‘Impact’ investor TriLinc has committed US$13.67mn across seven trade finance facilities for SMEs in Africa and South America.

Through its Global Impact Fund, the US-based growth-stage financier will provide facilities to companies in South Africa, Zambia, Namibia and Argentina.

Defining TriLinc’s strategy and continued financing activity to SMEs in developing economies, CEO Gloria Nelund says: “We believe that significant private capital is needed to help solve the world’s pressing challenges.”

“We provide capital to SMEs that show impact intent and execution in support of economic growth and social and environmental progress.”

As part of a US$2.5mn trade finance facility in South Africa, TriLinc has approved US$1mn to finance a local meat processor. The 120-day period is backed by a purchase and repurchase agreement secured by livestock feed inventory.

US$1mn has also been approved to finance a South African rice and bean importer. The transaction expires on October 30, 2014 and is secured by the importer’s underlying inventory. Both transactions have a fixed margin of 12.5%.

US$1mn of TriLinc’s US$1.6mn South African facility, with a fixed margin of 17.5%, has been approved to a local dried fruit and nut distributor. The deal is secured against a combination of receivables and underlying inventory and will expire on October 2, 2014.

US$420,000 has been awarded to a South African clothing importer and distributor as part of a revolving credit facility (RCF) at a fixed margin of 15%. The deal is secured by clothing inventory and expires on November 3, 2014.

US$3mn has been provided to a Zambian fertiliser distributor, as part of a US$4mn trade finance facility in the country, with a fixed margin of 12%. The transaction is secured by receivables and expires on October 6, 2014.

A Namibian consumer goods importer is the recipient of a further US$2mn as part of a facility with a fixed margin of 12.5%. The transaction period ends November 15, 2014.

A US$5mn one-year RCF with a fixed margin of 9% has been approved for an agricultural intermediary in Argentina. The loan is secured by receivables along with export contracts.