African Finance Corporation raises record US$524 million through dual currency Samurai loan scheme
The transaction represents AFC’s largest Samurai loan to date and strengthens AFC’s growing footprint in the Japanese capital markets.
Lagos, Nigeria – EQS – December 2, 2025 – Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has closed its landmark bi-currency Samurai term loan facility worth US$524 million.
The transaction is AFC’s largest Samurai loan to date and strengthens AFC’s growing footprint in the Japanese capital markets as investor confidence in credit fundamentals increases. The three-year syndicated facility, comprising US$505 million and JPY 3 billion, was significantly oversubscribed due to strong demand from Japanese financial institutions.
AFC’s strong traction in Japan has been supported by a series of milestones, including its debut Samurai loan in 2019, guaranteeing the Arab Republic of Egypt’s 75 billion yen Samurai bond in 2023, and the assignment of an A+ (stable) long-term issuer credit rating by the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) earlier this year. AFC’s 2022 Samurai Facility worth US$419 million (US$412 million, JPY 1 billion) matures in October 2025 and has been fully repaid by AFC.
AFC maintains a strong presence in Asian capital markets, having raised more than US$1.3 billion through financing facilities in China, India and South Korea over the past decade.
“Japan continues to be an important and strategic market for AFC,” said Banji Fehintra, AFC Director and Head of Financial Services. “The strong support from Japanese financial institutions in our latest Samurai Loan confirms the depth of their confidence in AFC and the trust we have built with our investors over the past few years. The success of this transaction strengthens our capital base and expands our global investor reach as we continue to mobilize capital to address Africa’s infrastructure deficit.”
The new facility was arranged by long-standing bank affiliates Mizuho Bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank and SMBC Bank International, with these banks acting as the mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners. The deal drew strong momentum from AFC’s lender roadshow held during August’s Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
As a further demonstration of deepening engagement with Japanese and Asian investors, the facility welcomed several first-time lenders to AFC, including Bank of Taiwan, China Construction Bank Corporation, Daiichi Commercial Bank, Taiwan Commercial Bank, Chiba Bank, Shizuoka Bank, and Yamanashi Central Bank.
Proceeds from this facility will be used for general corporate purposes and support AFC’s mission to foster sustainable development through infrastructure investment across Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Finance Corporation (AFC).
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About AFC
Africa Finance Corporation was established in 2007 with the aim of promoting viable infrastructure and industrial investment across Africa. AFC’s approach combines industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.
After 18 years, AFC is Africa’s partner of choice, with a proven track record of investing in and delivering high quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services to core infrastructure sectors such as power, natural resources, heavy industry, transportation and telecommunications. AFC has 47 member countries and has invested more than US$17 billion in 36 African countries since its founding.
