By Bamidele Famoofo
WorldStage– DEAP Capital Management & Trust Plc, a Lagos-based financial services firm, listed on the Nigerian Exchange, has received an additional N2 billion fresh capital for its takeover by new investor- Banklink Africa Private Equities Limited, under the parties’ agreed N6.0 billion capitalization program, bringing total capital received to date to N3.0 billion.
This latest capital injection represents the second tranche under the agreed funding structure between both parties. Under the program, Banklink Africa has committed N6.0 billion to DEAP CAP, with the said funding released in three (3) tranches according to the takeover agreement currently being implemented. The additional N2.0 billion received signals the commencement of DEAPCAP’next growth phase.
Banklink Africa Private Equity is a financial proprietary enterprise with strategic subsidiaries and associates, incorporated in February 1999 in Nigeria .
As per the plan, the Company is now transitioning fully to Critical Minerals Financing Corp. Plc (“CMFC”), the new name approved by the shareholders at its 12th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on March 12, 2026; thereby becoming a specialized Institution poised to supporting the development of the African critical minerals sector. CMFC subject to obtaining all regulatory approvals shall focus principally on financing, structuring and supporting mining and mineral processing opportunities across lithium, copper, rare earths, tin, zinc and other energy transition minerals across Nigeria and the wider African continent.
The third tranche N3.0 billion is expected to be disbursed within the next thirty (30) days in accordance with the agreed transaction timelines.
Commenting on the transaction, the new Chairman of DEAP CAP, Dutch Lamon Rutten, said: “We are excited at Banklink Africa’s total committed in the Company’s transition into CMFC. We believe there is a significant opportunity to build a specialist African platform focused on critical minerals at a time when global demand is accelerating. With an investor’s group so committed, CMFC will be positioned to originate, finance and help develop projects across the African continent, while connecting those opportunities with international capital, technology partners and long-term offtakers.”
Mr. Rutten further added that “Critical Minerals Financing Corp. will keep operating at the convergence of mining project finance, structured credit, commodity trading, capital market issuance and ESGaligned investment governance”.
Speaking in the same light, Mr. Joshua Adesoji, Chief Financial Officer of Banklink Africa, said: “We are pleased to have fulfilled this second tranche under our funding commitment to DEAP CAP. We remain committed to finalizing the remainder capital injection within the next thirty (30) days as we evolve DeapCap into CMFC. We believe the business is well positioned to capture substantial opportunities within the Africa’s critical minerals sector.”
Upon completion of the capitalization and transformation, the Company will deploy its leveraged resources and competencies into full realization and valorization of a pipeline of transactions across Nigeria, and subsequently Africa.
