TLG Capital (“TLG”) has closed a US$10 million facility for VivaJets, a subsidiary of Nigerian aviation services platform Falcon Aero, with financing structured alongside Wema Bank. Both TLG and VivaJets believe this to be the first internationally structured aviation financing for a Nigerian Air Operator, and funding will be applied to boost intra-African connectivity.
Isha Doshi, Partner, TLG Capital, said: “Africa’s growth story depends on connectivity. Falcon Aero is linking cities that global capital often overlooks, including tier-2 and tier-3 hubs where trade and opportunity are rising fastest. Aviation operators need long-duration capital at sensible rates. With our partners at Wema Bank and Falcon Aerospace, we are pleased to deliver a long-term financing solution that helps support highly skilled engineers, pilots, and workers in Nigeria’s aviation sector.”
Tejumade Salami, Chief Operating Officer of Falcon Aerospace, said, “We spoke to many lenders; TLG solved it. Their structured-solutions mindset turned a complex funding puzzle into a single, bankable facility. In our industry, the ability to access long-tenor, USD-denominated capital is critical. With this facility, we have retired legacy obligations and can now focus fully on curating a seamless experience for our clients across the region. Our facility with TLG substantially reduces the amount of our revenue and cash flow that is spent on interest and debt service.”
Oluwole Ajimisinmi, Deputy Managing Director, Wema Bank, said: “This collaboration leverages TLG’s impact investment prowess and Wema Bank’s strong fiduciary capacity as a trusted Nigerian commercial bank, to provide the needed financial support for Falcon Aerospace, ultimately bridging the gap in financing for African businesses. This intelligent form of structuring is a credible example of how African financial institutions can crowd in private credit while maintaining strong risk discipline towards the goal of empowering African businesses with the funding they need to thrive and scale meaningfully.”
Legal advisers to the transaction were Wigwe & Partners and Hannaford Turner for TLG Capital. The TLG Capital deal team comprised Ayoola Oladipupo and Aum Thacker. From Falcon Aero, the transaction was led by Wura Adetiba, Kayode Adebiyi, and Seun Olajide.
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About TLG Capital
TLG Capital is a British-owned African asset manager. Since 2009, the TLG Group has completed more than US$230 million of transactions across 20 African countries, spanning 49 deals and 31 exits. TLG is trusted by over 100 investors across the world, including the IFC, Swedfund, Norfund and Bpifrance.
About Falcon Aero
Falcon Aero is a business aviation platform headquartered in Nigeria, established in 2022 to meet rising demand for charter services across Africa and beyond. Operating under a Nigerian Air Operator Certificate, the company has logged over 2,000 flight hours to date. Through its Nigerian and Canadian subsidiaries, Falcon Aero provides aircraft charter, acquisitions, and management solutions for African businesses, executives and high-net-worth individuals. Falcon Aero currently operates a fleet of aircraft, with two additional aircraft scheduled to join this year.
About Wema Bank
Established in 1945, Wema Bank is one of Nigeria’s most enduring financial institutions and the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT. Now marking 80 years of operations, Wema has built a legacy of trust, resilience, and innovation, serving over one million individuals, families, and businesses nationwide. The Bank remains committed to delivering tailored products and services that empower customers at every stage of their financial journey.
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