The pan-African banking group BGFI Holding Corporation is set to make history with the launch of its initial public offering (IPO) on the Equity segment of the Central African Stock Exchange (BVMAC) on July 15, 2025. This public share offering, which will run for two months, marks a first for a multinational from the CEMAC region and sends a strong signal to boost a still underdeveloped financial market.

Approved at an extraordinary general meeting held in Libreville on June 25, the transaction will take the form of a public share offering through which BGFI will offer 10% of its capital to the public. The objective is to raise 15.7 billion CFA francs, intended to strengthen the group’s equity and support the growth of its subsidiaries, particularly in strategic areas identified as development hubs.

With this stock market entry, BGFI Holding aims for more than just financing. The group, which posted a record net profit of 122 billion CFA francs in 2024, is also adopting a new governance structure aligned with listed company standards: a Chairman of the Board of Directors distinct from the CEO, to ensure better oversight and increased transparency.

Operating in 11 countries, the group boasts strong fundamentals: total assets of nearly 6,000 billion CFA francs, customer deposits of 3,883 billion CFA francs, and a net banking income of 347 billion CFA francs. Gabon and Central Africa remain the main drivers of this performance, accounting for over 70% of the consolidated net income.

The transaction, led by its subsidiary BGFIBourse, will span two months and is expected to make BGFI the seventh company listed on the BVMAC, at a time when the regional financial market based in Douala is seeking to enhance its appeal.

Two other companies may follow BGFI Holding's lead in 2025, according to authorized sources: Cameroonian bank CBC and Zenithe Insurance.