Africa Loans

Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), which is in the market to refinance a one year $1.3bn loan facility signed in September, is facing troubles according to bankers on the deal, contrary to comments recently made by its chief executive.

Pressure is mounting on private sector investors to join official institutions in granting debt relief to emerging market borrowers. An important point will be whether private investors agree to waive cross-default clauses for sovereign borrowers.

Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), the central organisation for Ghana’s cocoa industry, is in the process of raising its annual syndicated loan, but bankers say the borrower is running into difficulty as lenders’ risk appetite weakens.

Egypt’s debut green bond, which had been expected to come to market in the first half of the year, is on hold, according to sources. But although the coronavirus pandemic has impacted issuance for issuers such as Egypt, the green bond market is far from dead.

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the Nigeria-based multilateral development bank (MDBs), has emerged at the forefront of regional coronavirus rescue efforts, providing financing for emergency hospitals, medical aid and more. As Africa finds itself at the centre of global calls for emergency financing and debt relief, the AFC’s chief executive, Samaila Zubairu, talks to GlobalCapital about the bank’s response to the crisis, how its own fundraising plans have been affected, and the future of Chinese capital in the region.

Emerging market borrowers are turning their noses up at the terms on offer in the loan market, which have become dearer during the coronavirus pandemic. Lenders say they are willing and ready to lend, but are not ready to concede on their terms, writes Mariam Meskin.

The African business unit of China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co, a mainland state-owned company, is tapping the offshore loan market for the first time, seeking $300m.

South African bank Investec has chosen to extend the tenor of an existing loan instead of refinancing it, in an attempt to avoid paying the wider margins lenders are demanding as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, is the latest emerging market to approach international financing institutions for help to deal with Covid-19.

The number of year-to-date loans signed across CEEMEA more than halved compared to last year, which bankers said is a direct result of the coronavirus crisis that has engulfed countries and markets worldwide. The outlook for issuance is bleak, to the dismay of many lenders.

Moody’s downgraded South Africa on Friday, removing the battered sovereign’s final investment grade rating. Sentiment among investors and bankers was split, with some confident that borrowers will be able to lean on their relationship lenders if needed, and others worried about the economic hit which is heading the country’s way.

As the deadly Covid-19 virus continues to wreak havoc on global markets and supply chains, emerging market lenders are proceeding to discuss financing options with clients, but are only comfortable funding those of the highest quality, according to bankers. Origination processes are becoming more stringent than ever, with some lenders requesting to see borrowers detailed contingency plans.