By Tochukwu Bliss
The U.S. Government’s Prosper Africa initiative, yesterday, announced the closing of $274 million in long-term financing for West Africa’s rapidly growing housing sector.
Partners in the deal include the Bank of America Securities, Inc, Brean Capital, LLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, Togo’s Caisse Régionale de Refinancement Hypothécaire (CRRH), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
This landmark partnership according to a statement released in Washington D.C., opens new opportunities for U.S. investment in Africa’s emerging markets and provides an avenue for West Africans to gain greater access to homeownership.
MiDA Advisors, a global advisory firm specializing in facilitating institutional investments and trade in Africa and other emerging markets, served as the originator and lead transaction advisor on this landmark transaction.
This deal represents an innovative approach to mobilize transparent, market-oriented financing at scale and is expected to help about 6,000 households gain access to homeownership, the statement said.
The Prosper Africa initiative aims to increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and African countries.
This deal represents an innovative approach to mobilize transparent, market-oriented financing at scale and is expected to help about 6,000 households gain access to homeownership.
According to the statement, as part of Prosper Africa’s whole-of-government approach, USAID funded MiDA Advisors and CrossBoundary provides advisory services that prepared CRRH for a global bond issuance, and DFC provided a credit guarantee, allowing investors to access an untapped market opportunity while meeting their risk profiles.
Through this transaction, for the first time, CRRH accessed cheaper, longer-term capital with a 17-year $217 million equivalent Eurobond that was issued via a U.S. trust alongside a local currency bond equivalent to $57 million for a total raise of $274 million from international and local institutional investors.
Senior Investment Advisor with Prosper Africa, Cameron Khosrowshahi, was quoted as saying: “Prosper Africa’s partnership with leading U.S. and African financial institutions signals increased U.S. investor interest in investing in African markets to meet the enormous demand for affordable housing in West Africa.”
“Our collaboration is a blended finance transaction that will catalyze investment at scale and create generational wealth through homeownership for thousands of people across West Africa.”
Also, DFC Vice President for the Office of Development Credit, Jim Polan, said: “DFC partners with the private sector to make impactful investments around the world, including in West Africa where affordable housing is a critical need.
“The agency is pleased to work with such a diverse group of investors, including colleagues from the U.S. Government on this important issue that will help provide affordable housing and bolster stability for thousands in the region.”
