By Adedapo Adesanya

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has launched a blockchain-based infrastructure platform for private funds, making it the first major global stock exchange to use such a system.

The platform, called Digital Markets Infrastructure (DMI), supports the full lifecycle of digital assets, from issuance and tokenization to post-trade settlement.

According to a statement on Monday, it was developed with Microsoft and runs on Microsoft Azure.

The exchange said the system was designed to provide interoperability between distributed ledger technology and traditional financial systems as part of its goal to become the first global exchange group to support clients across the “full funding continuum.”

Private funds are the first asset class to go live on the DMI, with plans for additional asset classes.

As part of the initial offering, private funds on the DMI will be discoverable by Workspace’s users, enabling general partners to interact with professional investors on these platforms.

Capital management firm MembersCap and London-based Archax, a Financial Conduct Authority-regulated crypto exchange, were the first clients onboarded. MembersCap conducted the platform’s debut transaction with Archax acting as a nominee for the Cardano Foundation.

EJF Capital has also been onboarded as an early adopter and a selection of their funds will be available on the platform soon.

Speaking on this, Mr Darko Hajdukovic, Head of Digital Markets Infrastructure, LSEG, said: “There are many processes in private markets today that can be improved. At LSEG we are committed to significantly improving access to private markets, by streamlining workflows, enhancing distribution, and enabling liquidity.

“We intend to do this by continually working with all stakeholders to enhance efficiencies and connectivity for both digitally-native and traditional assets. The onboarding of our first clients and this first transaction are significant milestones, demonstrating the appetite for an end-to-end, interoperable, regulated financial markets DLT infrastructure. LSEG’s position as a convener of markets can bring significant scale to digital assets and effect real change.”

Adding his input, Mr Bill Borden, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Financial Services, Microsoft, said: “Microsoft’s collaboration with LSEG on its Digital Markets Infrastructure (DMI) is a powerful example of the innovation driving our strategic partnership. Together, we’re reshaping the future of global finance to empower our customers to unlock new opportunities and drive meaningful change.”

By Adedapo Adesanya

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has launched the African Trade and Distribution Company (ATDC) to catalyse large-scale trade in raw materials, minerals and value-added products from across Africa.

Afreximbank, through the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), established ATDC in collaboration with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP), Equitane DMCC and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Mr Benedict Oramah, officiated the operational launch of ATDC in an event held during the ongoing Intra-Africa Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria, alongisde the Algeria’s acting Prime Minister, Mr Sifi Ghrieb and other heads of government and ministers from African and Caribbean countries.

Also unveiled during the launch was ATDC’s flagship subsidiary, ATDC Minerals (ATMIN), dedicated to trading and financing minerals and hydrocarbons.

According to a statement, the new entity has already secured a $1 billion funding pledge from Afreximbank to invest in the aggregation of value-added goods, support logistics and distribution networks as well as financing its subsidiaries’ business operations.

ATDC has signed deals with several firms across the continent, spanning logistics, minerals, and agricultural produce, among others. The entity has signed a collaboration with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) to supply feedstock to its operating companies in various special economic zones; a co-investment partnership with BSMART Technology Limited to establish digitally integrated logistics hubs in key African ports trade repos with Export Trading Group (ETG), KK Kingdom Nigeria Limited, and Sunbeth Global Concepts Limited.

ATDC also agreed on terms for joint ventures with CBZ Holdings and Nigeria Commodity Exchange for setting up national ATDCs in Zimbabwe and Nigeria respectively.

At the same time, ATMIN announced landmark deals of about $3 billion which included oil lifting arrangements with Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Roxzen Nigeria Limited.

Speaking on this, Mr Oramah said, “Through ATDC and ATMIN, we aim to close the loop and to take back control of how our commodities and minerals in global Africa are produced and traded across value chains by integrating them in local economies to benefit more people.”

On his part, the CEO of ATDC, Mr Abdul Aziz Ba said, “We look forward to cultivating a robust trading ecosystem across Africa that integrates with global markets for shared prosperity through impactful partnerships and effective logistics. Through this, we will transform Intra-African trade by driving the continent’s transition from export of raw materials and minerals to value added products and last mile distribution. ATDC is investing in expanding production and processing capacity, establishing connections across regional value chains and to markets, and delivering effective distribution channels”.

The CEO of ATMIN, Mr Ajay Oommen noted: “ATMIN is committed to supporting the monetisation of Africa’s abundant fossil fuel resources ahead of the global energy transition. We aim to foster stronger Intra-African trade, drive value addition, and streamline supply chains to ensure that a significant share of this value is retained within the continent.”

By Adedapo Adesanya

The African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) has announced that the launch date for the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) would be finalised at the next Council of Ministers of APPO Members meeting.

This was disclosed by the Secretary General of the African petroleum producers group, Mr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, while delivering a keynote address at the Angola Oil and Gas 2025 Conference and Exhibition last week.

Spearheaded by APPO and a multilateral finance institution, the African Import-Export Bank (Afreximbank), the $5 billion Africa Energy Bank will support oil, gas and infrastructure projects across Africa.

The bank is set to be headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, to address the continent’s investment gap in energy.

“APPO is fully conscious of the serious challenges facing the African oil and gas industry and is taking practical measures to address them. One measure was taken in Luanda three years ago.

“The APPO Ministerial Council approved the signing of an MoU between APPO and Afreximbank for the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank. The next Ministerial meeting of the APPO council will establish the official date for launch of the Africa Energy Bank,” stated Mr Ibrahim.

In August 2025, APPO announced plans to accelerate the launch of the bank, with the organization’s Executive Council resolving to submit the project for final approval in the final quarter of 2025.

With the launch date on the precipice of being finalized, the APPO scribe also invited investors to support the bank.

“I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to investors to partner with us on the Africa Energy Bank. The African oil and gas industry has come of age. Africa cannot continue to be dependent on external powers to finance its oil and gas. Africa must control the finances of its oil and gas industry. Africa must create the technology it needs as well as its own market for its oil and gas resources,” Mr Ibrahim stated.