Shareholders of DEAP Capital Management & Trust Plc are set to meet in Lagos to finalise plans that will transform the Nigerian investment banking firm into a major private-sector finance institution focused on Africa’s minerals and metals industry.
The company’s transformation, expected to be ratified at its annual general meeting, will include a name change, strategic restructuring, and fresh global capital raising to reposition the firm as a leading minerals finance group originating from Nigeria.
The move has already attracted strong backing from high-net-worth investors from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Europe and other global markets, signaling growing international interest in Africa’s critical minerals sector.
DEAP Capital recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Banklink Africa Private Equities Limited and received fresh capital from the firm, with additional funding expected after the shareholders’ meeting. The restructuring will also empower the board to create subsidiaries and special purpose vehicles locally and internationally to expand its operations.
The company aims to unlock at least $2 billion in financing for critical minerals and metals projects within the next two years, providing advisory services, project financing and capital structuring to mining operators across Nigeria and other African countries.
Its new business model will integrate mineral-focused private equity, project finance, structured credit, commodity offtake financing and capital market instruments such as bonds and notes, while also connecting African mining projects to global trading corridors in London, Hong Kong and other financial hubs.
Analysts say the transformation comes at a critical time as Nigeria and other African countries seek to diversify their economies and play a stronger role in the global supply chain for critical minerals used in technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing.
Industry experts also believe the new structure could help position Africa as a stronger player in the global minerals market by facilitating investment in exploration, processing, logistics and commodity trading across the continent.
