Regius Capital closes $20m Johnvents commercial paper deal

Regius Capital Limited has stepped into Nigeria’s commercial paper market, completing its first transaction as a Securities and Exchange Commission licensed issuing house.

The firm participated as a dealer in Johnvents Industries Limited’s N30 billion ($20,000,000) commercial paper issuance, raised under the company’s broader N100 billion ($66,666,667) commercial paper programme.

The offer, which was registered with the SEC, was split into three series. Series 22 carried a tenor of 181 days at a yield of 22 percent per annum. Series 23 ran for 269 days and offered investors a 23 percent return, while Series 24 had a one-year maturity of 364 days with a higher yield of 24.5 percent. The offer was launched and wrapped up in December 2025, with the entire amount fully subscribed.

The issuance was backed by investment-grade ratings of BBB+ from both Agusto & Co and GCR Ratings. It was offered exclusively to qualified investors.

For Regius Capital, the deal marks an important early milestone. Having recently secured its SEC licence, the firm said its role in the transaction covered structuring support and distribution, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements while helping to connect the issuer to investors.

The successful execution signals the company’s intention to position itself as an active player in Nigeria’s debt capital markets, particularly in short-term funding instruments such as commercial papers, which have become an increasingly popular funding route for corporates seeking flexibility outside traditional bank lending.

Johnvents Industries, the company behind the issuance, is active in cocoa processing, commodity trading and a range of other agribusiness operations across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. The company is regarded as a key participant in the sector, with operations built around processing, export and value addition.

Commercial paper programmes such as this allow companies like Johnvents to raise short-term working capital from institutional investors, often at competitive rates, while offering investors relatively attractive yields in a high-interest-rate environment.

The N30 billion ($20,000,000) transaction not only strengthens Johnvents’ funding base but also signals Regius Capital’s formal arrival in the commercial paper space.