First tranche of Cocoa Syndicated Loan to hit BoG account in October 2022

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The first tranche of the $1.3 billion Cocoa Syndicated Loan is expected to hit the 's (BoG) account by October 2022.

This is what Joy Business has picked up from persons with knowledge of the Fund Raising Programme.

The second tranche of $390 million, which would be spread over three months should be coming in from November 2022 to February 2023.

Securing the fund and impact on the cedi 

Sources say the is expected to “draw down” the funds from the in , one of the participating banks in the programme.

After that, the Central Bank will take the dollars and give the equivalent to  for cocoa purchases for the next crop season.

The inflows may help boost BoG's reserves – a move that could help in slowing the sharp depreciation of the over the past month. 

The local is said to have depreciated against the by more than 30% since the beginning of 2022.

Details of the Cocoa Syndicated Loan programme

A team made up of officials of the , the and are expected to conclude the Road Show for the loan agreement in London today.

This was after it engaged the banks that are participating in the loan syndicated programme.

“We understand that six banks are helping COCOBOD to raise the funds, or let's say acting as Lead Arrangers for the Cocoa Syndicated Loan programme”, a source told Joy Business.

The banks are Bank, Rabo Bank, Ghana International Bank and  Investment Bank – Natixis.

The rest are the Industrial and Commercial Bank of and one of 's largest banks, MUFG.

The firms are expected to underwrite and lead other banks in securing the funds.

COCOBOD and the Syndicated Loan programme

Since the 1992/93 crop season, COCOBOD has consistently and successfully, through the pre-export syndicated finance facility, obtained receivables-backed syndicated loans each year from the international money market to finance its cocoa purchases.

The facility, which is the largest soft commodity deal in , has helped COCOBOD finance cocoa purchases and related operational activities in the crop season.

Source: Joy Business
Via: Joy News

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