logo
Africa Finance Corporation hits record $1bln revenue with landmark projects

Africa Finance Corporation hits record $1bln revenue with landmark projects

Zawya10-04-2025
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the continent's well-known infrastructure solutions provider, has reported its strongest financial results to date, with total revenue for the year ended 31 December 2024 exceeding $1bn for the first time in its history.
This record performance marks a significant milestone in AFC's mission to close Africa's infrastructure gap through scalable, de-risked investments that attract global capital and deliver tangible development outcomes. The Corporation posted a 22.8% increase in total revenue to $1.1bn and a 22.3% rise in total comprehensive income to $400m, up from $327m in 2023.
AFC's earnings growth was driven by improved asset yields, prudent cost-of-funds management and sustained traction in advisory mandates.
Further significant financial highlights include:
- Net interest income up 42.5% to $613.6m
- Fee and commission income rose to $109m, the highest in over five years
- Operating income climbed 42.7% to $709.7m
- Total assets reached a record $14.4bn, a 16.7% year-on-year increase
- Liquidity coverage ratio strengthened to 194%, providing over 34 months of cover
- Cost-to-income ratio improved to 17.3% from 19.6% in 2023
Throughout 2024, AFC continued to scale its impact by mobilising capital for landmark projects across energy, transport, and natural resources. These included the Lobito Corridor – a cross-border railway development spanning Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zambia. AFC led the initiative to secure a concession agreement within one year of the initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), an unprecedented achievement for a project of its scale.
In the DRC, AFC also invested $150m in the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, Africa's largest copper producer and one of the most sustainable globally, thanks to its high-grade ore and renewable-powered smelter.
Strategic capital expansion
Other milestone transactions included financing support for the commissioning of the Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa, and continued progress on AFC-backed Infinity Power Holding's 10 GW clean energy ambition, with power purchase agreements secured in Egypt and South Africa. AFC also invested in the 15GW Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project, providing $14.1m to support early-stage development of a transcontinental renewable energy pipeline between North Africa and Europe.
AFC strengthened its capital base and expanded its investor network through several landmark funding initiatives. These included a $ 1.16bn syndicated loan - the largest in its history, a $500m perpetual hybrid bond issue, and the successful execution of Nigeria's first-ever domestic dollar bond, which raised $900m at 180% oversubscription. AFC also returned to the Islamic finance market after eight years, closing a $400m Shariah-compliant facility.
The year also saw strong momentum in equity mobilisation, with $181.8m in new capital raised from 10 institutional investors. These included Turk Eximbank - AFC's first non-African sovereign shareholder - the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), and several major pension funds spanning Cameroon, Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa. Ratings agencies affirmed AFC's robust credit profile, with AAA ratings from S&P Global (China) and China Chengxin International, and a stable A3 Outlook from Moody's.
'These results send a clear message that strategic investment in African infrastructure creates lasting value for both beneficiaries and investors,' said Samaila Zubairu, president and chief executive officer of AFC.
'In 2024, we exceeded the billion-dollar revenue mark, delivered game-changing projects, and reinforced our financial resilience—demonstrating the scalability of our unique model that blends purpose with performance to accelerate Africa's economic transformation.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Space42 reports net profit of $53 million in H1 2025
Space42 reports net profit of $53 million in H1 2025

Al Etihad

time7 hours ago

  • Al Etihad

Space42 reports net profit of $53 million in H1 2025

7 Aug 2025 00:40 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Space42, ADX-listed SpaceTech company, reported a stable performance for the first half of 2025, achieving a normalised net profit of $53 million—matching its result from the same period last year, but with improved margins. Despite a 17% year-on-year decline in revenue to $226 million, the company demonstrated operational resilience with a 4-percentage-point increase in profit margin, reaching 23%.EBITDA for the period stood at $112 million, down 14% from H1 2024, though margins rose by 2 percentage points to 49%.Space42 closed the half-year with a robust liquidity position, holding $816 million in cash and short-term deposits. The company also secured a $0.7 billion Export Credit Agency-backed financing facility, backed by a substantial $6.8 billion in contracted future expenditure reached $109 million, while the firm maintained a negative net debt position of $478 million and a healthy net leverage ratio of - on the results, Karim Sabbagh, Managing Director of Space42, said: 'H1 2025 demonstrates our commitment to operational excellence and capability building. The momentum across our platform shows that our dual-use capabilities deliver both commercial success and strategic value. With Thuraya-4 entering commercial operation and our programmatic approach taking hold, combined with sustained optimisation, we're positioned for growth aligned with market demand.'The company's Space Services segment grew 2% year-on-year in Q2 2025, generating $100 million in revenue, with notable expansion in the oil and gas Solutions, while impacted by the phasing of long-term projects, continued to scale up manufacturing and analytics capabilities, positioning itself for stronger performance in H2. Space42 was formed in 2024 by the merger of Bayanat and Yahsat. Major shareholders include G42, Mubadala, and IHC. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi

Plenty of scope for trade between Turkey and Syria, says head of revived business council
Plenty of scope for trade between Turkey and Syria, says head of revived business council

The National

time11 hours ago

  • The National

Plenty of scope for trade between Turkey and Syria, says head of revived business council

Syrian and Turkish business leaders should put aside fears about increasing economic ties, the head of the newly re-established Syria-Turkey Business Council has said. Turkish companies, while looking at huge opportunities in Syria's reconstruction and economic renewal, are concerned about investing in a country with nearly 14 years of civil war behind it, while in Syria there is concern that its neighbour's economic superiority will leave domestic businesses on the sidelines, Syrian businessman Hussam Eddin Tatari told The National in Istanbul. 'These fears are rational, but they are not a reality. As long as we have great areas for mutual benefits, we will work in those areas,' said Mr Tatari, who runs a large textiles factory in the south-eastern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras. 'The scope for mutual benefits is very large but the work needs to be organised, data needs to be gathered and distributed to businesspeople on both sides.' A delegation of dozens of businessmen from Syria, led by Minister of Economy and Industry Mohammed Nidaal Al Shaar, is visiting Turkey as the neighbours seek closer trade and political ties. In a meeting with Syrian and Turkish business leaders in Istanbul, Mr Al Shaar welcomed 'balanced' economic co-operation with Turkey. The relationship should be 'sincere and balanced – the most important thing is that it is balanced,' he said. Mohammed Saud Cheikh Alkar, president of Aleppo's Chamber of Commerce, said he was less concerned than others about Turkey dominating Syria's economy. 'Our people don't want to just be consumers; there can be commercial exchange between us and all countries of the world, including our brotherly neighbour Turkey,' he told The National. 'But we must develop ourselves, and join the global economic cycle.' The Syria-Turkey Business Council was re-established on Tuesday during meetings in Ankara, where Turkish and Syrian officials signed a series of agreements to improve customs procedures, co-operation on industrial zones, and infrastructure reconstruction. Turkish banks are also considering opportunities in Syria, although none has officially began operating there. 'A positive atmosphere is blowing in our economic relations with Syria in the new era,' Turkey's Trade Minister Omer Bolat said in a speech. Turkey is aiming for a modern economic partnership agreement to replace the free trade agreement with Syria, which has been de facto inoperative since the uprising against former dictator Bashar Al Assad began in 2011. Turkey has long supported groups opposed to Mr Al Assad and welcomed his removal into exile in December last year. The two countries aim to increase trade volume in the short term to $5 billion – nearly double the trade volume of $2.6 billion last year, which mostly comprised Turkish exports to opposition-held areas of Syria by land crossings. Turkey was among the first countries to reopen its embassy in Damascus after the fall of Mr Al Assad. Defence Ministry sources in Ankara recently confirmed that they are responding to requests from the Syrian capital to train and equip its new army. This month, Azerbaijani gas began to flow into Syria through Turkey, to power a 1,200-megawatt power plant and improve electricity supply for nearly five million Syrian households. Construction is a key sector of interest for Turkish firms in Syria, given the need for rebuilding infrastructure, factories and homes damaged and destroyed in the conflict, Syrian and Turkish officials said. The estimated cost of reconstruction has varied from $250 billion and $500 billion. Labour intensive industries such as textiles and agriculture are also core targets, according to Mr Tatari. He has no plans to close his textile factory in Turkey, but is rebuilding a plant in Syria that was destroyed in the war. 'My plan is that it will be ready for production by the end of the year,' he told The National. Representatives from Syrian ministries and chambers of commerce said they were keen to draw on the experience of their northern neighbour, whose economy is worth $1.3 trillion and has a large manufacturing base, despite inflation running at 35 per cent. Mr Alkar dismissed concerns that Syria would slip back into cycles of corruption that dominated Syrian industry under Mr Al Assad. 'It needs time to change the corruption that the [former] regime sowed, and which led to the destruction of intellectual structures of our society, which contains a lot of good,' he said.

Spotlight on automotive marketing: Tools of trust and transparency
Spotlight on automotive marketing: Tools of trust and transparency

Campaign ME

time11 hours ago

  • Campaign ME

Spotlight on automotive marketing: Tools of trust and transparency

Chinese automotive brands are having a moment in the UAE. Once seen as budget alternatives, today they're redefining the value proposition with smarter tech, sleek designs, and region-ready engineering. But with growth comes responsibility, especially when it comes to marketing credibility in a market dominated by convenience-first behaviour. We sat down with Syed Fahad, Marketing Manager at MAHY Khoory Automotive, the authorised distributor of Dongfeng vehicles in the UAE and dealer for Omoda Jaecoo brands in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, to talk about the surge in Chinese car brands, consumer awareness, and how marketing can make or break trust in this evolving space. There's been a noticeable rise in Chinese car brands across the region. What's driving this momentum? Syed Fahad: The shift has been brewing for a few years, but it's accelerated now. Chinese automotive brands have really stepped up in quality, design, and tech. They're offering features you'd expect from premium models, ADAS, infotainment, hybrid drivetrains, but at a far more competitive price point. Consumers in the UAE are value-driven, and these brands deliver that value in a big way. Despite that, there's still some hesitation among buyers. What's the perception challenge? Fahad: The legacy perception that Chinese cars are cheap or unreliable is fading, but not gone. A big part of that is education. Many consumers don't realise that brands such as Dongfeng are not just massive in China, they're global. They manufacture for Nissan, Honda, and Peugeot under joint ventures. The tech is world-class. But unless that story is told right, the assumptions persist. What's the role of marketing in shifting that perception? Fahad: It's everything. We're not just marketing cars, we're marketing trust. Especially when you're introducing a brand that's still 'new' in the minds of consumers. Our job is to de-risk the decision. That means leading with transparency: talking about GCC compliance, explaining the warranty, showcasing the after-sales infrastructure. If you focus only on price, you reinforce the wrong narrative. What risks do buyers face when they don't go through authorised distributors? Fahad: Quite a few. We see a lot of grey-market imports entering the UAE, vehicles that aren't GCC-certified, or built for colder climates. The A/C systems underperform, the warranties don't apply, and in some cases, insurance becomes void. These are real risks. We've had customers come to us after a bad experience, looking for a fix. It's costly. That's why our messaging always focuses on authorised = protected. How are you positioning Dongfeng in this competitive space? Fahad: We're building it on three pillars: credibility, compliance, and convenience. We offer fully GCC-compliant vehicles, genuine spare parts, and nationwide after-sales service. But more importantly, we market that clearly. We're not trying to be the loudest, we're trying to be the clearest. In today's landscape, clarity converts. What's your outlook on Chinese automotive brands in the UAE over the next 2-3 years? Fahad: Growth will continue, no question. I think Chinese brands will dominate the value segment and start creeping into the mid-premium space too. But the winners will be those who back it with structure, authorised networks, certified servicing, and strong consumer education. The marketing will need to evolve from 'Look at our features' to 'Here's why you can trust us.' Final Word? Fahad: Chinese brands are no longer the underdog, they're a force. But in the UAE, where consumers are connected and informed, brands need to play the long game. And that starts with marketing that doesn't just sell, it reassures, educates, and earns trust.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store