Global Banking & Markets: Africa Awards 2025
26th March 2025
Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town
2025
NOMINATIONS WILL OPEN SOON
300+
NOMINATIONS RECEIVED IN 2024
170+
HIGH-PROFILE INDUSTRY FIGURES

GLOBAL BANKING & MARKETS: AFRICA AWARDS 2025

26TH MARCH | MOUNT NELSON HOTEL, CAPE TOWN

"Recognising the most innovative & ground-breaking deals from Africa"

Join the industry's most high-profile figures in celebrating!

Since 2014, the Global Banking & Markets AWARDS (formerly the Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Awards) has been recognising the most innovative and ground-breaking deals from Sovereign, Corporate and Financial Institution issuers and borrowers.

The exhaustive selection process involves close examination of deal size, tenor, structure, and distribution; analysis and background of the borrower and their accessibility to financing; with extra credit for those deals demonstrating high quality execution, accessing new pools of liquidity, innovative structuring, and opening-up new markets.

Bringing together the industry’s most high-profile figures, the Global Banking & Markets: Africa AWARDS 2025 ceremony is an opportunity to raise the profile of the financial markets with the international investment community, and to inspire future issuance by African companies.

ENQUIRIES: email [email protected]

2024 AWARD WINNERS:

Sovereign, Supra & Agency Bond Deal of the Year

  • The Arab Republic of Egypt
  • RMB3.5bn Sustainability Panda Bond
  • Issue Date: October 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank of China, HSBC
  • Legal Adviser to the Issuer: ADSERO – Ragy Soliman Partners, Dechert, Fangda Partners
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: ADSERO – Ragy Soliman Partners, Dechert, Fangda Partners
  • Credit guarantors: African Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Quasi-Sovereign/GRE Bond Deal of the Year

  • Transnet
  • USD1bn Bond
  • Issue Date: Jan 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Absa, J.P. Morgan, Standard Bank
  • Legal Adviser to the Issuer: ENSafrica, Freshfields
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Allen & Overy, Bowman Gilfillan

Corporate Bond Deal of the Year

  • First Quantum Minerals
  • USD1.3bn Bond
  • Issue Date: May 2023
  • Global Coordinators & Joint Bookrunners: Absa, BMO, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs, ING Bank, J.P. Morgan, Société Générale
  • Joint Bookrunners: CIBC Capital Markets, Citi, Crédit Agricole CIB, Nedbank, Rand Merchant Bank, RBC Capital Markets
  • Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Linklaters
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Ropes Gray

Financial Institutions/Bank Bond Deal of the Year

  • Mauritius Commercial Bank
  • USD300m Bond
  • Issue Date: April 2023
  • Joint Bookrunners: Citi, Emirates NBD, J.P. Morgan, SMBC Nikko
  • Joint Lead Manager: Afreximbank
  • Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Clifford Chance
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Allen & Overy

Syndicated Loan Deal of the Year

  • Bidvest
  • EUR862.5m Syndicated Loan (EUR750m plus EUR112.5m accordion)
  • Issue Date: June 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Citi, Standard Bank
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: White & Case
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Linklaters

Local Currency Corporate Bond Deal of the Year

  • GROUPE EDK
  • XOF10bn Bond
  • Issue Date: January 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Invictus Capital Finance

Local Currency SSA Bond Deal of the Year

  • New Development Bank
  • RMB1.5bn Dutch Auction
  • Issue Date: August 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Absa, Standard Bank
  • Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Bowmans
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Bowmans

Local Currency Financial Institutions Bond Deal of the Year

  • CRDB Bank
  • TZS171.4bn Bond
  • Issue Date: October 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Standard Bank, Stanbic Tanzania
  • Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Dentons EALC East Africa Law Chambers
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Stanbic Tanzania
  • Legal Adviser to the Anchor Investor: White & Case

Local Currency Loan Deal of the Year:

  • Safaricom
  • KES20bn Loan
  • Issue Date: September 2023
  • Global Coordinator: Standard Chartered
  • Sustainability Coordinator: Standard Chartered
  • Mandated Lead Arranger: Standard Chartered, Kenya Commercial Bank
  • Arrangers: Stanbic Kenya, Absa
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Safaricom
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: IKM Advocates, Baker McKenzie

ESG Bond Deal of the Year:

  • Development Bank of Rwanda
  • FRW30bn Sustainability Linked Bond
  • Issue Date: September 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Rand Merchant Bank, BK Capital
  • Legal Adviser to the Issuer: DLA Piper
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: RR Associates Equity Juris Chambers

ESG Loan Deal of the Year

  • Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
  • EUR533m Sustainable Loan
  • Issue Date: October 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Standard Chartered
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Cleary Gottlieb Steen Hamilton, Rothschild
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Norton Rose Fulbright
  • Sole Credit Guarantor: African Development Bank

Project Finance Deal of the Year

  • Scatec
  • ZAR4.78bn Project Finance Term Debt
  • Issue Date: June 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Standard Bank
  • Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Herbert Smith Freehills
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Bowmans

Structured Finance Deal of the Year

  • Greenlight Planet Kenya
  • USD130m Securitisation
  • Issue Date: May 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Absa, BII, Citi, FMO, Norfund, Stanbic Kenya, TDB
  • Legal Adviser to the Issuer: N/A
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs:

Infrastructure Finance Deal of the Year

  • Government of the Republic of Tanzania
  • USD1.76bn Loan
  • Issue Date: 30 June 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Afreximbank, Standard Chartered
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: N/A
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Baker McKenzie

Power Finance Deal of the Year

  • Exxaro Coal
  • ZAR1.6bn Loan
  • Issue Date: July 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Nedbank, Standard Bank
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Trinity
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Clifford Chance, ENSafrica

Transport Finance Deal of the Year

  • Roads Fund Administration
  • MWK34.5bn Social Loan
  • Issue Date:
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Standard Bank Malawi
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Likongwe Co. Lawyers
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Herbert Smith Freehills

Natural Resources Finance Deal of the Year

  • The African Stove Company Limited
  • ZAR194m Loan
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Standard Bank
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Taylor Wessing
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs: Norton Rose Fulbright

ECA, DFI & IFI Deal of the Year

  • Afreximbank
  • USD640m Samauri Loan
  • Issue Date: July 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: MUFG
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Baker McKenzie
  • Legal Advisers to the JLMs:

Real Estate Finance Deal of the Year

  • Growthpoint Properties
  • ZAR910m Bond
  • Issue Date: October 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Standard Bank
  • Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Bowmans
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: Standard Bank

Acquisition Finance Deal of the Year

  • Infinity Power Holding
  • USD100m Loan
  • Issue Date: March 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Absa, Mauritius Commercial Bank
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Norton Rose Fullbright
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: Bracewell

Export Finance Deal of the Year

  • Republic of Angola
  • EUR256m Loan
  • Issue Date: February 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Investec, UniCredit
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Norton Rose Fullbright
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: Clifford Chance, FBL Advogados

Renewable Energy Finance Deal of the Year

  • Government of Cameroon
  • EUR147m Loan
  • Issue Date: 7 October 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Afreximbank

Oil & Gas Deal of the Year

  • Sonangol Finance Limited
  • USD1.3bn Loan
  • Issue Date: August 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Afreximbank, Société Générale, Standard Bank, Standard Chartered
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Norton Rose Fulbright
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: Dentons

Equity Capital Markets Deal of the Year

  • Premier Group Limited
  • ZAR3.6bn IPO
  • Issue Date: March 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Investec, Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Bank
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: DLA Piper
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: Webber Wentzel

M&A Deal of the Year

  • Infinity Power Holding, Actis, Mainstream, Lekela
  • USD1.5bn M&A
  • Issue Date: March 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Absa, Mauritius Commercial Bank
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Norton Rose Fullbright
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: Bracewell

Sukuk Deal of the Year:

  • The Arab Republic of Egypt
  • USD1.5bn Sukuk
  • Issue Date: February 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Citi, Credit Agricole CIB, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Adsero Ragy Solimon Partners, Clifford Chance
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: Linklaters, Zaki Hashem Partners

Liability Management Deal of the Year

  • Helios Towers
  • USD975m Fixed Price Cap Tender Offer
  • Issue Date: September 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: J.P. Morgan, Standard Bank, Standard Chartered
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: Linklaters
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: Paul Hastings

High Yield Debt Deal of the Year

  • Sasol
  • USD1bn Bond
  • Issue Date: May 2023
  • Global Coordinators: Citi, SMBC Nikko
  • Bookrunners: BofA Securities, Intesa Sanpaolo, J.P. Morgan, Mizuho, MUFG, Standard Chartered
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: ENSafrica, Shearman Sterling
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: Davis Polk, Bowman Gilfillan

Leveraged Finance Deal of the Year

  • Alviva
  • ZAR3.105bn Loan
  • Issue Date: March 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: Absa
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: TWB – Tugendhaft Wapnick Banchetti and Partners
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: CDH

Ground-Breaking Deal of the Year

  • Republic of Gabon
  • USD500m Blue Bond and Concurrent Tender Offer
  • Issue Date: July 2023
  • Bookrunner/JLMs: BofA Securities
  • Project Sponsor and Conservation Advisor: TNC
  • Legal Adviser to the Borrower: White & Case
  • Legal Adviser to the JLMs: Morgan Lewis (Blue Bond), Clifford Chance (Tender Offer), Alevina Partners
  • Legal Adviser to the TNC: Shearman & Sterling
  • Legal Advisers to SPV Lender: Hunton Andrews Kurth, Kutak Rock
  • Legal Advisor to Deal Arranger: Morgan Lewis & Bockius
  • Legal Advisor to Gabon: White & Case
  • Legal Advisor to DFC: Hunton Andrews Kurth
  • Legal Counsel of Trustee: Reed Smith LLP
  • Legal Counsel to Trust: Kutak Rock
  • Legal Counsel to Fonds de Preservation de la Biodiversite au Gabon: Morrison & Foerster LLP
  • Local Counsel to TNC & BoFa: Alevina & Partners

Debt (Bonds & Loans) House of the Year

Citi

Loan House of the Year

Standard Chartered

Local Currency Bond House of the Year

Standard Bank

Local Currency Loan House of the Year

Standard Bank

Sovereign, Supra & Agency Debt House of the Year

Deutsche Bank

Corporate Debt House of the Year

Absa

Financial Institution Debt House of the Year

Afreximbank

Sub-Sahara Africa Investment Bank of the Year

Standard Bank

East Africa Investment Bank of the Year

Standard Bank

West Africa Investment Bank of the Year

Standard Bank

ESG Bond House of the Year

Rand Merchant Bank

ESG Loan House of the Year

Absa

High Yield Debt House of the Year

J.P. Morgan

Leveraged Finance House of the Year

Standard Bank

Structured Finance House of the Year

Standard Chartered

Project Finance House of the Year

Standard Bank

Equity Capital Markets House of the Year

Standard Bank

Sovereign, Supra & Agency Treasury & Funding Team of the Year

Africa Finance Corporation

Bank Treasury & Funding Team of the Year

Absa

Corporate Treasury & Funding Team of the Year

Oceana Group

Banking & Finance Legal Adviser of the Year

Baker McKenzie

Equity Capital Markets Legal Adviser of the Year

Webber Wentzel

HAVE A QUESTION? CONTACT US TODAY

ACCOMODATION:

We have negotiated a rate at the Westin, which is a four minute walk to the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Dates available to book: Sunday 23rd March – Thursday March 27th

Rooms are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

To book, please click the button below

If you have any questions, please contact The Westin Groups and Events team on 0027 21 412 8049 and quote ‘Bonds & Loans’.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR DISCOUNTED ROOM
Westin hotel

2024 HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO:

2024 PHOTO GALLERY:

Looking for a specific photo? Email [email protected] with your request.