLP
Lenders Technical Consultant:
Analysys Mason UK
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About Afreximbank:
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is the foremost Pan-African multilateral financial institution devoted to financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade. The Bank was established in October 1993 by African governments, African private and institutional investors, and non-African investors. Its two basic constitutive documents are the Establishment Agreement, which gives it the status of an international organization, and the Charter, which governs its corporate structure and operations. Since 1994, Afreximbank has approved almost $30 billion in credit facilities for African businesses, including about $3.5 billion in 2013. Afreximbank is headquartered in Cairo. For more information, visit: www.afreximbank.com
About Econet
Econet Wireless is a diversified telecommunications group with operations and investments in Africa, Europe, South America and East Asia Pacific Rim offering products and services in the core areas of mobile and fixed telephony services, broadband, satellite and fibre optic networks.”