Lead party: Fedgroup Smart Agri Fund (Pty) Ltd and a second senior funder (unnamed) (lenders)
Coverage: The Meridian legal market record (editorial).
Deneys acted as sole legal counsel to Fedgroup Smart Agri Fund and a second senior funder. The deal expanded the financing of Forward Finance Institutional Proprietary Limited. Fedgroup expanded its existing structured finance facility. The second funder provided a separate new senior facility. Total commitments are about US$59 million. Forward Finance provides working capital to agri processors, marketers, farmers and growers in South Africa. The facilities widen its funding base. They also add a leading institutional fixed-income manager as a lender. Deneys handled structure, financing documents, intercreditor arrangements, CPs and closing. The matter was led by Izak Lessing.
Value (as reported): ~US$59 million total commitments.
Law firms: Deneys – Sole legal counsel to the lenders (Fedgroup and second senior funder).
Lawyers named: Izak Lessing (Deneys); Tiyana Ramchunder (Deneys).
Parties: Lenders: Fedgroup Smart Agri Fund (Pty) Ltd and a second senior funder (unnamed); Borrower: Forward Finance Institutional (Pty) Ltd.
Jurisdiction (as reported): South Africa · Sector (as reported): Agriculture / Structured finance.
Source: LinkedIn firm publication, posted 2 September 2026. Meridian record LI-DL-2026-0212.
