E-Financial
Nedbank of SA Buys $493m Stake in Ecobank
South Africa’s Nedbank said on Thursday it will acquire a 20 percent stake in pan-African lender Ecobank Transnational for $493 million in cash, ending months of speculation it could walk away from the deal over governance concerns.
The acquisition gives South Africa’s fourth-largest lender badly needed access to fast-growing sub-Saharan Africa, where it has lagged behind rivals. But the deal also puts it in the position of sharing its influence with Ecobank’s other strategic investor, Qatar National Bank (QNB).
QNB, which also harbours ambitions for African expansion, last month became the top shareholder in Ecobank with over 23 percent, although it is due to pare that back to 20 percent.
“Nedbank will be investing a very substantial amount of their energies into a business where they own a 20 percent stake and another bank with considerably deeper pockets owns an equal stake,” said Chris Steward, head of financials at Investec Asset Management.
“It’s a little bit like: ‘do you really want to renovate this house and make it look beautiful when you’re only renting ?'”
Togo-based Ecobank has a presence in nearly 40 sub-Saharan countries and is particularly strong in West African countries such as Nigeria, where its ATMs are a common sight on bustling streets and where it has a stock market listing.
Nedbank, which is majority owned by British insurer Old Mutual, gained the right to buy the stake under the terms of a 2011 loan to Ecobank. But a crisis over corporate governance that led to the departure of Ecobank’s chief executive in March raised questions about whether the deal would go through.
Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched an investigation last year after Ecobank’s financial director said she had been pressured to mis-state financial results. The regulator criticised weaknesses in the board’s ability to monitor management and oversee ethical behaviour.
Ecobank has made great strides on governance since, said Smit Crouse, Nedbank’s managing executive for Africa.
“We carefully watched how Ecobank, specifically their board and management, dealt with their governance issues,” Crouse said. “They’ve gone about it very diligently. They’ve been very transparent in terms of their communication.”
Nedbank said it will pay $493.4 million for 4.5 billion new Ecobank shares, valuing Ecobank at 10.93 U.S. cents a share, a 4 percent discount to its price on the Nigerian Stock Exchange at the end of September.
But shares in Nedbank fell 1.8 percent to 214 rand on news of the deal, as some investors worried that Nedbank was overpaying, even with that discount.
“I think they are taking the view, ‘we want this and we’re going to pay up to get it’,” said Abri du Plessis of Gryphon Asset Management in Cape Town.
“In the short term it may be a bit expensive but in the longer term, it should be good value.”
The acquisition is the biggest by a South African bank in six years, according to Thomson Reuters data. It is Nedbank’s biggest purchase since 2002, when its predecessor acquired lender BOE Ltd for $742 million.
Under the deal Ecobank will repay its $285 million loan to Nedbank, meaning it will be left with $208.4 million in cash.
Nigerian insurance industry has recorded a gross written premium of N1.562 trillion in the 2024 financial year. Mr Kunle Ahmed, Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association, disclosed this during the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) in Lagos.
Ahmed said that this represented a 56 per cent increase over the N1.003 trillion generated in 2023.
According to him, the industry’s total assets rose to N3.9 trillion, a 46.1 per cent increase from N2.67 trillion in 2023.
He said: “The Nigerian insurance industry in 2024 experienced notable developments, shaped by regulatory changes, economic conditions, and evolving market dynamics. “Available data indicated robust growth in gross premiums.
The industry reported a gross written premium of N1.562 trillion, a 56 per cent increase over the N1.003 trillion recorded in 2023. “Non-life business accounted for N1.1 trillion, while life business generated N470 billion.
“The industry’s total assets expanded significantly to N3.9 trillion, a 46.1 per cent rise from N2.67 trillion in 2023. “Market capitalisation also grew substantially, reaching N1.2 trillion, a 41 per cent increase from N850 billion in 2022.”
Ahmed further disclosed that the net claims paid by the industry stood at N622 billion, with the non-life segment accounting for N437 billion and the life segment for N185 billion.
He said within the non-life sector, fire, oil and gas insurance lines were key drivers of revenue growth, with all non-life products demonstrating strong quarter-on-quarter increases.
Ahead of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2025, scheduled for July 10 and 11 in Lagos, co-conveners Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations in Nigeria held a high-level press briefing at the United Nations House in Abuja.
L–R: Mohamed Malick Fall, Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria; Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation; and Abubakar Sulieman, MD/CEO, Sterling Bank, at the recently held Africa Social Impact Summit 2025 World Press Conference at the United Nations House, Abuja.
The event brought together development partners, policymakers, and the media to outline expectations for the upcoming summit and reflect on Africa’s role in defining local responses to global challenges.
Since its launch in 2022, ASIS has grown into a key platform for regional development collaboration. From eight founding partners, the summit now brings together over 40 institutions working across climate, healthcare, education, finance, governance, and digital inclusion. This expansion points to a growing shift: African institutions are pushing to set the agenda, not wait to be handed one.
The 2025 summit, themed “Scaling Action for the SDGs: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation,”will focus on strengthening sub-national development, rethinking finance flows, and tackling structural inequalities through long-term investment and reform.
Speaking at the press briefing, Mohamed M. Malick Fall, Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, reinforced the urgency of this year’s convening.
“The climate crisis is eroding decades of development across Africa, displacing communities, disrupting education and health systems, and undermining economic stability. But lasting solutions must come from those living the impact daily.
“As co-conveners of the summit, and with this year’s theme Scaling Action: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation, ASIS offers a platform for African institutions to lead and for global partners to respond with investment, policy reform, and serious commitment.”
In a presentation on the summit’s evolving impact, Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation, reflected on the summit’s trajectory:
“ASIS has never been about convening for its own sake. Each summit marks a deliberate step to mobilize capital, shift policy, and advance African-led solutions. Already, we have seen over 100 million dollars unlocked through coalition efforts.
“That scale is not accidental. It is the product of systems thinking, partnership, and a commitment to putting Africa’s priorities at the center of global development conversations.”
In his remarks, Abubakar Suleiman, MD/CEO, Sterling Bank, emphasized the private sector’s enduring role in the ASIS journey: “Sterling Bank has been a strategic partner to ASIS from the very beginning.
“As global development funding becomes more constrained, it is increasingly clear that the private sector must help drive scalable solutions.
“Our engagement with ASIS reflects a belief that impact is not a side effort but core to building resilient economies and inclusive growth.”
Other partners in the room echoed the need for bold, cross-sector investment in areas such as health systems, youth employment, education access, and digital infrastructure.
ASIS boasts a coalition of over 40 institutions that includes Afreximbank, Coca-Cola, United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, Sterling Bank, and other theme and technical partners, with Lagos State as the host city.
Interested participants are encouraged to register at theimpactsummit.org
Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology company, has been named in the TIME100 Most Influential Companies List of 2025, marking its second appearance on the prestigious global ranking.
Previously honoured in 2021, Flutterwave joins industry giants such as Amazon, Netflix, and OpenAI in the TITANS category of the fifth-annual list, which recognizes companies driving significant global impact.
The selection process, led by TIME editors, evaluated nominees based on innovation, ambition, impact, and success, highlighting Flutterwave’s transformative role in the fintech sector.
Founded in 2016, Flutterwave has grown into a powerhouse facilitating seamless payments across Africa and beyond, empowering businesses and individuals in the digital economy.
Its solutions span critical sectors such as cross-border remittances, e-commerce, travel, payroll, and hospitality.
The company’s 2021 TIME100 recognition followed its impactful campaign to help businesses pivot online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s inclusion underscores Flutterwave’s sustained influence, with its technology now reaching over 34 African countries and expanding into new markets such as Bahrain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, supporting a leading global ride-hailing company’s operations.
Flutterwave’s flagship remittance product, SendApp by Flutterwave, has gained significant traction in the US, UK, and EU, offering faster and more affordable money transfers for the African diaspora.
In 2024, the company secured 20 additional licenses in the US, bringing its total to 34 and achieving near-complete coverage through strategic partnerships.
Flutterwave’s focus on profitability and market expansion, coupled with a strengthened executive team, has fuelled its growth, with nearly half of its customers receiving payments in new markets last year.
Olugbenga Agboola, founder and CEO, Flutterwave, expressed pride in the recognition, stating, “Being recognized by TIME once again is a true honour. It’s a testament to our team’s incredible work. We’re shaping Africa’s financial future and connecting the continent to the world.”
The accolade follows other recent honours, including topping Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies list for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and earning a second consecutive ranking in the FXC Top 100 Cross-Border Payment Companies.
The TIME100 listing solidifies Flutterwave’s position as a global fintech leader, bridging Africa to the world through innovative payment solutions.
As the company continues to expand its reach and refine its growth strategy, its influence in transforming the financial landscape remains undeniable, setting a benchmark for innovation and connectivity in the digital economy.
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