Adil Popat’s Simba Corp, Absa partner on vehicle financing

Absa Bank Kenya has teamed up with Simba Corporation, the automotive and hospitality group controlled by Kenyan billionaire Adil Popat, to make it easier for people and businesses to buy vehicles, farm machinery and other productive equipment.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding that lets customers take up asset-financing packages to acquire vehicles and equipment without paying the full price upfront, an arrangement aimed at helping businesses grow and upgrade their transport and machinery.

Under the deal, businesses can finance up to 95 percent of the cost of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses, light commercial vehicles and fleets, with repayment spread over as long as 72 months. Schools buying buses can access full financing, or 100 percent of the cost, repayable over up to 84 months, while individuals buying passenger cars qualify for up to 95 percent, repayable over 72 months.

The partnership also targets agriculture, offering financing for tractors, farm machinery, pick-ups and other equipment. Farmers can fund up to 90 percent of the cost, with repayment periods of up to 60 months, easing the shift from labor-intensive methods to mechanized farming.

Renato D’Souza, Absa Bank Kenya’s director of business banking, said the tie-up was designed to tackle the financing gap that often stops small and medium-sized firms from acquiring the assets they need. “For many businesses, particularly SMEs, access to affordable and flexible financing remains a key barrier to acquiring the vehicles and equipment they need to grow, improve efficiency and compete effectively,” he said.

Suraj Shah, an executive director at Simba Corporation, said the arrangement would make vehicle ownership more accessible through flexible packages. The signing was also attended by Absa’s corporate and investment banking executive James Agin and Simba’s executive chairman, Popat.

The deal forms part of Absa’s revamped asset-based finance offering, known as ABF 2.0, under which the bank plans to deploy KES 100 billion ($775 million) over three years to individuals and businesses. The program targets sectors including manufacturing, trade and logistics, infrastructure, healthcare and education.

Simba, which distributes brands such as Mitsubishi, Renault and Mahindra in Kenya, stands to widen the pool of buyers able to afford its vehicles, while Absa gains a larger market for financing the assets that keep businesses, farms and institutions running.