By Ayomide Otitoju
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), one of the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions providers, has closed a landmark US$524 million equivalent dual-currency Samurai term-loan facility, marking its largest Samurai transaction to date.
The three-year syndicated loan — comprising US$505 million and JPY 3 billion — was significantly oversubscribed, reflecting strong appetite from Japanese lenders and strengthening AFC’s growing position in Japan’s capital markets. The facility builds on AFC’s expanding track record in Asia, following its debut Samurai loan in 2019, its guarantee of Egypt’s JPY 75 billion Samurai Bond in 2023, and its A+ (Stable) long-term issuer credit rating from the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) earlier this year.
AFC fully repaid its previous US$419 million equivalent Samurai facility, which matured in October 2025, reinforcing its credit reliability. Over the past decade, the Corporation has raised more than US$1.3 billion across Asian capital markets, including Chinese, Indian and Korean loan platforms.
“Japan continues to be an important and strategic market for AFC,” said Banji Fehintola, Executive Board Member and Head of Financial Services at AFC. “The strong support from Japanese lenders in our latest Samurai loan underscores investor confidence in AFC’s fundamentals and strengthens our capacity to mobilise capital for Africa’s infrastructure development.”
Long-standing banking partners — Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank and SMBC Bank International — acted as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners. Momentum for the deal accelerated during AFC’s lender roadshow at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in August.
The transaction also attracted several first-time lenders, including Bank of Taiwan, China Construction Bank Corporation, First Commercial Bank, Taiwan Business Bank, The Chiba Bank, The Shizuoka Bank and The Yamanashi Chuo Bank, signalling rising interest from Asian institutions in AFC’s asset class.
Proceeds from the facility will be used for general corporate purposes, enabling AFC to advance its mandate to deliver sustainable infrastructure and drive economic development across Africa
