Washington, D.C. /Buenos Aires, March 15, 2016
. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, received the “Deal of the Year” Award by top trade publication
Trade Finance
for a $135 million transaction with Vicentin, one of Argentina’s leading agribusiness companies. The loan helped to shore up the operations of an important player in Argentina’s agricultural sector, which is crucial for the country’s economic growth.
The loan consisted of $25 million from IFC’s own account and $110 million raised by IFC from other commercial banks and financial institutions.
Trade Finance
highlighted that IFC’s involvement was key in mobilizing financial support from the other lenders and that the loan also sets a strong syndication platform for future transactions in Argentina.
”We are very pleased to see that this important transaction, which helped to support our growth and operations, is being recognized by Trade Finance,” said Roberto Gazze, Vicentin’s Director and CFO. “IFC has been a strategic partner for Vicentin during 20 years and this loan helped us improve our debt profile and to continue growing in a sustainable way,” he said.
Natixis and Rabobank acted as joint lead arrangers with IFC for the syndication. IFC’s loans consist of two tranches of up to 3 and 5 years, a loan with a relatively long term maturity in Argentina.
Vicentin is a leading player in Argentina’s agribusiness sector and one of the country’s largest oilseed crushers, contributing about 14% of the country’s soybean crushing capacity. The company is also an important contributor to Argentina’s rural economies by creating jobs and developing relationships with local farmers and intermediaries who provide oilseeds to the company.
“This award recognizes the pioneering role that IFC can play in mobilizing resources for private sector development in challenging environments,” said Liz Bronder, IFC’s director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “This investment helped demonstrate that commercial banks and financial institutions in Argentina can invest in the country’s agricultural sector, which is an engine of economic growth,” she said.
The loan is evidence of IFC’s support to Argentina’s agribusiness sector, which is a priority for IFC in the country. IFC’s agribusiness strategy focuses on strengthening food security and rural incomes by improving productivity in agriculture, promoting inclusive growth, and helping companies adopt good environmental and social practices.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our capital, expertise, and influence, to create opportunity where it’s needed most. In FY15, our long-term investments in developing countries rose to nearly $18 billion, helping the private sector play an essential role in the global effort to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
About Vicentin
Vicentin is a family-owned business engaged in the oilseed crushing business since 1929. Through continued investments and partnerships, it has become one the largest soybean crushers in Argentina, with crushing capacity of 29,500 tons per day. Through its affiliate Renova, Vicentin operates the Timbúes crushing and port complex, one of the largest and most efficient facilities in the World.
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