This landmark agreement was signed in Kigali, Rwanda during the Africa CEO Forum, highlighting Spiro’s commitment to enhancing sustainable transportation on the continent

KIGALI, Rwanda, May 17, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Spiro, the largest electric vehicle company in Africa, is pleased to announce it has signed heads of terms for US$50 million debt facility with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com). 

This landmark agreement was signed in Kigali, Rwanda during the Africa CEO Forum, highlighting Spiro’s commitment to enhancing sustainable transportation on the continent. The official signing ceremony featured Spiro’s CEO, Kaushik Burman, and Madame Kanayo Awani, Intra-African Trade and Export Development Bank, Afreximbank. 

Spiro is the largest electric vehicle company in Africa, with over 14,000 bikes, over 9 million swaps in five countries. Operating across multiple African nations, Spiro’s mission is to reduce environmental impact and enhance urban mobility, build an integrated EV ecosystem in Africa with multitude of partners and establish a wide range of charging infrastructure which include battery swapping and direct charging. 

It’s a testament to the confidence in our business model and our contribution to sustainable development in Africa

Afreximbank, known for its role in stimulating a consistent expansion and diversification of African trade, has been instrumental in fostering economic development across the continent. The bank’s support for Spiro not only highlights the potential of green technologies in Africa but also aligns with its broader strategy to facilitate environmental sustainability and economic resilience. 

“This partnership with Afreximbank is a pivotal development for Spiro,” stated Kaushik Burman, CEO of Spiro. “The $50 million USD debt facility will significantly enhance our operational capabilities and help us expand our footprint to more African countries. It’s a testament to the confidence in our business model and our contribution to sustainable development in Africa.” 

Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development Bank, Afreximbank expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “This partnership affirms our commitment to fostering sustainable innovation and green technologies in Africa. We are happy to support Spiro through this facility which will in turn accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and enhance transportation across Africa. This collaboration reaffirms our belief in the power of innovation to create a better world for future generations.”

The funds will be utilized to further expand Spiro’s network of automated swap stations and introduce new electric bike models, enhancing the accessibility and convenience of green mobility solutions. As Spiro continues to lead the charge in transforming Africa’s transport ecosystem, this collaboration with Afreximbank marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a greener future.

Anish Jain, Group CEO of Equitane, expressed his support for this new venture, stating, “This partnership with Afreximbank marks a significant milestone in Spiro’s journey. As part of the Equitane Group, Spiro embodies our commitment to pioneering solutions that promote sustainability and economic growth. We are proud to see Spiro take this remarkable step forward, paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future in African transportation.” 

Last August, Spiro announced a $63 million debt funding round with Societe Generale, in a deal designed to expand the company’s footprint in Benin and Togo. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

The Group’s results for the period demonstrates yet again great resilience in the face of challenging geopolitical and macro-economic conditions

Afreximbank Group delivered a strong performance even as we expanded our subsidiary companies’ operations and our activities in the Caribbean

CAIRO, Egypt, May 17, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (“Afreximbank” or the “Group”) (www.Afreximbank.com) has released the consolidated financial statements of the Bank and its subsidiaries for the three months ended 31 March 2024.

The Group’s results for the period demonstrates yet again great resilience in the face of challenging geopolitical and macro-economic conditions. The results show year-on-year growth and an increase in shareholder value.

Net Interest Income for Q1 2024 grew by 31.73% to US$393.4 million, compared to US$298.6 million for the prior year’s comparative period (Q1 2023). The increase was largely driven by a 40.07% increase in interest income to US$721.8 million, on the back of the growth in the Bank’s portfolio of Loans and advances. Net Interest Margin improved to 4.82% compared to 4.40% in the corresponding period due to a combination of higher benchmark rates and effective management of borrowing costs.

The Group demonstrated an improvement in operating efficiency with a lower cost to income ratio of 14.50% in Q1’2024, compared to 16.82% in Q1’2023. This was achieved despite a 10.63% increase in operating expenses to US$61.4 million (Q1 2023: US$55.5 million). Staff costs rose by 28.55% year-on-year following an increase in staff headcount to support the growth of group business and other initiatives, in line with the Bank’s Sixth Strategic Plan, constituting 52.93% of Group’s expenses.

Group Total assets closed 1Q’2024 at US$ 32.8 billion compared to US$33.5 billion as at 31 December 2023 (FY’2023).

Cash and cash equivalents closed the period at US$4.9 billion (FY 2023: US$5.6 billion) with the Liquidity ratio remaining strong at 14.9%.

The Group’s Shareholders’ Funds rose by 2.89% to US$6.3 billion as of 31 March 2024 (FY 2023: US$6.1 billion) on the back of growth in Group Net income of US$178.7 million. Callable capital, a significant proportion of which was credit enhanced as part of the Bank’s Capital Management Strategy was maintained at US$3.7 billion as of 31 March 2024 (FY 2023: US$3.7 billion).

Mr. Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, commented:

“During the first quarter of the financial year 2024, Afreximbank Group delivered a strong performance even as we expanded our subsidiary companies’ operations and our activities in the Caribbean. Looking ahead, we will continue to prioritise revenue and quality assets growth, operational efficiency, while ensuring capital adequacy and adequate liquidity levels are maintained. Focusing on these key areas will enhance the Group’s ability to execute its strategy and initiatives as outlined in its Sixth Strategic Plan.”

He added, “The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) strongly supported by a robust payments and settlement system like PAPSS, is poised to strengthen the continent’s economic resilience by providing a shield against volatility on the international scene. Consequently, Africa is projected to sustain its resilience in 2024 and attain a growth rate of approximately 4 percent. We look forward to the rest of the year with confidence.”

Highlights of the results for the Group are shown below:

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

IFC’s $140 million trade finance guarantee facility will help strengthen the participating affiliates’ trade finance operations and leverage ETI’s wide-spanning footprint in Africa

KIGALI, Rwanda, May 17, 2024/APO Group/ — 

To promote trade and foster economic growth in Africa, IFC today announced trade finance facilities with seven Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) (www.Ecobank.com) subsidiaries operating in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, and Togo.

IFC’s $140 million trade finance guarantee facility will help strengthen the participating affiliates’ trade finance operations and leverage ETI’s wide-spanning footprint in Africa to assist in developing new trade partnerships for businesses in these countries. Strengthening Africa’s trade lines will help reduce the continent’s reliance on imports and contribute to economic development.

The trade line is part of IFC’s $1 billion African Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (ATRI), which is supporting Africa’s regional trade development. IFC’s trade finance facility for Ecobank was announced at the Africa CEO Forum, which convenes business leaders, policymakers, and investors to discuss economic and social issues and opportunities across the continent.

IFC’s renewed partnership with Ecobank Group will facilitate access to finance for businesses in Africa, support economic growth, and boost job creation

“Our partnership with IFC is a testament to our strong relationship with an important and longstanding partner. Establishing the Global Trade Finance Program supports Ecobank’s goal to boost trade within Africa and help small and medium-sized businesses engage confidently in cross-border trade,” said Alain Nkontchou, Chairman Ecobank Transnational Incorporated. “By removing financial barriers, we will leverage Ecobank’s borderless payment platform and solutions to help businesses take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area single market.”

“IFC’s renewed partnership with Ecobank Group will facilitate access to finance for businesses in Africa, support economic growth, and boost job creation,” said Sérgio Pimenta, IFC’s Vice President for Africa. “Partnering with the Ecobank Group will enable IFC to support small businesses, many operating in environments where securing trade finance can be challenging.”

Under this partnership, IFC will also provide advisory services to Ecobank and its subsidiaries, with a focus on helping the banks boost their support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and increase access to finance for businesses owned or run by women.

IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP) extends and complements the capacity of banks to deliver trade financing by providing risk mitigation in new or challenging markets where trade lines may be constrained. Under the program, IFC has issued guarantees worth more than $100 billion globally to date. In financial year 2023 alone, IFC issued $9.1 billion, of which $3.5 billion was in Africa.

IFC and Ecobank have a longstanding partnership supporting trade, business growth, and entrepreneurship dating back to 1993.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.