TriLinc Global Impact Fund has funded an excess of $500m in total aggregate investments since inception, across 20 countries and 38 sectors through its global network of institutional-class sub-advisors.

Gloria Nelund, CEO of TriLinc, said: “We are extremely pleased with our ability to deploy over $500m to local SMEs, successfully executing on our investment strategy to finance established, growth-stage companies in the catalytic middle market sector.” 

“We look forward to working with our current investment partners, in addition to sourcing new partners with promising deal pipeline, to continue to deliver competitive financial returns alongside measurable, positive social and economic impacts for both our portfolio companies and the communities in which they work,” she said.

TriLinc is an impact investing fund that provides growth-stage loans and trade finance to established small and medium enterprises in developing economies where access to affordable capital is significantly limited.

During January alone, TriLinc has approved an additional $25.8m in term loan and trade finance facilities to companies operating in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, bringing total financing commitments as of January 31, 2017 to $270.1m.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, on January 4, 2017, the company funded $14,850,000 as part of a new $15,000,000 senior secured four-year term loan to a Namibian property developer. 

Priced at 12.50%, the term loan is set to mature on August 15, 2021 and is secured by a second-lien mortgage on the land bank. 

The company initially prepares the land by installing the necessary infrastructure, such as water piping, sewage, storm water reticulation, electric grid connections, road pavement, and street lighting, after which the property is sold to small- and medium-sized developers and individuals for residential and commercial construction. 

This project caters to middle-income individuals, many of whom are first-time home buyers. 

The borrower’s efforts seek to address the middle-income housing shortage that currently exists in Windhoek due to the steady increase in urbanization, combined with geographical hindrances. 

All of the company’s property development land acquisition meets the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standards, as well as the company’s proprietary environmental management system.

On January 13, 2017, the company funded $167,578 as part of an existing $9,000,000 senior secured trade finance facility to an energy efficient Moroccan-based scrap metal recycler and processor that sources its product from local micro, small, and medium size suppliers. 

With an interest rate of one month Libor +10.50%, the transaction is secured by inventory and receivables and is set to mature on July 17, 2017. 

It is anticipated that TriLinc’s financing will support the borrower’s strategy in growing its employee base as the main employer where it operates, while increasing its market access as one of the only local companies engaged in the full value chain of processing recycled scrap metal into finished goods for local use and regional export.