• Funds to expand MSME lending and support regional growth strategy

• Group plans new market entries in Ghana, Cameroon, and others

Coris Holding, the financial group founded by Burkinabe businessman Idrissa Nassa, said on Wednesday it has secured a €100 million ($116 million) equity investment from an international consortium of investors.

The investment was co-led by Mediterrania Capital Partners (MCP), a private equity firm focused on African small and mid-sized companies. The consortium also includes the Dutch Development Bank (FMO), British International Investment (BII), the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO), and Impact Fund Denmark, which contributed €30 million. Coris Holding did not disclose whether the deal involves a capital increase or share issue.

Strengthening SME Financing

The new funds aim to strengthen Coris Holding’s capital base for organic growth, regional expansion, and future mergers and acquisitions. The investment also seeks to boost the group’s ability to finance micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through its network of subsidiaries.

Coris is the third-largest banking group in the West African Monetary Union (UMOA) by total assets as of end-2024, according to the UMOA Banking Commission. Its business model focuses on financing MSMEs, which account for about 90% of Africa’s private sector.

The group aims to increase lending to these businesses by 15% annually. As part of the partnership, MCP will join the board to advise on governance and growth strategy.

“This investment will allow us to accelerate our development and better meet the needs of our clients across Africa,” Nassa said in a statement.

Regional Expansion Plans

Founded in 2008, Coris Holding operates subsidiaries in ten countries, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Togo, Benin, Mali, Guinea, and Chad, with branches in Niger and Guinea-Bissau. It plans to expand into Cameroon, Ghana, Gabon, Madagascar, and Cape Verde in the coming years.

The latest equity injection follows a €30 million senior loan signed in May 2025 with Proparco, the AFD Group’s private-sector arm, to support Ivorian SMEs through Coris Bank International Côte d’Ivoire. The new investment reinforces Coris Holding’s regional ambitions, strengthening its position among major West African banking groups and broadening its funding sources.

Chamberline Moko