Sygnus Group

Sygnus at 10 – Building capital beyond the banks

dean.knight — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:06:56 +0000

Sygnus at 10

Building capital beyond the banks

MORRIS…launching a private credit business, we knew it was going to be a huge educational exercise — teach the market, so to speak. Because if you recall, prior to that, there used to be ponzi schemes that were called alternative investments. And so we couldn’t even use the word alternative.

In the Caribbean, alternative investments or money invested in businesses and projects outside traditional bank loans or stock market funding, barely register.

Even in Jamaica, home to one of the region’s deepest capital markets, the asset class accounts for just a sliver of economic output — well under one per cent of GDP by Sygnus Capital’s estimates.

“It’s still very small. It’s probably less than, certainly it’s less than one per cent. It’s more like 0.05 per cent or thereabout relative to the GDP across the region,” CEO of Sygnus Capital Limited and co-founder of Sygnus Group, Berisford Grey told the Jamaica Observer.

In the United States and other developed markets that figure can run as high as seven to 10 per cent.

In other words, the Caribbean is still playing catch-up. Businesses with viable expansion plans can spend years stuck in a financing no-man’s-land — too complex for traditional bank lending, but not yet suited for public markets. Sygnus Capital turned that gap into a business.

“Even if we should push aggressively over the next decade and get the alternative markets to expand in terms of new asset classes, infrastructure, energy, funds etc, we might just get to three or four per cent of GDP, which would mean that we’d still have a ways to go,” he added, broadening the lens beyond Sygnus to the structural evolution of the Caribbean capital markets.

On the seventh floor of One Belmont — the sleek Kingston office tower Sygnus built during the pandemic — the company’s three founders sat in a bright red sectional couch reflecting on a decade of building one of the Caribbean’s most ambitious private capital platforms.

Grey spoke like a strategist, constantly returning to scale and long-term opportunity. Dr Ike Johnson broke down complex structures with almost surgical precision. Jason Morris was more blunt, cutting through financial jargon in a few words.

His simplest line may have best explained the entire business.

“You can get bank financing all day, every day,” Morris, executive VP and chief investment officer at Sygnus Group, said. Then he paused.

“The problem is flexibility…Flexible capital that meets the entrepreneur in their space and is designed to do exactly what they are trying to do, it’s very, very difficult to come by.”

That, more than anything else, is the gap Sygnus has spent the last 10 years trying to fill.

Founded in 2016 by Grey, Johnson and Morris, Sygnus was built around a problem the trio had seen repeatedly during their years in banking and finance.

Medium-size businesses — often profitable, often growing — were struggling to access capital. Not because they were bad businesses but often they simply needed money structured differently.

That is where Sygnus stepped in.

To understand the firm’s rise it helps to first understand what Sygnus is — and what it is not.

Sygnus Group founders (from left) Dr Ike Johnson, Berisford Grey and Jason Morris in discussion at the company’s One Belmont offices in Kingston as the alternative investment firm marks its 10th anniversary. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

It is not a bank. It is not simply a lender either, despite how it is often described.

At the centre sits Sygnus Capital Limited, a licensed securities dealer and investment manager that structures deals, raises capital, and manages specialised investment vehicles.

Those vehicles include Sygnus Credit Investments, or SCI, which provides private credit to middle-market businesses; Sygnus Real Estate Finance, or SRF, which deploys flexible capital into commercial, residential and hospitality developments; Sygnus Deneb Investments, its private equity platform; and the Caribbean Community Resilience Fund, which targets climate and resilience-related investments.

Together, those entities allow Sygnus to deploy capital across multiple layers of the financing stack — debt, equity and hybrid structures — depending on what a business or project actually needs.

The model may sound straightforward today but convincing investors a decade ago to throw support behind not just a new company, but an entirely new business model, was far from easy.

“Launching a private credit business, we knew it was going to be a huge educational exercise —teach the market, so to speak. Because if you recall, prior to that there used to be Ponzi schemes that were called alternative investments, and so we couldn’t even use the word alternative,” Morris told the Sunday Finance.

“Non-traditional investments [was the term used instead]. That’s how we started, and then we slowly, but surely, we had to introduce different terminology to the market. For example, dry powder. Nobody in the market knew about it, and we introduced it…and now, everybody knows what it means,” he continued.

The founders’ credibility and portfolio of work over the years helped. The three had built strong reputations at major financial institutions, with Morris coming from Scotiabank, Grey from CIBC FirstCaribbean, and Johnson from JMMB Group.

“We had a good track record of doing stuff on big platforms but the question was whether we could do it on our own,” Morris said.

“That was a big, big challenge. And what this required was for us to get a few of what I’m going to term anchor investors — investors who would put a large amount of money — and then we used those investors to attract other investors,” he said.

But governance also played a central role in winning that trust.

Institutional investors, Grey noted, were not simply buying into returns projections. They were assessing whether Sygnus had built the kind of independent governance and risk controls capable of managing institutional capital.

That discipline, he said, was embedded in the company’s business model from day one and helped give early investors confidence to commit.

“When we look back at our business plan, and we always laugh about this, our business plan actually had the blueprint. I’m always surprised at the amount of work we did pre the launch of Sygnus,” Grey said.

“We did probably two and a half years of work… In the moment, it’s all fun but when you look back at the documentations, the amount of work that we did to take advantage of the opportunities that came up…” he continued.

With early capital secured and institutional support in place, Sygnus moved quickly from concept to execution. What began as a seven-person start-up soon evolved into a regional investment platform, launching new business lines and deploying capital into opportunities not just in Jamaica, but across the Caribbean.

Sygnus Group founders (from left) Dr Ike Johnson, executive vice-president and chief operating officer; Berisford Grey, chief executive officer of Sygnus Capital; and Jason Morris, executive vice-president and chief investment officer, at the company’s office in Kingston. The alternative investment firm is marking 10 years of operations this year.

The expansion was deliberate, but ambitious.

In 2017, just a year after launch, Sygnus rolled out Sygnus Credit Investments (SCI), giving investors exposure to private credit and providing medium-size businesses with access to financing, often unavailable through traditional channels. Two years later came Sygnus Real Estate Finance (SRF), expanding the group’s reach into commercial, residential and hospitality developments. Private equity followed through Deneb Investments, widening the firm’s ability to back businesses with long-term growth potential.

In 2022, the group deepened its regional footprint with the acquisition of Puerto Rico-based Acrecent Financial, later rebranded as Sygnus Capital PR, giving it a foothold in private credit, receivables financing, wealth management and corporate advisory services.

Over time, the company’s investment footprint expanded across sectors ranging from real etate and tourism to energy, infrastructure, and financial services.

Today, Sygnus operates across Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Lucia and the United States, with more than US$700 million deployed in alternative investments. Its team currently stands at roughly 100 people.

Morris points to Bahamas Striping, a Bahamas-based road-marking and infrastructure company, as one example of how Sygnus’s investment model works in practice.

Sygnus funded the company at a stage when larger pools of institutional capital were not yet within reach. That early support helped position the business for significantly larger financing down the line.

Last year, Bahamas Striping secured US$100 million in capital from Afreximbank — a milestone Morris said validated Sygnus’s ability to identify scalable businesses early and help prepare them for institutional funding.

“Just think about the magnitude and scale of that,” he said. “Without Sygnus Credit Investments believing in those entrepreneurs and supporting them by channelling SCI’s pension fund investor capital into that business, that company would not have been in a position to unlock US$100 million in capital.”

Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Dr Ike Johnson told the Jamaica Observer that such progression speaks to one of Sygnus’s less-visible contributions: The firm does more than inject capital — it helps businesses build the operational discipline needed to scale.

While Sygnus operates outside traditional lending channels, Johnson said its standards around governance, reporting, and capital deployment remain deliberately rigorous.

“When companies accept investment from us there are certain expectations around how they report to us, how they deploy that capital, and what our expectations are around returns,” Johnson said.

Over time, he said, that discipline often leaves businesses stronger, better managed, and ultimately more attractive to traditional lenders.

Eyes on the next decade

Looking ahead, the founders see no shortage of opportunity.

Johnson pointed to Sygnus Deneb Investments, the group’s private equity arm, as one of its strongest-performing business lines, with roughly US$50 million already deployed into growth-stage businesses across the region.

The Sygnus founding trio at the company’s headquarters in Kingston. Over the past decade the firm has deployed more than US$700 million in alternative investments across the Caribbean and international markets.

The firm is seeing particularly strong opportunities in distribution, hospitality, and businesses that support the Caribbean’s tourism-dependent economies.

Climate finance is another area the founders believe could define Sygnus’s next decade.

The scale of the opportunity is massive.

Morris estimates the Caribbean requires roughly US$100 billion in climate- and resilience-related investments annually just to begin addressing the region’s vulnerability to hurricanes, energy insecurity and food shocks.

Through the Caribbean Community Resilience Fund (CCRF), Sygnus is targeting investments in solar energy, electric mobility, agriculture and food security — sectors where the firm believes commercial returns and developmental impact can increasingly co-exist.

“Where the CCRF is playing is where we generate returns,” Morris said. “As an equity investor we expect returns of between 14 and 18 per cent in US dollars, depending on how transactions are structured. If we are doing debt transactions those returns would be lower — typically in the double digits and in some cases even single digits.”

Still, the founders are under no illusion about the risks ahead.

For a business built on deploying capital into complex transactions, macroeconomic instability remains a constant concern. High interest rates, inflation, geopolitical conflict, and climate shocks all have the potential to affect portfolio companies and investor behaviour.

Johnson said that after decades in banking and finance, he has learned that disruption is inevitable.

“In my entire career in banking and finance there’s always something going on,” he said. “Whether it’s war, a hurricane, or another COVID-type event, you have to build a platform that is nimble and has a team of problem-solvers who can respond quickly.”

That resilience, he said, is critical not just for the Sygnus Group of companies but for the businesses it supports, particularly during periods of stress.

Grey agreed, noting that while the company closely monitors macroeconomic risks, those challenges are part of operating in financial markets.

“Preparation is the mother of victory…Whatever the state of nature may be, we have to understand the risks within that scenario and manage around them,” Grey said.

Even so, he remains optimistic about what lies ahead.

For all the growth Sygnus has achieved over the past decade he believes the Caribbean’s alternative investment market is still in its infancy.

And if he is right, Sygnus’s first decade may ultimately be remembered not as the peak of its story but as the foundation for what comes next.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/06/28/sygnus-at-10/

The post Sygnus at 10 – Building capital beyond the banks first appeared on Sygnus Group.

Sygnus Foundation débuts with $16-m roof repair at Barbary Hall Primary

dean.knight — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:34:02 +0000

Sygnus Foundation débuts with $16-m roof repair at Barbary Hall Primary

Students of Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School share a moment with members of the Sygnus team during the official launch of the Sygnus Foundation and handover ceremony to mark the completion of the school’s $16-million roof restoration project.

MARKING a major milestone in its 10th year of operation, Sygnus Group has officially launched the Sygnus Foundation while commemorating the completion of a $16-million roof restoration project at Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School in St Elizabeth.

This forms part of the company’s commitment to supporting Jamaica’s recovery and resilience following Hurricane Melissa.

The milestone was commemorated during a special plaque handover ceremony attended by Berisford Grey, president and CEO of Sygnus; Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth South Western and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and Floyd Green; Elizabeth James, vice-president and head of wealth and client strategy at Sygnus; and Danielle Drummond, donor projects coordinator at the National Education Trust (NET).

The investment funded the restoration of the school’s roof, helping to create a safer and more secure environment for teaching and learning.

The completed work has enabled students to return to their classrooms for the first time since Hurricane Melissa impacted the institution in October 2025.

Leading by example, during the official launch of the Sygnus Foundation, president and CEO of Sygnus Capital Berisford Grey helps kick off playground improvement activities at Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School by adding a fresh coat of paint to the monkey bars.

As part of the day’s activities, Sygnus team members also helped to repaint the school’s playground, bringing new colour and life back into a space. The repainting formed part of the wider effort to refresh and restore the school environment.

The Sygnus CEO said the project represents the latest phase of Sygnus’s Hurricane Rebuild Initiative, launched in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

He noted that with support from several local, regional and international partners, including significant contributions from Bahamas Striping Company and CrossBoundary, the initiative was designed to move beyond emergency relief and invest in the long-term recovery of communities impacted by the storm.

According to Grey the launch of the foundation reflects the company’s desire to create sustainable impact beyond its business operations.

He said the Sygnus Foundation is an initiative that reflects the values that have guided the company’s journey from the beginning — partnership, purpose and nation-building.

“Following Hurricane Melissa we committed not only to helping communities recover, but to supporting their long-term rebuilding and resilience. Today, as we stand at Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School and see students once again learning in restored classrooms, we are witnessing the fulfilment of that promise,” said Grey

Anadeen Nembhard, vice-president and head of people, culture and talent management at Sygnus Capital, shares a conversation with students of Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School during the foundation’s inaugural community engagement activity.

“This marks not just a milestone for Sygnus, but the beginning of a deeper and more structured approach to social impact across Jamaica,” added Grey.

He pointed out that the launch of the foundation comes during Sygnus’s 10th anniversary month, and signals a strategic expansion of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts through a dedicated platform focused on creating meaningful and lasting change in communities across Jamaica.

In the meantime, Green commended the partnership and the focus on rebuilding educational infrastructure.

“I want to thank the company for its strong corporate social responsibility and for stepping forward at such a critical time to help our communities and to help our children,” said Green.

“I can’t think of a better way to mark 10 years of innovation, 10 years of creativity, and 10 years of growth than to contribute to a fine educational institution like Barbary Hall. I think this is a brilliant way to start the work of your foundation. It already signals what you are about — driving development; driving growth; helping rural communities to do well; and also stepping forward in times of crisis to ensure that the Government, community, and private sector can work together to shorten the time that we take to recover from these disastrous affairs.

Elizabeth James (right), vice-president and head of wealth and client strategy at Sygnus Capital, presents a commemorative plaque to Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School Principal Mariann Chambers-Smith during the launch of the Sygnus Foundation.

“Schools are the heartbeat of rural communities, and the outcomes of our children are really based on the strength of the educational institution. Barbary Hall has trained some of the best and brightest across the world, so you are allowing some of the best and brightest to flourish,” added Green.

Acting Principal Mariann Chambers-Smith welcomed the support, noting that the investment will have a transformative impact on the school and its students.

“It is with deep gratitude and a sense of renewed hope that we, the Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School, extend heartfelt thanks to the Sygnus Foundation for its generous support in re-roofing our primary department,” said Chambers-Smith

“Of course, our children this week were privileged to go into their classrooms for the first time after Hurricane Melissa. Because of your support and partnership our students and teachers now have a place of safety and security — and teaching and learning can continue.

“You have not only repaired our roof, but you have also helped us to rebuild our confidence and a sense of stability within our school community. Your contribution will have a lasting impact on this institution,” Chambers-Smith added.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/06/24/sygnus-foundation-debuts-16-m-roof-repair-barbary-hall-primary/

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Climate pitches move into funding talks after Barbados summit

dean.knight — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:03:23 +0000

Climate pitches move into funding talks after Barbados summit

Gregory Samuels, senior VP at Sygnus Capital, says the investment firm is in active discussions regarding several climate-focused ventures following the Climate Smart Summit in Bridgetown, Barbados — including Jamaican projects such as the Kingston Harbour Cleanup initiative and Kee Farms.

MILLIONS of US dollars in climate-focused investment proposals are now moving into active discussions between Caribbean entrepreneurs and financiers following last week’s Climate Smart Summit in Barbados, with several Jamaican projects among those now being tracked for possible funding over the next 18 months.

The investor pipeline includes everything from a US$2.5-million push to expand Kingston Harbour’s clean-up infrastructure to a US$45-million blue economy financing platform being developed by Jamaican entrepreneur Nicholas Kee, alongside regional projects in renewable energy, sustainable tourism and agricultural resilience. Recycling Partners of Jamaica also pitched for just over US$900,000 to support the expansion of its recycling and waste recovery operations in Jamaica.

For the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, which hosted the summit’s investor forum, the real work starts now.

Over the next 18 months the organisation will track whether the pitches made to financiers such as Sygnus Capital, Caribbean Development Bank, Afreximbank, IDB Invest, and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean or CAF (formerly Corporación Andina de Fomento), translate into actual deals.

And there is already movement.

Sygnus Capital says it entered the summit with live discussions already under way regarding two of the six projects that formed part of the main investor pitch competition — Barbados-based Rum and Sargassum and GrenadaGrows.

“Two of the six companies we were already in discussion with,” senior vice-president at Sygnus, Gregory Samuels told theJamaica Observerin a follow-up interview.

“These companies are Rum and Sargassum and GrenadaGrows.”

Rum and Sargassum, founded by Barbadian entrepreneur Dr Legena Henry, is developing a waste-to-energy business that aims to convert two major Caribbean waste streams — invasive sargassum seaweed and rum distillery wastewater — into renewable natural gas, tackling both the region’s energy costs and a growing environmental problem.

Meanwhile GrenadaGrows, led by Judlyn Telesford-Checkley, is focused on building a climate-resilient ecotourism and agriculture project in Grenada, combining sustainable construction, food production, and nature-based tourism to create a lower-impact tourism model.

Samuels said Sygnus is also now in discussions involving Jamaican projects including The Kingston Harbour Cleanup initiative and Kee’s proposal.

Gerald Lindo (left), director of the Caribbean chapter of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, moderates a discussion on climate finance and investment opportunities featuring Caroline Mahfood of GraceKennedy Foundation; general manager of the Recycling Partners of Jamaica, Gairy Taylor; Nicholas Kee of Kee Farms; and head of Disaster Risk Reduction Recovery for Building Resilience at the UNDP, Ronald Jackson.

“We definitely believe that a deal is possible and we can do something,” he said.

Sygnus currently manages about US$140 million in climate capital and expects that pool to grow closer to US$180 million by final close.

The fund can deploy between US$500,000 and roughly US$6 million into individual projects using its own capital, while partnering with other lenders for larger raises.

Nicholas Kee is seeking US$45 million to expand Kee Farms, a Jamaican regenerative ocean farming venture that trains artisanal fisherfolk to cultivate seaweed, oysters, and sea cucumbers while restoring marine ecosystems. The capital would support a broader climate finance platform built around blue economy development, biodiversity data, and ecosystem valuation, aimed at helping Jamaica better measure the economic value of its natural assets and the cost of climate damage.

The project drew strong early investor attention.

“Maybe about 10,” Kee said when asked how many parties expressed interest after his pitch.

That does not mean funding is imminent but it does mean the project has moved beyond concept stage into serious capital conversations.

Kee told the Business Observer that the immediate goal is a smaller bridge raise of US$5 million to US$7 million to build the legal and financial structure needed for the larger facility.

“When you’re raising that amount of money, it’s very slow,” he said. “It’s a lot of documentation and preparation.”

At the other end of the spectrum is The Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project. Unlike Kee’s proposal, the GraceKennedy Foundation-led initiative offers no obvious financial return to investors, despite potentially large economic benefits for Jamaica.

That makes it a different kind of funding challenge.

Caroline Mahfood, chief executive officer of the GraceKennedy Foundation, pitched for US$2.5 million to expand interceptor barriers now being used to stop plastic and solid waste from entering Kingston

Harbour through heavily polluted gullies.

Nine barriers have already been installed, but more are needed. Sandy Gully is among the most urgent.

“It’s grant funding that we would go after versus an investor, and the only entity at the summit that we thought might have a grant fund that we could look at was Sygnus…the others were multilateral funders, which wouldn’t work for us,” Mahfood said.

“We [GraceKennedy Foundation and Sygnus] talked about it and he will send me the details of what their grant is. Their maximum amount for a grant is US$500,000. Obviously we need more, but every mickle makes a muckle,” she continued.

Mahfood reasoned that the project should not be viewed as a simple environmental clean-up. “This is not a clean-up project. This is an investment in building resilient infrastructure across Jamaica.”

Cleaner waterways improve flood management, reduce coastal damage, and protect mangroves that serve as natural storm buffers. But even so, Mahfood acknowledges that projects like this sit outside traditional private investment models.

“You’re investing in the country… but you’re not going to put money in and make that money back,” she told the
Jamaica Observer.

Still, the summit generated useful leads. Mahfood said discussions with potential funders, including Sygnus, are continuing.

That broader investor interest comes as financing institutions announced sharp increases in climate capital earmarked for the region.

Afreximbank has raised its Caribbean allocation to US$5 billion from US$1.5 billion. IDB Invest is targeting US$750 million in regional deployment over the next year. CAF has also allocated more than US$800 million for Caribbean operations in 2026, while CDB’s current portfolio stands at US$2.1 billion.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/06/24/climate-pitches-move-funding-talks-barbados-summit/

The post Climate pitches move into funding talks after Barbados summit first appeared on Sygnus Group.

SYGNUS MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY WITH LAUNCH OF FOUNDATION AND J$16M INVESTMENT IN BARBARY HALL PRIMARY AND INFANT SCHOOL

dean.knight — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:12:41 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

JUNE 19, 2026

SYGNUS MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY WITH LAUNCH OF FOUNDATION AND J$16M INVESTMENT IN BARBARY HALL PRIMARY AND INFANT SCHOOL

DONATION SUPPORTS CRITICAL REPAIRS AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING HURRICANE MELISSA

(St. Elizabeth, Jamaica) – Marking a major milestone in its 10th anniversary year, Sygnus officially launched the Sygnus Foundation while commemorating the completion of a J$16 million roof restoration project at Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth, reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting Jamaica’s recovery and resilience following Hurricane Melissa.

The milestone was commemorated during a special plaque handover ceremony attended by Berisford Grey, President and CEO of Sygnus; The Honourable Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth South Western; Elizabeth James, Vice President and Head of Wealth and Client Strategy at Sygnus; and Danielle Drummond, Donor Projects Coordinator at the National Education Trust (NET) and members of the Sygnus team. The investment funded the restoration of the school’s roof, helping to create a safer and more secure environment for teaching and learning. The completed works have enabled students to return to their classrooms for the first time since Hurricane Melissa impacted the institution in October 2025.

The project represents the latest phase of Sygnus’ Hurricane Rebuild Initiative, launched in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. With support from several local, regional and international partners, including significant contributions from Bahamas Striping Company and CrossBoundary, the initiative was designed to move beyond emergency relief and invest in the long-term recovery of communities impacted by the storm.

Berisford Grey, President and CEO of Sygnus, said the launch of the Foundation reflects the company’s desire to create sustainable impact beyond its business operations. “As we celebrate 10 years of Sygnus, we are proud to formally launch the Sygnus Foundation, an initiative that reflects the values that have guided our journey from the beginning: partnership, purpose and nation-building. Following Hurricane Melissa, we committed not only to helping communities recover, but to supporting their long-term rebuilding and resilience. Today, as we stand at Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School and see students once again learning in restored classrooms, we are witnessing the fulfilment of that promise. This marks not just a milestone for Sygnus, but the beginning of a deeper and more structured approach to social impact across Jamaica.”

The launch of the Foundation comes during Sygnus’ 10th anniversary month and signals a strategic expansion of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts through a dedicated platform focused on creating meaningful and lasting change in communities across Jamaica.

Minister Green commended the partnership and the focus on rebuilding educational infrastructure. “Firstly, let me commend Sygnus. I want to thank the company for their strong corporate social responsibility and for stepping forward at such a critical time to help our communities and to help our children,” Minister Green continued. “I can’t think of a better way to mark 10 years of innovation, 10 years of creativity and 10 years of growth than to contribute to a fine educational institution like Barbary Hall. I think this is a brilliant way to start the work of your foundation. It already signals what you are about: driving development, driving growth, helping rural communities to do well, and also stepping forward in times of crisis, to ensure that the government, community and private sector can work together to shorten the time that we take to recover from these disastrous affairs. Schools are the heartbeat of rural communities, and the outcomes of our children are really based on the strength of the educational institution. Barbary Hall has trained some of the best and brightest across the world. So you are allowing some of the best and brightest to flourish.”

Acting Principal Mariann Chambers-Smith welcomed the support, noting that the investment will have a transformative impact on the school and its students. “It is with deep gratitude and a sense of renewed hope that we, the Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School, extend heartfelt thanks to the Sygnus Foundation for their generous support in re-roofing our primary department. Of course, our children this week were privileged to go into their classrooms for the first time after Hurricane Melissa. Because of your support and partnership, our students and teachers now have a place of safety and security, and teaching and learning can continue. You have not only repaired our roof, but you have also helped us to rebuild our confidence and a sense of stability within our school community. Your contribution will have a lasting impact on this institution.”

The Barbary Hall Primary and Infant School project forms part of the broader vision of the Sygnus Foundation, which will focus on initiatives that strengthen communities, expand opportunities and contribute to sustainable development across the region.

As Sygnus enters its second decade of growth, the Foundation’s launch serves as a tangible reflection of the company’s belief that long-term success is measured not only by financial performance but also by the positive impact created in the lives of people and communities.

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About Sygnus
Sygnus is a leading alternative investment firm in the Caribbean and Latin America, dedicated to driving economic development across the region through creative and innovative financing solutions. By offering a range of investment alternatives, including private credit, real estate financing, private equity and impact investing, Sygnus addresses unmet demands, unlocking capital for growing enterprises and playing a pivotal role in regional economic growth. The cutting-edge alternative investment (AI) platform is fueled by transformative strategies designed to accelerate development across the Caribbean and Latin America. This platform is backed by a team of forward-thinking experts who craft tailored solutions for our clients, complemented by dedicated investment banking and wealth management services. Sygnus also provides specialised services in Puerto Rico through Sygnus Capital PR LLC, formerly known as Acrecent

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Inside the financial system: Key lessons from Damani Reid on careers, capital, and private credit

dean.knight — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:40:58 +0000

IFC finalizes US$15-million investment in Caribbean debt fund targeting SME financing

Berisford Grey, co-founder, president and CEO of Sygnus

The private-sector financing arm of the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has confirmed plans to invest US$15 million in a regional fund arranged by Sygnus Capital.

It marks the World Bank Group’s first debt fund transaction in the region, the IFC indicated Friday. The investment in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Resilience Fund (CCRF) Debt Sub-Fund had been disclosed as pending in November 2025. It is now confirmed, with the IFC detailing a split structure: Up to US$5 million in a senior tranche and up to US$10 million in a mezzanine tranche.

“Innovative vehicles like the CCRF Debt Sub-Fund deliver customised financing solutions that enable medium-sized enterprises to operate effectively, expand, and generate employment,” stated Elizabeth Martinez de Marcano, IFC division director for the Andean Countries and the Caribbean.

Ultimately, the debt sub-fund is targeting US$75 million, with the option to scale up to US$125 million.

“Building a more resilient and sustainable Caribbean is central to Sygnus’ mission, and IFC’s investment represents a significant milestone for both the CCRF platform and the region,” said Berisford Grey, co-founder, president and CEO of Sygnus.

Under its allocation framework, up to 70 per cent of capital committed will go toward on-lending to medium-sized enterprises, with the remaining 30 per cent directed to resilience and sustainability projects, including infrastructure.

Financing will be deployed across 13 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, spanning seven priority sectors — energy, water, agriculture, housing, transportation, financial services, and information and communications technology.

The IFC framed the investment against a backdrop of acute financing constraints across the region. Domestic credit in Caribbean small states stands at just 32.8 per cent of GDP, while the financing gap for the region’s businesses exceeds US$22 billion, the corporation said.

The announcement also cited the toll of Hurricane Melissa, the category-5 storm that caused significant damage across Jamaica, The Bahamas and Dominica in 2025, as underscoring the urgency of resilient infrastructure investment.

The debt sub-fund is part of the broader CCRF platform, a 10-year vehicle launched in January 2024 with the CARICOM Development Fund as anchor investor and first-loss capital provider.

In its 2025 fiscal year, the IFC committed a record US$71.7 billion globally to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries.

https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20260614/ifc-finalises-us15-million-investment-caribbean-debt-fund-targeting-sme

The post Inside the financial system: Key lessons from Damani Reid on careers, capital, and private credit first appeared on Sygnus Group.

Senior Manager – Risk Management

dean.knight — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:42:48 +0000

The Senior Manager – Risk Management is responsible for the design, implementation, and oversight of the Enterprise Risk Management framework, Environmental & Social Management System, and Internal Audit function of Sygnus Capital Limited. The role also leads the development of risk analytics capabilities, including dashboards and tools to monitor country risk across the Caribbean and Puerto Rico, portfolio risk exposures, and key investment and operational risk indicators across both Sygnus Capital Limited and Sygnus Capital St. Lucia Limited.

Application Deadline: 19 June 2026

View Position: https://www.caribbeanjobs.com/Senior-Manager-Risk-Management-Job-233123.aspx

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IFC COMMITS UP TO US$15M TO SYGNUS-MANAGED CCRF DEBT SUB-FUND TO STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE, SUPPORT JOB CREATION ACROSS 13 CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES

dean.knight — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:12:57 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

JUNE 11, 2026

IFC COMMITS UP TO US$15M TO SYGNUS-MANAGED CCRF DEBT SUB-FUND TO STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE, SUPPORT JOB CREATION ACROSS 13 CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES

(Kingston, Jamaica) – The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will invest up to US$15 million in the Caribbean Community Resilience Fund (CCRF) Debt Sub-Fund, a regional investment vehicle managed by Sygnus and established in partnership with the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF). The investment, IFC’s first debt fund transaction in the Caribbean, is expected to expand access to financing for medium-sized enterprises while supporting resilience and sustainability projects, including critical infrastructure investments, that drive economic growth and job creation across the region.

Established to mobilize long-term capital for climate resilience and sustainable development, the CCRF platform is designed to address financing gaps that have historically constrained private sector growth throughout the Caribbean. Through the CCRF Debt Sub-Fund, financing will be deployed across 13 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Fund will focus on seven priority sectors critical to the region’s long-term development and resilience: energy, water, agriculture, housing, transportation, financial services, and information and communications technology. Investments will support businesses and projects that strengthen economic resilience, improve productivity, expand access to essential services and create sustainable employment opportunities across participating countries.

“Building a more resilient and sustainable Caribbean is central to Sygnus’ mission, and IFC’s investment represents a significant milestone for both the CCRF platform and the region,” said Berisford Grey, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Sygnus. “Through the CCRF Debt Sub-Fund, we are expanding access to long-term financing for medium-sized enterprises while supporting investments that strengthen critical sectors, unlock economic opportunity and contribute to job creation across Caribbean economies.”

Across the Caribbean, limited access to long-term financing continues to constrain business growth and private sector investment. Domestic credit in the region’s small states stands at just 32.8 per cent of GDP, while the estimated financing gap exceeds US$22 billion. The CCRF Debt Sub-Fund was developed to help bridge this gap by providing flexible capital solutions tailored to the needs of growing businesses and transformative development projects.

“This timely and pioneering investment highlights the critical role that flexible private capital can play in unlocking opportunities across the Caribbean,” said Elizabeth Martinez de Marcano, IFC Division Director for the Andean Countries and the Caribbean. “Innovative vehicles like the CCRF Debt Sub- Fund deliver customized financing solutions that enable medium-sized enterprises to operate effectively, expand, and generate employment.”

The Caribbean remains among the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, facing recurring threats from hurricanes and other natural hazards that can reverse years of development gains. The impact of Hurricane Melissa in 2025 highlighted the urgent need for greater investment in resilient infrastructure, sustainable development and innovative financing solutions, as the Category 5 system caused significant damage and disruption across parts of the Caribbean, including Jamaica, The Bahamas and Dominica. Strengthening resilience through strategic investment is therefore critical to helping countries and businesses prepare for, withstand and recover from future shocks.

This initiative aligns with the World Bank Group’s Small States Strategy, which focuses on strengthening resilience, expanding economic opportunities and mobilizing private capital in small and vulnerable economies. It also supports broader regional efforts to advance sustainable development and build stronger, more resilient Caribbean economies.

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About Investment
IFC will invest up to US$15 million in the CCRF Debt Sub-Fund, which is targeting US$75 million, scalable to US$125 million. IFC’s investment comprises up to US$5 million in the senior tranche and up to US$10 million in the mezzanine tranche. The fund will allocate up to 70 per cent of the capital commitment to on-lending for medium-sized enterprises, with the remaining 30 per cent directed toward resilience and sustainability projects across the Caribbean.

About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record US$71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

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Public Employees Will Have a New Financing Alternative

dean.knight — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:44:48 +0000

Public Employees Will Have a New Financing Alternative

A $25 million transaction will allow Puerto Rico Loan Funding SPV I, LLC to expand financing opportunities for public servants and retirees through direct payroll or pension deductions.

June 11, 2026 – 11:10 PM

Efraín Montalbán Ríos | Business Journalist at El Nuevo Día

Obtaining financing requires much more than simply having a company’s books in order, according to Sygnus Capital Vice President Jesús D. Mattei.

Public employees in Puerto Rico will have access to another financing option after Puerto Rico Loan Funding SPV I, LLC finalized a $25 million transaction with Sygnus Capital Puerto Rico, enabling the expansion of loan access.

According to Eric Delgado, Business Development Manager at Sygnus Capital, the funding is intended to serve a segment of the market that has traditionally had more limited access to financial products.

“A $25 million transaction provides enough capacity to expand the public-sector market, not only to members of the Police Association, but also to other public-sector employees, such as those in the Department of Education, retirees, municipal employees, and personnel from other government agencies who can benefit from these financing products,” Delgado said.

Puerto Rico Loan Funding SPV I, LLC is an entity that manages loans of up to $5,000, with terms of up to three years and competitive interest rates, specifically designed to serve the public sector, Delgado explained.

The platform originates and services consumer loans for public-sector employees and retirees in Puerto Rico. One of the key features of this financing model is that payments are made through direct payroll deductions, reducing collection risk for the lender while simplifying repayment for borrowers.

Puerto Rico Loan Funding SPV I operates in partnership with the Puerto Rico Police Members Association (AMPRR), which serves as its primary origination and distribution channel, Delgado noted.

“There is a pipeline of employees who want to access the platform because of the benefits it offers—particularly the quick access to financing. Since Puerto Rico Loan Funding is the exclusive entity working with the Police Members Association on this program, it clearly enjoys a competitive advantage,” Delgado added.

Before the $25 million financing transaction, the program’s loan portfolio totaled nearly $9 million, representing between 3,000 and 4,000 loans held by public servants, according to Delgado. Sygnus expects the number of loans to double within the next two years.

According to information provided by the investment firm, the transaction has the potential to impact a broad market of approximately 400,000 public-sector employees and retirees in Puerto Rico.

Delgado also noted that many public-sector workers face limited access to traditional banking products, particularly those with lower credit scores or nontraditional credit profiles. As a result, there is growing demand for alternative financial tools that are structured, accessible, and reliable.

Link to article: https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/banca-finanzas/notas/empleados-publicos-tendran-una-nueva-alternativa-de-financiamiento/?templateId=OTB2HAZL1TSY&templateVariantId=OTB2HAZL1TSY&experienceID=EX10ZRKRQLDE

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Resilience Meets Responsibility: The Conversation Continues

dean.knight — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:06:07 +0000

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Inside the financial system: Key lessons from Damani Reid on careers, capital, and private credit

dean.knight — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:14:14 +0000

Inside the financial system: Key lessons from Damani Reid on careers, capital, and private credit

Damani Reid, manager, investment management at Sygnus Capital, engaged students during a presentation to The UWI Banking League during which he broke down key insights on private credit, investment management, and careers in finance.

In a recent session with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Banking League Club, Damani Reid, manager, investment management at Sygnus Capital, broke down how capital actually moves through the financial system and why alternative sources of funding are becoming increasingly important in today’s economy.

Speaking directly to students, he unpacked key themes across private credit, investment execution, and career pathways in finance, translating complex industry dynamics into practical insights for the next generation of professionals.

At the centre of his message was a clear shift taking place in global markets: As traditional lenders become more cautious in periods of uncertainty, alternative investment firms are playing a growing role in supporting business continuity and economic resilience.

Below are the key insights shared during the session:

One of the first points highlighted was that the financial services industry extends far beyond traditional job titles.

Reid outlined the range of roles available across banking, investment management, and advisory services, encouraging students to look beyond surface-level definitions of “finance careers” and instead understand how different functions contribute to the movement of capital.

He also noted that employers are increasingly focused on candidates who demonstrate curiosity, discipline, and an understanding of how the industry operates in practice, not just academic performance.

Success in finance is driven by mindset, not just technical ability

While technical knowledge remains important, Reid emphasised that long-term success in the industry is heavily influenced by mindset.

He encouraged students to develop consistency, adaptability, and a willingness to continuously learn in a fast-changing environment. “Firms are looking for individuals who are curious, disciplined, and willing to understand how the industry works in practice.”

Understanding personal finance and markets early matters

The session also touched on foundational investing concepts, including the importance of building strong personal finance habits early.

Reid encouraged students to begin thinking about how capital is allocated across both local and international markets, helping them develop a more rounded understanding of how financial systems operate.

This early exposure, he noted, strengthens decision-making and builds long-term financial awareness.

Private credit plays a critical role in economic stability

A key focus of the discussion was the role of alternative investments, particularly private credit, in supporting businesses during periods of economic uncertainty.

Damani Reid addresses members of The UWI Banking League, sharing practical guidance on career pathways in finance and the skills required to succeed in the evolving financial services industry.

Reid explained that when traditional banks become more conservative in their lending, funding gaps emerge for otherwise viable businesses.

“Traditional banking institutions play a critical role but in periods of uncertainty they often become more conservative in their lending. That creates a gap, one that alternative investment firms are uniquely positioned to fill,” Reid explained.

He emphasised that private credit is increasingly helping to bridge this gap by providing flexible, tailored financing solutions that support business continuity. “Private credit is not just about deploying capital. It’s about structuring solutions that align with the realities of the business.”

How investment decisions are executed in practice

Students were also taken through the end-to-end investment process, offering a practical view of how deals move from concept to execution.

This included:

• Identifying and onboarding clients

•Structuring tailored financial solutions

•Deploying capital

•Actively managing investments over time.

Reid highlighted that investment management is a continuous process rather than a one-time transaction. “Investment management is not a passive exercise. It requires continuous engagement, understanding the business, adapting to changing conditions, and ensuring that capital is being used effectively.”

Alternative investments are becoming a core part of the financial system

The session concluded with a broader reflection on the evolution of the industry.

Reid noted that alternative investments are no longer a niche segment but an increasingly important complement to traditional banking systems.

As financial conditions continue to evolve, these structures are playing a greater role in supporting business activity and economic resilience.

For students considering a career in finance, the message was clear: Success requires more than technical knowledge. It requires a strong understanding of how capital flows through the economy, how investment decisions are made, and how different parts of the financial system interact in real time.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/06/07/inside-financial-system-key-lessons-damani-reid-careers-capital-private-credit/

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