In a major step towards scaling South Africa’s renewable energy sector, Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) recently played an instrumental role, as lead arranger.
It structured and executed an R8.5 billion bespoke platform funding package for the Anthem Group (Anthem), supporting one of the largest, South African owned, fully integrated, independent power producers (IPPs).
Nedbank CIB structured an innovative flexible funding solution to accelerate Anthem’s growth strategy in the renewable energy market in South Africa, with possible plans to also expand into the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
For this deal, Nedbank acted as lead arranger and original lender, alongside Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), to structure and execute a multi-tranche, flexible funding package.
This provides Anthem with rapid access to a sizeable pool of finance that can be used to support accelerated growth across its various businesses as a fully integrated IPP.
Anthem is an Old Mutual-controlled renewable energy platform (through the AIIM managed IDEAS Fund) and supported by strong institutional backing from Norfund (the Norwegian investment fund for developing countries) and Mahlako Energy Fund, a 100% black-women-owned fund manager with a strong track record in energy and infrastructure.
Anthem operates across the renewable energy value chain and is targeting 6GW of capacity by 2030.
Nedbank CIB’s instrumental role in this deal highlights its leadership and commitment to sustainable finance, accelerating energy transition, enhancing energy security, supporting job creation, and attracting international investment.
Dhireshni Chowthee: Principal of power and renewables finance, Nedbank CIB
The bank played a key role in using its sector expertise to fully understand Anthem’s finance requirements, according to Dhireshni Chowthee, principal of the power and renewables finance team at Nedbank CIB.
“This deal also highlights our capabilities in financing across the capital stack in large-scale platforms supporting underlying utility-scale renewables projects,” says Chowthee.
She adds that Nedbank has proven balance sheet commitment and track record as the leading financier of renewable energy projects in South Africa and one of the largest in Africa.
Tokollo Tau: Principal of power and renewables finance, Nedbank CIB
“This landmark transaction enables Anthem to advance its renewable growth strategy, strengthens value delivery to its institutional shareholders, and opens up a significant pipeline of future opportunities,” says Tokollo Tau, principal of energy finance at Nedbank CIB.
“As South Africa moves toward a more liberalised electricity market, Anthem is strategically positioned to serve public‑utility buyers, industrial and commercial users, and future energy-trading platforms,” Tau concludes.
Mike Wickins, chief commercial officer, Anthem Group
“Nedbank CIB’s market leadership in renewable energy financing was a natural fit for our ambitions to accelerate our growth strategy through innovative, bespoke finance solutions,” says Mike Wickins, Anthem’s chief commercial officer.
“We’re now able to scale up our expansion in South Africa and the region by providing renewable energy and related infrastructure that is critical to economic growth and industrialisation,” he adds.
Brought to you by Nedbank CIB.
Moneyweb does not endorse any product or service being advertised in sponsored articles on our platform.
#Nedbank #CIB #structures #R5.8bn #deal #power #Anthems #renewable #energy #drive