afric-Invest | Investments in Africa

Africa’s phone users reach 700 million

Sunday July 3rd, 2016 Michael Patotschka

Mobile phone subscriptions are now almost eight times higher in Africa than in 2000, reaching about 700 million. According to a new report by the International Telecommunications Union, mobile technology has played a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion in sub Saharan Africa, where fewer than 20 per cent of households have access to formal financial services. … Mobile phone banking services are especially prevalent in Kenya and penetration rates are also relatively high in Uganda and Tanzania. The other countries with high mobile money account penetration rates are Côte d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Rwanda and South Africa.

Regulaory reforms and liberalization have also benefited local mobile operators, with countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania having more than five local operators.

The report said sub Sahara Afric’s greatest development change is to move from an economic growth path based on commodity exports to a more sustainable industrial and services path. The mobile technology revolution can support and underpin this economic diversifications, experts say.

Source: African Courier, June/July 2016

General

The long view for Africa

Tuesday June 28th, 2016 Michael Patotschka

While many question Africa’s achievement over the last decade, there is a greater perspective needed to show how far Africa has just come.

Certainly, Africa is not monolithic – it’s 54 Africas – but just if you count up the GDP figures for the whole continent, it averages 5 % growth per year over that period, according to the world bank – a strong long term position that is well above the global average of 3 % over the last decade..

Since 2000, Africa has also seen a 200 % increase in intra-continental trade and trade with the rest of the world. Fast forward, Africa continues to house some of the world’s fastest growing economies and despite the recent collapse in commodity prices, private equity investment grew by 51 % last year.

At least a dozen economies have grown by more than 6 % per year for six years or more.

Source: AI, May 2016

General

African startups need foreign investment – booming middle class

Tuesday May 10th, 2016 Michael Patotschka

Nigeria’s population will be over 440m by 2050

Historically, fast growing African tech companies needing an immediate capital injection would have to reach out to foreign investors for this funding.

The need for investment, whether foreign or domestic, is crucial to both established an startup technology companies in Africa.

As most companies are unprofitable for a couple of years, capital is required to disrupt the current status.

Positive trends

The changing demographics in most African countries are helping consumer focused technology companies to reach better sales figures. A perfect storm of increasing smartphones penetration, improving disposable income and the rise of a highly connected younger generation is boosting this sector

Positive trends

There are almost 1bn Africans on the continent; millions are coming online each week, almost via the mobile, which is what’s driving demand. Soon, there will be more than 400m smartphones on the continent. The mobile is the most powerful communications and technology tool on the continent.

It is no surprise that many successful tech startups are based in Nigeria, Based on current projections, Nigeria’s population is forecast to grow to over 440m by 2050 and see a rapidly increasing middle-class population, with commerce spending in the country on track to total $8bn by 2025-

One thing is for sure – this is only the beginning of Africa’s tech boom.

Source: African Business, May 2015

Nigeria

First Bank of Nigeria

Friday April 8th, 2016 Patrick Michel

First Bank of Nigeria, die manchmal einfach auch als Firstbank bezeichnet wird, ist ein nigerianisches multinationales Bank- und Finanzdienstleistungsunternehmen. Es ist die größte Bank des Landes allein durch seine Vermögenswerte, die Ende des Jahrs 2014 sich auf c.a. 23.4 Mrd. USD belaufen.

Der Gewinn der Bank vor Steuern, zum Jahresabschluß am 31. Dezember 2014 betrug ca. 486.5 Mio. USD. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt unterhielt die Bank eine Kundenbasis von mehr als 10 Millionen Privatpersonen und Unternehmen. Die Firstbank erhält solide Kurz- und Langfrist-Ratings von der Rating Agentur Fitch, zum Teil aufgrund seiner geringen Exposition gegenüber notleidenden Kredite. Die Bank hält sich streng an finanzielle Gesetze und genießt ein großes Vertrauen gegenüber der nigeranischen EFCC (Strafverfolgungsbehörde gegen Wirtschafts- und Finanzverbrechen).

www.firstbanknigeria.com

Nigeria

Newspaper “THISDAY”

Tuesday March 29th, 2016 Patrick Michel

THISDAY is a national newspaper in Nigeria. THISDAY is published by Thisday Newspapers Limited and was first published on 22 January 1995. It has its headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, Lagos State.

It has a circulation of more than 100,000 copies and an annual turnover of some $35 million (US). It has three printing plants, in Lagos, Abuja and in the Niger Delta. The publisher was noted for his early investment in full colour printing. THISDAY remains the preferred newspaper among the business, political and diplomatic elite in Nigeria. Respected journalist Olusegun Adeniyi is the current chairman of the editorial board.