By Adedapo Adesanya
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) went home with seven awards at the Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards 2023 held recently.
The awards, launched in 2015, promote the importance and sophistication of Africa’s financial services sector and its pivotal role in accelerating economic development on the continent.
Afreximbank’s success at this year’s awards reflects its increasingly well-established leadership position in the loan and debt capital markets on the continent across the main industry sectors.
The 8th Annual Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards recognised and showcased the most innovative and groundbreaking deals from sovereign, corporate and financial institution issuers and borrowers.
Candidates were nominated by a wide selection of parties, which includes other banks and their clients, and awards reflect the culmination of an exhaustive selection process that tests Africa’s most pioneering transactions and market actors.
On its part, Afreximbank won Agency Bond Deal of the Year for the Bank of Industry €750 million 144a (in which Afreximbank acted as a Bookrunner); Oil and Gas Deal of the Year for Sonangol’s $1.3billion project (in which Afreximbank acted as Joint Coordinator, Co-MLA and Co-Bookrunner); and Project Loan of the Year for Canal Sugar $750million (in which Afreximbank also acted as Co-MLA).
Others included Export Finance Deal of the Year for Project Gleam/MoF Angola Rural Electrification €1.3 billion (in which Afreximbank acted as MLA of the commercial tranche) as well as Power Finance Deal of the Year in Project Gleam / MoF Angola Rural Electrification €1.3 billion (in which Afreximbank acted as MLA of the commercial tranche).
Under the house category, the bank also won awards for Sovereign, Supra, and Agency Debt House of the Year in recognition of its leading role in providing debt solutions to sovereigns, SoEs, central banks, and other government-owned financial institutions over the last year and Project Sponsor of the Year for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
“We are pleased to receive these awards and grateful that Afreximbank’s strategic work in financial markets is being recognised even beyond the continent of Africa.
“These awards constitute an important validation of the bank’s interventions in financing, promoting and facilitating trade and its ever-broadening work to facilitate sustainable economic growth and development in Africa.
“We appreciate the support and trust of our partners and clients, and we will continue to collaborate with them to drive Trade and Investment in Africa,” the Executive Vice President for Finance, Administration & Banking Services at Afreximbank, Denys Denya, said.
Business Post Contributor 
Dipo Olowookere