Norrenberger backs Johnvents’ ₦12.1bn cocoa expansion push

Nigeria’s drive to deepen local cocoa processing and boost value addition has received a boost as Norrenberger Advisory Partners Limited (NAPL) successfully arranged a ₦12.1 billion Non-Interest Commercial Paper Issuance for Johnvents Industries Limited, one of the country’s leading indigenous cocoa processors.

The issuance, initially targeted at ₦5 billion, was oversubscribed by 242%, reflecting strong investor confidence in ethical financing instruments and renewed momentum for sustainable industrial growth within Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

Nigeria, the world’s fourth-largest cocoa producer, contributes about 6.5% of global output, with ₦2.7 trillion in export value recorded in 2024, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

Yet, much of this production is still exported as raw beans, limiting the country’s share of global cocoa value creation compared to nations with stronger local processing capacity.

Bridging this gap, Johnvents Industries, a subsidiary of Johnvents Group, has emerged as a key player driving industrialisation within the cocoa value chain.

Over the past six years, the company has built a strong reputation for quality, sustainability, and innovation, reinforcing Nigeria’s potential as a hub for processed cocoa exports.

Following the registration of its ₦30 billion commercial paper programme in 2022, Johnvents’ performance has surged, with revenues rising from ₦59 billion in 2022 to over ₦230 billion in 2024.

The company’s growth trajectory reflects strategic foresight, operational resilience, and a commitment to deepening value creation across the agricultural sector.

To sustain its expansion, Johnvents turned to the non-interest capital market, an increasingly vital source of ethical financing.

Norrenberger Advisory Partners Limited acted as Arranger for the company’s first-ever Series 1 & 2 Non-Interest Commercial Paper Issuance under a ₦15 billion programme.

The investor response demonstrates rising confidence in Sharia-compliant instruments and their potential to channel long-term capital into productive sectors such as agribusiness and manufacturing.

Norrenberger emphasised that its collaboration with Johnvents aligns with its broader mission to deepen non-interest finance and promote ethical investment structures across industries.

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The firm said the deal reinforces the growing relevance of alternative financing models in supporting Nigeria’s industrial and export diversification agenda.

Norrenberger Advisory Partners Limited, the investment banking subsidiary of Norrenberger Financial Group, provides innovative financing and advisory solutions across capital markets, asset management (including Islamic/Halal funds), pensions, and securities trading.

“The focus on non-interest financing reflects a global shift toward ethical, inclusive, and sustainable investment practices”, the group said.