IFC backs Alios Finance Cameroon with $11.7M to grow SME lending
What's the deal? Alios Finance CameroonDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Douala-based vehicle and equipment financing company, has secured an investment of up to $11.7 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to expand leasing and lending to small businesses. The debt deal will anchor a bond issuance of up to XAF 13.2 billion ($23.3 million) by the firm, which operates under the Alios FinanceDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → brand. The IFC disclosed the investment on October 14, 2026.
What's the endgame? The five-year senior unsecured notes carry equal semi-annual principal repayments and will fund the expansion of Alios Finance's leasing portfolio and lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). At least 15% of proceeds are earmarked for women-owned businesses, a priority under the IFC's MSME Finance Platform.
Why now? The financing is designed to reduce Alios Finance's reliance on short-term loans from local banks by providing longer-term funding. It serves businesses across transportation, food and beverages, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and retail.
What else? The deal is backed by a pooled first-loss guarantee of up to $40 million through the International Development Association's Private Sector Window Blended Finance FacilityDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, plus a cross-currency swap to mitigate risk. IFC will also provide advisory support on risk management, credit underwriting, and digitalisation.
Who owns it? Credit d'Afrique GroupeDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → holds a 70.6% stake in Alios Finance, making it the majority shareholder. The company is controlled by Ivorian businessman Serge-Aimé Bilé.
The signal: The investment reflects the IFC's broader push to widen access to medium-term credit for smaller businesses across African markets, where limited affordable financing remains a constraint on private-sector growth.
Read more: shore.africa
Image credit: The African Union Mission in Somalia
