TriLinc Global Impact Fund has recently approved around $3m in trade finance transactions to companies in South Africa and Zambia.

TriLinc is an impact investing fund that provides growth-stage loans and trade finance to established small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies where access to affordable capital is significantly limited.

These transactions meet the company’s requirements for underwriting, economic development and societal advancement.

On December 5, 2014, TriLinc funded $1,654,545 as part of an existing $10m trade finance facility at a fixed interest rate of 13% to a South African agricultural chemicals producer and distributor.

The transaction, set to mature on February 15, 2015, is supported by specific inventory.

The borrower anticipates that TriLinc financing will support employment generation.

On December 1 and December 23, 2014, TriLinc funded $1m and $330,398, respectively, as part of an existing $5m trade finance facility at a fixed interest rate of 12.5% to a Zambian agricultural distributor engaged in the warehousing and trading of key agricultural commodities including fertilizer, maize, soya beans, ground nuts and seed.

The transaction, set to mature on March 1, 2015, is supported by a purchase and repurchase agreement that is secured by inventory.

The borrower anticipates that TriLinc’s financing will support job creation and indirectly help local farmers improve agricultural productivity and food security.

Gloria Nelund, TriLinc CEO, said: “TriLinc continues to deepen its financing relationships with an existing portfolio of impactful SME borrowers in developing economies.”

“By extending additional financing to these borrowers, we are supporting their growth, productivity and participation in the global marketplace, which in turn creates jobs and opportunities to increase the standard of living in the communities where they operate,” she said.

TriLinc is a non-traded, externally managed, limited liability company that makes impact investments in SMEs in developing economies that provide the opportunity to achieve both competitive financial returns and positive measurable impact.