- Date written
- December, 2018
- Contact for guarantco
- Marjolein van Kampen
- Communications Director
- +44 (0)738 8857097
- marjolein.van-kampen@guarantco.com
- Contact for PIDG
- Cecille Sorhus
- Head of Communications
- +44 (0)7917 302724
- cecille.sorhus@pidg.org
- Share
First 10-year tenor local currency infrastructure bond in Gabon, the CEMAC* region and Francophone Africa
GuarantCo has partnered with the Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ), a joint venture between Olam International, African Finance Corporation and the Government of Gabon, to finance logistics infrastructure which will support the country’s industrial competitiveness and build a business-friendly ecosystem. GSEZ provides critical infrastructure to companies in Gabon which would otherwise not be able to develop it themselves, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which are key to creating economic activity and employment.
GuarantCo, a Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) company, has credit enhanced the first XAF 14.3 billion (USD 24.7 million) tranche of a total XAF 33 billion (USD 57 million) corporate bond programme being used to finance GSEZ’s investment in logistics infrastructure which will support the forestry industry and improve the national railway service capacity. The project will also benefit the wider CEMAC region; supporting the rail logistics capacity to increase efficiency and scale of trade.
The success of the first 10-year tenor local currency infrastructure bond in Gabon, the CEMAC region and Francophone Africa, is a powerful example of the potential of the local African debt capital markets to play a significant role in addressing the infrastructure deficit and alleviating poverty on the continent.
Lasitha Perera, CEO of GuarantCo, said:
“We are delighted to have guaranteed the first XAF 14.3 billion tranche of the XAF 33 billion corporate bond programme for the Gabon Special Economic Zone to finance logistics infrastructure. The project will not only generate employment but also supports the acceleration of the country’s economic transformation. This bond, a first of its kind, was subscribed to by a combination of local banks and institutional investors. For many of the latter this is the first non-government bond that they had invested in and GuarantCo’s role in the transaction included helping to educate the market. Building the capacity of local capital markets to be part of the solution for alleviating poverty in Africa speaks to the heart of PIDG’s mission.”
Gagan Gupta, CEO of GSEZ, said:
“We are very pleased to launch our maiden 10-year corporate bond and are particularly excited to have found a partner in GuarantCo for this first guaranteed local currency bond issue. GSEZ which started as one business one country infrastructure company has transformed itself into a multi-country and multi-business company in span of less than 7 years. This bond issue will allow us to diversify the sources of financing of our infrastructure projects and support our ambition to become one of the leading integrated logistics players in Africa. It will allow us to invest in additional critical infrastructure that are key to unlock the continent’s full economic potential. This bond issuance guaranteed by Guarantco is also a first in our region. As such, we are proud to participate in the development and the sophistication of the regional financial market, with this new instrument supporting the financing in local currency.” *Cameroon, the Central Africa Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Congo and Gabon