Co-op Bank receives Sh14billion (US$100million) facility from DEG-Led consortium
The Co-operative Bank of Kenya has received a long-term 7-year funding facility amounting to Sh14billion (USD 100 million) from a consortium of financial institutions led by DEG for on-lending mainly to Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya.
The loan is a Tier II Facility that has already been fully disbursed, where DEG acted as lender, mandated lead arranger and facility agent while the consortium included the Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund (AATIF), Micro Small Medium Enterprises Bonds (MSMEB) and European Development Finance Institutions namely Finnfund, Norfund and the co-financing facility European Financing Partners (EFP).
“The funding by DEG and the Consortium is most timely in view of the great need to better support our business customers. In addition, the long-term tenure of the facility has significantly boosted the bank’s ability to offer solutions that are better structured to fulfil the long-term financing needs of MSMEs.” Co-operative Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Gideon Muriuki said.
On her part, Monika Beck, Member of DEG’s Management Board said that: “By acting as lead arranger and providing the subordinated loan to Co-op Bank, DEG contributes to the further development of Kenya’s financial sector and the wider economy through the creation of jobs and local income, all geared towards the attainment of Sustainability Development Goals.” She noted.
Co-op Bank continues to leverage its strong balance sheet to access funding and allied partnerships with global development partners to enhance the bank’s opportunities for growth and overall performance.
Among the accruing benefits from such partnerships include enhanced bank’s assets and liability match where long-term loans can be financed using the long-term debt, diversified bank’s asset and funding portfolio, expansion of the bank’s client base especially among MSMEs and boost of the bank’s competitive position on account of affordable lending.
It was noted that DEG-led facility is a significant support to the bank especially at this point in time when the bank’s digitisation journey is moving full steam ahead with the recent transition to a new, robust core banking system.
