By Adedapo Adesanya
CapitalSage Technology Limited, an integrated fintech group in Nigeria, has successfully raised $4 million (N2.2 billion) in a Series 1 Private Company Notes (PCN) issuance.
The fund was raised under its N10 billion programme which seeks to accelerate the company’s growth across different markets both in Nigeria and Africa.
The Series 1 issuance, with a 365-day tenor, was subscribed with firm commitments from fund managers and other institutional investors. United Capital Plc, Nigeria’s leading financial services group, acted as sole adviser and arranger on the transaction.
The successful debt-financing round came on the heels of a positive investment appraisal of A3 (short-term) and BBB (long-term) with a stable outlook received from GCR Ratings, coupled with the strategic partnership and guidance of United Capital.
This makes CapitalSage the first fintech company to be noted on a private markets platform and the firm which has raised the highest debt amount in the Nigerian capital markets.
Speaking on the development, the Group Manager Director of the organisation, Mr John Alamu said,“Our expansion is mostly driven by our agenda to provide a sustainable and inclusive digital financial infrastructure that continually empowers individuals and businesses and facilitates wealth creation.
“We work closely with our customers to make sure they have the right tools in order to go wherever their aspirations take them. We are constantly at the cutting edge of digital innovation that increases financial access across Nigeria.
“With this funding, we are poised to further redefine the finance landscape and scale up financial inclusion across Africa.”
On his part, the Head, Capital Markets & Advisory at United Capital, Mr Babatunde Ajayi stated that the company has shown huge growth potential. The Company was able to attain an investment-grade rating from GCR, enabling this first entry into the Capital Markets.
The transaction affirms CapitalSage’s strong management execution capacity and corporate governance position. In addition, it has paved the way for other fintechs to approach the Nigerian Capital Markets, especially the deep pool of private markets.
As a result, United Capital Plc, leveraging on its deep knowledge of the capital and debt markets in Africa, is well-positioned to provide the right support for fintechs seeking to access funding irrespective of size and length of existence.”
The company was initially founded in 2014 under the name ‘Divine Mercy’ with a mandate to financially empower market women and later evolved from a micro-lender into a full-service financial technology group, servicing individuals, MSMEs, corporate organizations, and government institutions.
CapitalSage owns Kolomoni Savings Apps, CashMore – a reward-based VAS platform, and Kolomoni agent banking network with thousands of agents in over 24 states of the federation with a growing operation in the Republic of Benin as well.
CapitalSage also recently launched CapiFlex; an integrated payment and business solution that provides businesses, entrepreneurs, and myriad organisations with a full pool of fund collections platforms, payment gateways, value-added service APIs and office management solutions.
