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IFC, IIB to Boost Development in Emerging Markets

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Jin-Yong Cai, Executive Vice President and CEO of IFC
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International Financial Corporation (IFC) and International Investment Bank (IIB) have agreed on closer collaboration, to provide vital financing to private companies, help boost growth, and create jobs in emerging markets. 

IIB has become the latest signatory of IFC’s Master Cooperation Agreement (MCA), which standardizes steps that lenders take when co-financing projects with IFC, saving time and money for borrowers—private companies in emerging markets—and lenders.

IFC created the MCA in response to calls by the Group of 20 for official finance institutions to collaborate more closely to help meet shortfalls in private sector financing during the global financial crisis.

“International Investment Bank has the mission to support small and medium enterprises in our member countries through providing targeted credit lines to banks, and participation in syndicated lending. This agreement will allow us to work more efficiently with IFC, and other parties to the MCA, to increase efficiency as we jointly invest in projects that contribute to growth and job creation.” said Nikolay Kosov, chairman of the Board of IIB.  

IFC and IIB have worked together on co-investments to help Mongolia’s Khan Bank expand its small and medium enterprise (SME) business, and to support Russia’s Transcapitalbank in growing its SME energy efficiency finance program.

Tomasz Telma, IFC Director for Europe and Central Asia, said: “The agreement with IIB marks another important addition to our network of MCA signatories, and improves our ability to respond more efficiently to the financing needs of SMEs in IIB member countries.”

IFC’s syndicated loan program, the oldest and largest syndicated lending program among multilateral development banks, is an important tool for mobilizing capital to serve development needs. In FY13, IFC syndicated about $3.1 billion in B loans and parallel loans, provided by more than 60 co-financiers—including commercial banks, funds, MCA signatories, and other development finance institutions. 

 IIB is the nineteenth institution to sign up to the MCA. Other MCA signatories include: Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation, Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement, Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, CDC Group, COFIDES, Development Bank of Japan, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Eurasian Development Bank, Export Development Canada, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V., Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG, OPEC Fund for International Development, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Sociedade Para o Financiamento do Desenvolvimento, Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique, and  Swedfund International AB.


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E-Financial

Ecobank Nigeria to Fully Repay $300m Eurobond Ahead of Schedule

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Ecobank Nigeria has moved to retire the remaining part of its $300 million Eurobond before maturity. The bank has launched a tender offer for holders of its 7.125% senior notes due February 2026.

The bank announced the offer on Friday, 28 November 2025, inviting investors to tender their holdings ahead of schedule. Of the original $300 million issuance, $150 million remains outstanding.

Under the terms, investors whose notes are accepted for repurchase will receive $1,000 for every $1,000 in principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the settlement date. The transaction is expected to be completed on or before 31 December 2025.

Ecobank said the early repayment move is part of a broader strategy to optimise its balance sheet and strengthen capital planning flexibility. The lender added that the tender offer gives investors an opportunity to exit the instrument ahead of the original February 2026 maturity.

In a statement, the bank said the initiative underscores its “commitment to transparent engagement with funding partners and investors,” stressing that the offer supports its long-term goal of maintaining a well-structured debt profile.

Participation in the programme is voluntary, and investors will make decisions based on their individual considerations, the bank added.

Ecobank emphasised that the announcement is for information only and does not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities. Eligible noteholders are expected to rely on the formal tender documents when deciding whether to take part.

 


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Reps Give Banks Four-Day Ultimatum on Tax Deductions, Charges

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The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating deductions of taxes and sundry charges from the earnings of civil and public servants has given commercial banks a four-day deadline to submit all requested documents.

Reps Give Banks Four-Day Ultimatum on Tax Deductions, Charges

House of Rep

The committee, chaired by Hon. Kelechi Nwogwu, issued the ultimatum at the commencement of its investigation, following a motion earlier moved by the House Chief Whip, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, on alleged deductions from civil servants’ salaries.

Nwogwu insisted that Chief Executive Officers of affected financial institutions must appear in person before the panel, rejecting representatives sent by GT Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank and other banks.

He explained that the panel was mandated to ensure that all deductions of charges by banks on customers’ accounts were fair and properly applied.

The committee disclosed that invitations had also been extended to the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and all commercial banks operating in Nigeria.

“You cannot appear here without an identity. We are here on the mandate of the people who elected us into parliament. We have resolved to meet next week on Wednesday.

“You must submit all requested documents by Monday, May 1,” Nwogwu said.

He warned that any bank that failed to comply with the deadline would face sanctions, adding that the committee would put the CEOs on oath during the next sitting.

The investigation continues next week.


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SEC Urges IST to Freeze all CBEX Bank Accounts in Nigeria

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST) to order the freezing of all bank accounts belonging to Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) and other defendants held in commercial banks and financial institutions across Nigeria.

The request was made in Suit No. IST/OA/02/2025: Securities and Exchange Commission & Anor v. Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) & 25 Others, the first case before the 6th Tribunal presided over by Hon. Aminu Jinaidu, Chairman of the IST.

SEC also urged the Tribunal to seize houses and other assets allegedly acquired by the defendants using proceeds obtained from the public through the CBEX investment scheme, which it said falsely operated as a digital assets platform and capital-market operator.

The Commission argued that CBEX, which is not registered with SEC, unlawfully promised investors a 100 percent return on investment within 30 days—conduct it said is in violation of Section 3(b) of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025.

SEC further disclosed that the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong had, on April 23, 2024, issued an advisory warning against CBEX, describing it as a suspicious virtual-asset entity. According to the advisory, CBEX adopted a name resembling that of a Chinese property-rights trading organisation to give investors false assurance, despite having no connection with the legitimate entity.

At Tuesday’s sitting, the Tribunal ordered that hearing notices be served on the defendants through national newspapers, as CBEX failed to appear and was not represented in court.

CBEX launched in Nigeria in July 2024, operating through a website and mobile app. It claimed to use advanced artificial intelligence to generate unusually high profits from cryptocurrency trading, promising returns of up to 100 percent within a 40- to 45-day lock-in period. The scheme later collapsed and was exposed as a Ponzi operation that reportedly defrauded investors of more than N1.3 trillion (about $800 million).

Hon. Jinaidu also presided over several other matters on the tribunal’s docket, including Benue Investments Property Co. Ltd & Anor v. Securities and Exchange Commission & 6 Others; Maven Asset Management Ltd v. Securities and Exchange Commission; John Makinde Onade & Anor v. First Registrars & Investors Services Ltd & Anor; and Securities and Exchange Commission & Anor v. Tourist Company of Nigeria PLC & 6 Ors. All the cases were adjourned to January 27, 2026.

 


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