African real estate is set for a new funding push as Standard Bank Group and Java Capital plan to establish a platform designed to connect property and infrastructure opportunities with new pools of capital.

The venture will offer real estate investors, developers, listed companies and infrastructure-related investors a range of capital solutions, including debt and equity origination, structured funding and co-investment opportunities.

Standard Bank sees improving investment conditions

Andrew Robinson, sector head of real estate at Standard Bank CIB, said stronger balance sheets and stabilizing financing conditions are creating new opportunities across the sector.

“Balance sheets have strengthened, financing conditions are stabilising, and there is renewed appetite for M&A and investment,” Robinson said.

He added that traditional financing alone would not be enough to fund the next phase of growth, making it increasingly important to connect projects with different sources of capital and structure financing around specific needs.

Justin Bothner, Standard Bank’s head of investment banking, said the partnership would provide a more integrated approach to transactions and capital raising.

For Java Capital, the platform is expected to help identify investment opportunities while matching them with the capital required to execute transactions. Founding Director Andrew Brooking said the alliance would create a more seamless route from origination to completion in complex markets.

Africa’s property market draws investors

Africa’s real estate market continues to offer opportunities across residential, commercial and infrastructure projects as urbanization, population growth and rising investment drive demand.

Affordable housing remains one of the biggest opportunities, with governments across the continent seeking to address housing shortages through new developments and investment programs. Demand is also expanding for premium properties and luxury homes as African cities grow and middle-class populations increase.

Standard Bank and Java Capital expand their reach

Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest financial services organization by total assets, has operated for more than 160 years and has a presence in more than 20 sub-Saharan African countries.

Led by Group Chief Executive Sim Tshabalala, the bank is investing in technology and its pan-African banking franchise under its 2028 strategy. Its fintech ambitions also extend to Nigeria, where Standard Bank Group is considering buying a stake in fintech company OPay.

Java Capital is an independent corporate finance, M&A and equity capital markets boutique serving listed and unlisted companies. The firm has raised more than R124 billion ($7.7 billion) over the past decade.

The company provides integrated financial, commercial, legal, tax and regulatory advisory and transaction execution services. It is licensed as a sponsor of companies listed on the JSE, a designated adviser to JSE AltX-listed companies and an issuer agent for companies listed on the CTSE and A2X.