In 2018, capital raised by African issuers declined by 44% to $1.1bn, down from $1.9bn in 2017, according to the latest Baker McKenzie’s Cross Border IPO Index.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and West Africa Regional Stock Exchange, Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières, have signed an agreement to cooperate toward improving corporate governance practices of listed companies.
Azimut Group, Italy’s independent asset manager, has agreed to acquire 100% of Rasmala Egypt Asset Management from Rasmala Group, an independent alternative asset management group.
The opportunities for hotel development in Ivory Coast are at their strongest for a long time, as the country continues to bounce back from internal conflict, according to Philippe Doizelet, Horwath HTL’s Managing Partner.
South African investment fund managers are moving fast to meet investor demand for offshore diversification, according to Guernsey Finance.
BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM) has launched a new Emerging Markets Equity mutual fund that will have exposure to South African equities. The BNPP AM Emerging Markets Equity Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in quality companies at a compelling price over a long-term investment horizon.
The African Power Platform (APP) has been launched as a new initiative to connect Governmental and Private Stakeholders of the African power sector by creating a network where they can connect with ease.
Investec Asset Management has strengthened its strategic partnership with the China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund), the Chinese government’s main platform for facilitating Chinese investment in Africa with AUM of around $10bn.
Global impact asset manager Finance in Motion has joined forces with Unique, a timber sector advisory company, to establish a new impact fund for sustainable forestry, the Arbaro Fund.
Mergence Investment Managers, a majority black-owned asset manager with offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Windhoek has announced the opening of a newly licensed subsidiary in Maseru, Lesotho.
Zimbabwean stocks are expensive for new money investment, Hasnain Malik - Managing Director, Frontier Markets Equity Strategy at Exotix, has said.
Norfund has, together with Shuraako, a program of One Earth Future, and the Danish development finance institution, IFU, have launched the Nordic Horn of Africa Opportunities Fund.
Despite improved economic growth and better fundamentals, African Eurobonds have been hit hard in 2018, with at present 48% of African credits trading with yields over 7%, according to Renaissance Capital.
