Nicola Mawson
FIRSTRANDS corporate and investment arm, RMB, facilitated deals worth about R155 billion in sustainable and transition finance in Africa between 2021 and 2023, as companies implement renewable energy, energy efficiency, and decarbonisation projects.
RMB, which operates in 35 African countries, established its sustainable finance business three years ago and has set a target of facilitating R200bn in sustainable finance/transition finance by 2026. When this is achieved, it will set an additional target.
Among the deals RMB has been involved with was the first syndicated sustainability linked loan in Africa for Mediclinic Southern Africa, which needed to refinance its existing R6.65bn loan facilities and preference shares of R1.8bn. For this transaction, it was lead arranger.
RMB yesterday said it also provided the first green loan in the African real estate sector for Equites Property Fund. Equites required R225 million in funding for the development and construction of two high specification IFC Edge-certified green buildings.
