Summit Day
As private credit continues to mature across African markets, what aspects of the asset class are evolving organically, and where is the industry still borrowing heavily from Western models? What level of governance and oversight is needed to support institutional growth without importing the constraints of developed market systems? In what ways does the African private credit industry have the opportunity to build a model and benchmark framework shaped by local market realities, while still incorporating global best practices where relevant?
As developed market private credit faces increasing scrutiny, how can African markets offer a differentiated source of returns? As perceptions of African risk continue to evolve, is the debt market finally being repriced on underlying fundamentals rather than historical assumptions, and what does that mean for valuations and capital flows? With debt strategies continuing to expand, from senior secured lending and asset finance to mezzanine and self-liquidating structures, how should investors think about moving along the risk curve without losing discipline? How can African private credit markets reduce the lag between global capital trends and local deployment opportunities, ensuring capital arrives when it is most needed rather than after the cycle has moved on?
- Maya Burney - Senior Investment Officer, Calvert Impact
Has the historical challenge in SME financing really been a lack of demand, or simply an inability to profitably execute and scale smaller-ticket transactions? As founders increasingly seek growth capital without sacrificing ownership, how are financing structures beginning to shift the balance between flexibility, repayment pressure and long-term business growth? Where do venture debt and revenue-based financing outperform traditional debt and equity models across different countries on the continent? Where are investors already seeing successful and scalable SME financing models emerge, and what lessons can be replicated more broadly?
- Julia Price - Co-Founder & Director, Linea Capital
This practical, case study session will explore how private credit strategies are being deployed across African markets, through a candid look at real transactions, portfolio experiences and investment outcomes.
Through two in-depth case studies, presenters will share:
- How deals were sourced, structured and executed
- What worked well, and what did not
- Key lessons around underwriting, risk management and borrower engagement
- How outcomes compared to original expectations
- What these experiences reveal about the evolution of private credit across Africa
10 mins presentations followed by 10 mins audience Q&A
How is the emergence of credit secondaries beginning to reshape liquidity, portfolio management and capital recycling across African private credit markets? What types of credit secondary transactions are beginning to gain traction across African markets? What is driving growing global investor interest in the space?
As the lines between private equity and private credit continue to blur, how are managers rethinking traditional fund mandates, return structures and capital deployment strategies across the continent? How are investors using hybrid debt-equity structures to navigate valuation challenges, founder dilution concerns and liquidity pressures across African markets? How are hybrid structures changing the power dynamics between founders, GPs and LPs across deals?
If trade finance has historically sat with banks, what is private credit doing differently that is making borrowers increasingly willing to pay a premium? As companies increasingly combine traditional bank lending with private credit solutions, what does a strong blended trade finance structure look like? Which sectors, trade corridors and transaction types are creating the most attractive trade finance opportunities today?