Sygnus Signs Historic US$15m Investment Deal with the IFC

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will invest up to US $15 million in the Caribbean Community Resilience Fund (CCRF) Debt Sub Fund, a regional investment vehicle managed by Sygnus and established in partnership with the CARACOM Development Fund (CDF).

 

The investment represents IFC's first debt fund transaction in the Caribbean, a precedent recognized by Vice President of Investment Management at Sygnus Capital Justine Powell, during the recent signing ceremony.

 

Powell said, “It's a moment of validation for a vision that began with a simple belief that Caribbean businesses and economies deserve access to the kind of long-term, flexible capital that allows them not merely to pursue growth but to build resilience, create lasting value and thrive sustainably over the long term.”

 

She said the commitment IFC has made to the CCRF is not incidental. It follows rigorous institutional evaluation and reflects confidence in both the platform it has built and the opportunities that exist across the region.

 

“We are proud that Sygnus has been entrusted to serve as the bridge between global capital and regional opportunity.”

 

 The CCRF debt sub fund will be deployed across 13 countries in the Caribbean with a focus on seven party sectors critical to the region's long-term development and resilience.

 

Powell highlighted that the Caribbean has never lacked ambition, ingenuity or entrepreneurial talent, saying what the region has often lacked, however,  is financing infrastructure commensurate with that potential.

 

She said, “The CCRF debt sub fund was purpose-built to address that gap by providing capital that's resilient, catalytic, and grounded in a deep understanding of the realities of the region. That is why today's partnership matters. It sends a signal that the Caribbean is not a peripheral market seeking attention. It's a region worthy of investment, capable of innovation, and increasingly equipped with the institutions and platforms required to mobilise capital.”

 

IFC is the largest global development institution with a focus on the private sector and emerging markets. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record US$71.7 billion to private companies and

financial institutions in developing countries. And according to IFC Regional Manager, Financial Institutions Group, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, Olga Calaboso – additional funding is on its way.

 

“Today's signing is an important milestone for IFC in the Caribbean and a very strong step forward with in our partnership with Sygnus. Through this investment, we are really helping to expand access to finance to businesses that need it uh to create jobs to create growth opportunities in the local markets. This initiative also supports resilience and sustainable development at a time that is critical for the Caribbean. And this is just the beginning. After this debt fund that we're celebrating today, more will be coming.”

 

The estimated financing gap in the Caribbean exceeds US $22 billion with domestic credit in the region's small states at approximately 33% of GDP. The CCRF debt sub fund was developed to help bridge that gap and is targeting US $75 million scalable to US $125 million.

 

Co-founder, President and CEO of Synus Berisford Gray said, “This fund represents one of the most transformative fund on the investment horizon and landscape in the Caribbean.”

 

He said the fund will catalyse and crowd-in private sector capital and mobilize capital for businesses especially in the resilient sector –the sectors in the Caribbean which really matter. We are talking about climate, transportation, smart agriculture, sustainable housing et cetera. These are the areas that we have to be deliberate about in terms of  investment strategy and investment philosophy. These are the themes that will transform the very lives of our society, build resilience and make the Caribbean more prosperous.”

 

For Gray, the occasion was not only the culmination of close to 2 years of effort in securing the partnership with IFC, but also spoke to the broader vision of Sygnus’ ambition to provide a Caribbean alternative investment platform that is worldclass.

 

Gray said, “The reward is in signing and the partnership that we have forged with IFC, one of the most renowned multilaterals across the world. The other reason why it's important to have a partner like IFC at the table is because they signal to the international community and to other multilaterals that the Caribbean is a investable market and the big themes in terms of climate and resilience can be rewarding, both in terms of returns for investors, as well as creating the impact that we so need in the region.”

 

He said this is one of the reason why Sygnus was founded – to unlock, mobilize and have capital flow through different strategies across the region.

 

“And for that reason, we want to say thank you very much for your confidence in the CCRF and the confidence in Sygnus as a fund manager. And we look forward to a very long and successful partnership.”