This initial EUR67.5mn (US$80mn) senior loan package provides capital expenditure to refurbish and improve the properties while helping to achieve higher operating efficiencies and meeting ESG goals.
The announcement follows Kasada’s recent signing of the 414-key Safari Hotels and Conference Centre in Windhoek, Namibia, bringing Kasada’s portfolio to a total of ten hotels and over 2,000 keys in four countries.
David Damiba, Managing Partner and CIO, Kasada, said; “This innovative partnership with IFC is the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa and comes at a time when many commercial banks are retreating from the market. The combination of Kasada’s expertise and IFC’s commitment has helped derive a creative solution to a major challenge in African hospitality: providing efficient, bespoke financing to a sector facing an unprecedented crisis.”
Olivier Granet, Managing Partner and CEO, Kasada, said; “This transaction is a game-changer to accelerate Kasada’s development and reinforce our ability to support the hospitality sector in Sub-Saharan Africa at this critical time in our industry. I would like to thank Société Générale for initially providing the bridge financing for the transaction and both IFC and Proparco for their commitment to providing a customized long-term financing solution. We look forward to working closely with IFC and Proparco to achieve the highest guest satisfaction and ESG standards across our portfolio.”
Olaf Schmidt, IFC’s Manager for Real Estate, Hotel & Retail, Health & Education and Manufacturing Investments in Africa, said: “Travel and tourism are vital to many economies across Africa and the hotel industry is a critical part of the sector supporting job creation. IFC has established this strategic partnership with Kasada to help build a large-scale tourism platform and support the hospitality sector as it navigates the short- and long-term economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Denis Sireyjol, Proparco’s Global Head for Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services, said: “It is an honour for Proparco to contribute with IFC to the launch of such an ambitious hospitality player as Kasada. The hotel sector is a major jobs provider and has been heavily affected by the health crisis, especially on the African continent. By supporting Kasada's first acquisition, Proparco demonstrates its counter-cyclical role, which is to remain active in difficult times in key countries such as Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon.”
