1. Vision & Purpose
The role is supposed to help the Bank to achieve its mission “stimulating a consistent expansion of and diversification of African trade so as to rapidly increase Africa’s share of global trade, while operating as a first class, profit oriented, socially responsible financial institution and a centre of excellence in African trade matters” by managing the Bank’s Agency & Security Trustee functions and in line with the policies laid down by senior management, in order to ensure smooth and uninterrupted syndicated loan arrangements.
1. Nature & scope
The role of the position holder will be to provide middle office Agency & Security Trustee functions of the Bank’s syndicated lending activities. The job holder initiates and is responsible for the recommendation and implementation of the Bank’s policies in these areas.
2. Duties and responsibilities
1. Heads and provides supervisory responsibilities and functions for the Agency & Security Trustee/Agent Unit and roles of Afreximbank.
2. Liaison and negotiation with Arrangers, Lawyers and the originating business areas on the review and negotiation of draft term sheets and loan documentation from Agency & Security Trustee perspectives and to identify compliance and reporting obligations.
3. Negotiation and discussions with the various stakeholders pre and post financial close, ensuring seamless closure including meeting of agreed Conditions Precedent and or Conditions subsequent.
4. Ensure the on-boarding of new transactions immediately after Financial close (including KYC & KYB) and the set-up of agency systems and on the loan operations system – re debt domain, syndicated agency module etc.
5. Ensure close liaison with Loan Operations with respect to Loan operations activities including drawdowns, interest, principal, fee payments, rollovers etc.
6. Ensure presentation immediately after Financial Close to all stakeholders on the mechanics and the requirements/expectations in the management of syndicated deals.
7. Ensure adequate management of waivers, amendments requests, restructurings, events of default, acceleration etc. and in line with agreed timelines including co-coordinating responses to borrowers requests, liaison with lawyers and other professional advisers including negotiation of amendment documentation on behalf of the Agency team e.g. second checking, facility set-up, archiving etc.
8. Ensure the receipt of all agreed security documents from the External Counsels including the registration and perfection of same.
9. Ensure proper safe keeping and retrieval of all security documents from safe custody on prepayment or expiration of a deal.
10. Co-ordinate and lead event driven calls with Lenders/Lawyers and borrowers including the arranging of meetings involving the various stakeholders – syndicate of lenders/borrower.
11. From agency perspectives, responsible for primary syndication including the review and sign-off of documentation and system/record updates in relation to any secondary debt trade/transfers.
12. Providing fee quotes for new Agency and Security Trustee roles.
13. Ensure adherence to the loan market standard and syndicated market practices by all within the Unit.
14. Performing other duties as may be assigned by Senior Management from time to time.
3. Skills, Knowledge and Attitude
• At least 10 years post qualification experience with a Post graduate degree in Business Administration or related discipline
• Detailed knowledge and proven experience of managing syndicated loans in a fairly complex banking environment within the African Loan market (European Loan Market also will be an advantage) with LMA documentation, in line with standard and syndicated market practices. Credit skills will be an advantage
• Leadership qualities and capabilities and ability to harness human resources for goal attainment
• Ability to work calmly, to prioritize, using own initiative, frequently to tight deadlines
• Ability to communicate and function in a culturally diverse and change oriented setting with good knowledge of banking practices in Africa
• Excellent communication and presentation skills – both written and oral. Knowledge of the Bank’s other working languages is an added advantage (French, Arabic and Portuguese)
• Good analytical and numeracy skills with good working knowledge of Excel
• Ability to establish effective working relationship with Borrowers at Senior management/Board level and syndicate of lenders at very high levels
• Strong business skills including the ability to deliver solutions with commercial awareness