Stanbic Bank Kenya and Stanbic Bank Uganda, both part of the Standard Bank Group, have successfully arranged a USD 45 million long-term funding package to support the expansion of two PepsiCo bottlers in East Africa — Crown Beverages Limited (CBL) in Uganda and SBC Kenya Limited in Kenya.
The transaction — comprising USD 30 million for Crown Beverages Limited and USD 15 million for SBC Kenya — underscores the bank’s growing role as a key regional financier of industrial and manufacturing growth in Africa.
It also reflects Standard Bank Group’s pan-African financing capacity, connecting clients seamlessly across borders to unlock new opportunities in regional trade and enterprise expansion.
“This transaction exemplifies how our Positive Impact framework translates ambition into action,” said Paul Muganwa, Executive Director and Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Uganda.
“By structuring a cross-border solution in partnership with our colleagues in Kenya, we are advancing inclusive growth across financial, enterprise, and industrial dimensions. The investment will stimulate job creation, enhance local manufacturing capacity, and strengthen regional trade linkages — particularly benefiting youth, women, and farmers within the supply chain.”
Powering Cross-Border Growth and Regional Integration
The financing marks a major milestone in a two-decade relationship between Stanbic Bank Uganda and Crown Beverages Limited, PepsiCo’s official bottler in Uganda. Since 2020, Standard Bank Group has backed CBL’s modular expansion strategy and, in 2023, advised and funded the acquisition of SBC Kenya by CBL’s shareholders — setting the foundation for this integrated, cross-border growth initiative.
The latest facility builds on that success by enabling brownfield expansion of the two bottling plants, improving manufacturing efficiency, increasing capacity, and boosting competitiveness in the fast-growing beverages market.
Standard Bank’s Regional Financing Strength
According to SJ Kok, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Kenya, the deal highlights the strategic advantage of the Group’s regional structure:
“Our ability to collaborate across our country teams underscores the power of our regional network. Through our established relationship with Crown Beverages in Uganda, we were able to seamlessly extend support to SBC Kenya and design a funding structure that met the complex requirements of a brownfield expansion. This is a strong example of how we bring Standard Bank Group’s regional ecosystem to life for our clients.”
With operations in 20 African markets, Standard Bank Group continues to position itself as a leading driver of sustainable and inclusive growth through innovative financial solutions that bridge markets, support industrial development, and strengthen trade within Africa.
Catalyzing Local Industry and Employment
The USD 45 million investment is expected to enhance manufacturing output, improve productivity, and strengthen local value chains — particularly in sectors critical to job creation and innovation.
Both bottlers will benefit from improved infrastructure, modernized production systems, and greater access to working capital — reinforcing East Africa’s reputation as a competitive manufacturing hub.
Beyond financing, the transaction reaffirms Standard Bank’s commitment to building a connected, self-sustaining African economy, powered by regional collaboration and responsible private-sector investment.
