Call for Proposals for Agric-SMEs for Online Agribusiness Investment/Finance Deal Making Workshop

Proposals should be submitted via email to dealroom@ag-invest.org. 

Date of Issue of Request: March 31, 2021

Deadline for Offers: April 30, 2021

Description: Call for Proposals for Agri-SMEs’ Participation in Online Agribusiness Investment/Finance Deal Making Workshop

For: Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity (FTF)

Funded By: USAID

  Implemented By: CNFA/ Connexus Corporation

Submit Proposals to: dealroom@ag-invest.org

1.     Introduction to Offerors:

 The USAID-funded Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity (“the Activity”) aims to strengthen the business enabling environment to promote private sector investment in agriculture in Nigeria through a 5-year activity that is being implemented by CNFA. The Activity will work with these lead firms, and the producers and service providers within their supply chains, to help them realize their growth plans. The Agribusiness Investment Activity’s partnerships with lead firms and financial entities will help integrate producers, aggregators, and other small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into more sought-after roles within the lead firms’ value chains for rice, maize, soy, aquaculture, and cowpeas. The target states include Niger, Delta, Cross River, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Benue. Overall, the sales volumes and profits of all actors within these market systems (including lead firms) will have increased as the result of streamlined regulations, more effective policies, and increased access to finance and investment. This workshop is designed to facilitate relationships and knowledge building between agribusinesses seeking finance and/or equity investment and potential equity and/or debt investors, with an end objective to support investment and finance deals, ranging in size from US$20K to $5 million (approximately 8 million to 2 billion naira), in the target agricultural value chains (rice, maize, soy, aquaculture and cowpeas).

 As part of these efforts, the Activity will hold a virtual “Agribusiness Debt and Equity Investment Deal Making Workshop” on June 03, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM GMT. This one-day virtual event will bring the most promising Agric-SMEs to pitch their business opportunities to potential investors (including debt and equity investors). These agribusinesses will gain exposure to multiple investors and financial institutions, build their networks, and receive valuable feedback to prepare them for future finance and investment opportunities. Participating financial institutions and investors will benefit from having access to a pool of hand-picked, finance and investment-ready agribusinesses for them to consider for their own portfolios. The Workshop will also provide key insights on the agribusiness finance and investment community as whole by sharing lessons learned for the creation of similar events in the future. 

To present a strong pool of participating Agric-SMEs for this Workshop, the Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity is seeking interested and finance and/or investment-ready agri-businesses that are interested in submitting their candidacy for this deal-making opportunity. Presenters will be selected from those candidates that present a viable debt and/or equity investment opportunity according to the instructions, terms, and conditions described in this Solicitation. Failure to adhere to the instructions may lead to disqualification.  

2.     Offer Deadline and Protocol: Proposals must be received not later than 12:00 PM, Nigerian Time on April 30, 2021. Proposals must be submitted to dealroom@ag-invest.org

 Proposals received after the specified time and date will be considered late and reviewed only at the discretion of the reviewers.

3.     Evaluation: Selections will be made of Agric-SMEs that follow the instructions, meet the eligibility requirements, and are determined to be the best candidates based on the evaluation criteria below:

·      Businesses should be Agric-SMEs, focused on one or more of the following States in Nigeria: Niger, Delta, Cross River, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Benue.

·      Investments and debt must be to support one or more of the target agricultural value chains: rice, maize, soy, aquaculture, and cowpeas.

·      Agric-SMEs seeking equity investment must be willing to share ownership since this workshop aims to connect SMEs with potential equity investors.

·      Investment deals must range in size from US$20K to $5 million (approximately 8 million to 2 billion Naira).

·      The proposal should describe the nature of the business, business model, industry, and provide a market analysis and financial projections demonstrating the anticipated return on investment or anticipated financial impacts of debt financing.

·      The pitch should also clarify the business’ revenue sources, cost structure, competitive advantage, key business drivers, and identified market opportunities.

·      Proposals must also identify the key risks to business continuity as well as the mitigating factors;

·      Should include a description of management, governance, and ownership structure.

·      Presentation and analysis of financial statements must include the valuation of the business (an estimation is acceptable) and size of debt and/or equity injection requested.

·      Businesses seeking equity investment must be prepared to inform potential equity investors what percentage of the business the owner is willing to sell and the valuation considerations to justify the proportion to be relinquished.

·      Businesses must address any potential negative environmental impacts that could result from the debt and/or investment and how those risks will be mitigated.

·      Minimum 2 years of experience running the business and must be able to provide a minimum of 2 years of financial information, including at least one year demonstration of profitability (even if not last year due to COVID).

 4.     Selection:

Interested agri-businesses seeking finance and/or equity investment and looking to be considered for the upcoming “Agribusiness Debt and Equity Investment Deal Making Workshop” are encouraged to participate in the SME Pitch Session Training on April 20, 2021 at 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM GMT for additional details on what participating investors will be looking for, and on how to submit an effective proposal. Interested participants should submit their business’ name, name and email of representatives attending, and the estimated amount of funding they are seeking to dealroom@ag-invest.org  no later than 12:00 PM, Nigerian Time on April 13, 2021.  

 Proposals for a slot in the Agribusiness Debt and Equity Investment Deal Making Workshop itself will be accepted until April 30, 2021 by 12:00 PM Nigeria Time.

 Additional questions regarding anything in the Call for Proposals or the SME Pitch Session Training can be directed to dealroom@ag-invest.org

 Formatting Instructions:

All offers must be formatted in accordance with the below requirements:

·      The Proposals must be submitted in a business plan format, but no more than 20 pages; and MUST also adhere to all the guidelines stipulated in the selection criteria above.

·      English language only

·      The cover page should include the name of the company, point of contact’s name and their email address, and date; this page does not count towards the maximum page count.