AHL Africa Credit Fund secures additional $15 million in debt facility

AHL Venture Partners has secured a further $15 million debt facility for its Africa Credit Fund, increasing total capital raised by the fund to $45.5 million as it works towards a $70 million fundraising target.

Impact investor Ceniarth provided $5 million of the new senior financing, while a co-investor contributed another $10 million. Ceniarth said the combined $15 million facility is expected to serve as the fund’s primary debt financing.

The Africa Credit Fund provides senior secured, mezzanine and bridge financing to growing businesses across East, West and Southern Africa. Its target sectors include sustainable agriculture and food, financial inclusion and climate-related businesses, with individual financing packages generally ranging between $2 million and $10 million.

AHL is positioning the fund as a way to increase the flow of private credit to African businesses that may struggle to access appropriately structured financing from conventional lenders. The new facility follows the fund’s earlier $30.5 million first close and moves it closer to its overall fundraising goal.