The Imbewu Franchise Finance is geared towards enabling black people to leverage the infrastructure available within the franchise industry in order to gain access to economic opportunities whilst reducing investment risk.

The criteria of the product are:

• NEF has a preference to fund top 40 rated franchises

• Active management participation by BEE parties

• Minimum BEE shareholding of 50.1%

• Transactions will be structured with sustainable capital structure,

• NEF funding to bridge shortfall in equity

• BEE party to have pre-qualified with franchisor

• NEF funding generally limited to R5m

• NEF will target a nominal pre-tax IRR of between 12% to 15% on its funding

• The NEF investment horizon is 5 to 7 years