Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund completes USD 2 million mezzanine investment in UsPlus
Since its inception in 2015, UsPlus continues to offer essential working capital solutions to businesses across the country, that have historically been unable to access traditional forms of financing. While the company supports a wide range of sectors, it has a current emphasis on funding women and sustainably led ventures.
UsPlus' service offering is guided by a developmental agenda which is mainly focused on supporting local manufacturers, logistics providers, local farmers, renewable energy players and service providers, among others, to improve the competitiveness of such entities by enhancing their ability to (i) meet the procurement requirements of large multinational corporations and (ii) promote financial inclusion for SMEs that historically have been unable to access traditional forms of working capital solutions.
The Fund's investment will strengthen UsPlus' capital position and help 'crowd-in' more senior debt funding into the business to further grow its balance sheet. The Fund is attracted by UsPlus' business model as it aligns with the Fund's mission to use its funding to provide financial solutions that have the broadest possible impact on society, while benefiting from fundamental credit risk mitigants.
This investment will yield a return which is aligned with the Fund's return target.
The Fund is investing in inclusive financial institutions on a pan-African basis, with a focus on digitally enabled financial institutions providing services to Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). The Fund invests in hybrid capital instruments including subordinated debt, mezzanine, preference shares and stapled investment structures. The Fund has a size of USD 38 million (target of USD 100 million at Final Close in H1 2025).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Verdant Capital.
UsPlus:
Leon Kirkinis
T: +27 10 900 4141
E: leon@usplus.world mailto:
About Verdant Capital:
Verdant Capital is an investment manager and investment bank specialising in the private capital markets and operating on a pan-African basis. Verdant Capital is the manager of the Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund. www.Verdant-Cap.com
About UsPlus South Africa:
Since 2015, UsPlus has been operating as a fintech business focusing on the provision of flexible working capital solutions to the SME sector in South Africa, whilst being guided by a developmental agenda. With the focus of serving SMEs, UsPlus has continued to support the purchasing of transferable instruments (such as invoices, purchase orders and contracts) issued by or to its clients together with additional strategic support at no additional cost. www.UsPlus.world

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
8 hours ago
- Zawya
Africa's minerals are being bartered for security: why it's a bad idea?
A US-brokered peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda binds the two African nations to a worrying arrangement: one where a country signs away its mineral resources to a superpower in return for opaque assurances of security. The peace deal, signed in June 2025, aims to end three decades of conflict between the DRC and Rwanda. A key part of the agreement binds both nations to developing a regional economic integration framework. This arrangement would expand cooperation between the two states, the US government and American investors on 'transparent, formalized end-to-end mineral chains'. Despite its immense mineral wealth, the DRC is among the five poorest countries in the world. It has been seeking US investment in its mineral sector. The US has in turn touted a potential multi-billion-dollar investment programme to anchor its mineral supply chains in the traumatised and poor territory. The peace that the June 2025 deal promises, therefore, hinges on chaining mineral supply to the US in exchange for Washington's powerful – but vaguely formulated – military oversight. The peace agreement further establishes a joint oversight committee – with representatives from the African Union, Qatar and the US – to receive complaints and resolve disputes between the DRC and Rwanda. But beyond the joint oversight committee, the peace deal creates no specific security obligations for the US. The relationship between the DRC and Rwanda has been marred by war and tension since the bloody First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congo wars. At the heart of much of this conflict is the DRC's mineral wealth. It has fuelled competition, exploitation and armed violence. This latest peace deal introduces a resources-for-security arrangement. Such deals aren't new in Africa. They first emerged in the early 2000s as resources-for-infrastructure transactions. Here, a foreign state would agree to build economic and social infrastructure (roads, ports, airports, hospitals) in an African state. In exchange, it would get a major stake in a government-owned mining company. Or gain preferential access to the host country's minerals. We have studied mineral law and governance in Africa for more than 20 years. The question that emerges now is whether a US-brokered resources-for-security agreement will help the DRC benefit from its resources. Based on our research on mining, development and sustainability, we believe this is unlikely. This is because resources-for-security is the latest version of a resource-bartering approach that China and Russia pioneered in countries such as Angola, the Central African Republic and the DRC. Resource bartering in Africa has eroded the sovereignty and bargaining power of mineral-rich nations such as the DRC and Angola. Further, resources-for-security deals are less transparent and more complicated than prior resource bartering agreements. DRC's security gaps The DRC is endowed with major deposits of critical minerals like cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese and tantalum. These are the building blocks for 21st century technologies: artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, wind energy and military security hardware. Rwanda has less mineral wealth than its neighbour, but is the world's third-largest producer of tantalum, used in electronics, aerospace and medical devices. For almost 30 years, minerals have fuelled conflict and severe violence, especially in eastern DRC. Tungsten, tantalum and gold (referred to as 3TG) finance and drive conflict as government forces and an estimated 130 armed groups vie for control over lucrative mining sites. Several reports and studies have implicated the DRC's neighbours – Rwanda and Uganda – in supporting the illegal extraction of 3TG in this region. The DRC government has failed to extend security over its vast (2.3 million square kilometres) and diverse territory (109 million people, representing 250 ethnic groups). Limited resources, logistical challenges and corruption have weakened its armed forces. This context makes the United States' military backing enormously attractive. But our research shows there are traps. What states risk losing Resources-for-infrastructure and resources-for-security deals generally offer African nations short-term stability, financing or global goodwill. However, the costs are often long-term because of an erosion of sovereign control. Here's how this happens: - certain clauses in such contracts can freeze future regulatory reforms, limiting legislative autonomy - other clauses may lock in low prices for years, leaving resource-selling states unable to benefit when commodity prices surge - arbitration clauses often shift disputes to international forums, bypassing local courts - infrastructure loans are often secured via resource revenues used as loan security. This effectively ringfences exports and undermines sovereign fiscal control. Examples of loss or near-loss of sovereignty from these sorts of deals abound in Africa. For instance, Angola's US$2 billion oil-backed loan from China Eximbank in 2004. This was repayable in monthly deliveries of oil, with revenues directed to Chinese-controlled accounts. The loan's design deprived Angolan authorities of decision-making power over that income stream even before the oil was extracted. These deals also fragment accountability. They often span multiple ministries (such as defence, mining and trade), avoiding robust oversight or accountability. Fragmentation makes resource sectors vulnerable to elite capture. Powerful insiders can manipulate agreements for private gain. In the DRC, this has created a violent kleptocracy, where resource wealth is systematically diverted away from popular benefit. Finally, there is the risk of re-entrenching extractive trauma. Communities displaced for mining and environmental degradation in many countries across Africa illustrate the long-standing harm to livelihoods, health and social cohesion. These are not new problems. But where extraction is tied to security or infrastructure, such damage risks becoming permanent features, not temporary costs. What needs to change Critical minerals are 'critical' because they're hard to mine or substitute. Additionally, their supply chains are strategically vulnerable and politically exposed. Whoever controls these minerals controls the future. Africa must make sure it doesn't trade that future away. In a world being reshaped by global interests in critical minerals, African states must not underestimate the strategic value of their mineral resources. They hold considerable leverage. But leverage only works if it is wielded strategically. This means: - investing in institutional strength and legal capacity to negotiate better deals - demanding local value creation and addition - requiring transparency and parliamentary oversight for minerals-related agreements - refusing deals that bypass human rights, environmental or sovereignty standards. Africa has the resources. It must hold on to the power they wield. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Channel Post MEA
8 hours ago
- Channel Post MEA
CyberKnight and Nozomi Networks to Transform OT Cybersecurity in Africa
Leading cybersecurity distributor, CyberKnight, announced a new strategic partnership with Nozomi Networks to distribute Nozomi Networks products across Africa, excluding South Africa, with a particular focus on Central, East, and West Africa. This collaboration is set to empower large enterprises and critical infrastructure sectors throughout the region with advanced protection and cybersecurity expertise. Nozomi award-winning solutions provide real-time monitoring and threat detection, allowing organisations to oversee their OT and IoT environments with accuracy and confidence. Key features include: Comprehensive Network Visibility : Organizations benefit from deep insights into their operational systems, enabling proactive identification and resolution of vulnerabilities. This is essential for protecting sectors such as energy, transportation, and manufacturing. : Organizations benefit from deep insights into their operational systems, enabling proactive identification and resolution of vulnerabilities. This is essential for protecting sectors such as energy, transportation, and manufacturing. Advanced Threat Detection and Response : Using AI and machine learning, Nozomi's technology identifies and responds to threats in real time, reducing the risk of disruptions. : Using AI and machine learning, Nozomi's technology identifies and responds to threats in real time, reducing the risk of disruptions. Predictive Analytics for Operational Efficiency: Powerful analytics help organizations anticipate challenges and streamline processes, driving productivity and competitiveness. With its extensive network and experience across Africa, CyberKnight's commitment to a zero trust framework ensures organisations are ready for potential breaches and resilient against threats. This partnership with Nozomi Networks combines advanced security technology and regional expertise, enabling enterprises across Central, East, and West Africa to address today's evolving cyber risks confidently. 'Industrial and critical infrastructure organisations across Central and West Africa are rapidly adopting IoT technologies, expanding their digital footprint and, consequently, their attack surface,' said Alexander Foroozandé, Head of Channels – Middle East, Africa & CIS, at Nozomi Networks. 'We are dedicated to helping these organisations stay ahead of sophisticated threats with our AI-powered security solutions and strategic regional investments. Our partnership with CyberKnight is a significant step in delivering world-class OT and IoT protection and supporting the region's digital transformation.' 'Our collaboration with Nozomi Networks opens new possibilities for African enterprises to protect what matters most,' said Avinash Advani, CEO of CyberKnight. 'Together, we're equipping organisations with the tools and intelligence they need to outpace cyber threats and drive secure, sustainable growth in an increasingly connected world.'


Zawya
8 hours ago
- Zawya
South Africa and Nigeria need opposite approaches to their informal sectors
Governments should harness the potential of informality as a bridge rather than a barrier to building economic resilience. Nigeria and South Africa are Africa's largest economies, and their development significantly affects their regions and the continent as a whole. Updated forecasts by the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) team at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) reveal the varying impact of the informal sector on both economies and their regions. South Africa's informal sector accounts for 17% of its labour force, significantly lower than Nigeria at 68% and Africa's average of 58%. Analysis shows how context-specific approaches to informality could contribute to inclusive economic growth and reduce unemployment. Compared to west Africa, southern Africa's development has been lacklustre when unemployment is used as a yardstick. According to International Labour Organization (ILO) data, southern Africa had the highest unemployment rate globally at 33.2% in 2024. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (