Standard Bank, one of the largest banks in Africa, has predicted continuing deal flow and increasing investment in Africa’s telecom, media and technology sector in 2018
Speaking ahead of the TMT Finance Africa in Cape Town conference on 15 March 2018, Nina Triantis, global head of telecom, media and technology at Standard Bank, said that there were investment and financing opportunities for the right companies in Africa, with disruption, innovation and consolidation likely to be the major deal drivers in the sector.
“Investment and M&A in TMT is still especially active in Africa, despite some various economic challenges still facing select countries. Investment in technology is driving applications and innovation across the continent and across sectors,” she said.
While economic and currency issues have reduced investment in countries such as Nigeria in the past 12-24 months, conditions are now improving and stabilising, according to Triantis.
“Telecom operators are consolidating and the race to provide new broadband and wireless infrastructure is intensifying, which is resulting in increased need for capital and a lively deal flow,” Triantis commented. “The debt and equity markets are both supportive for the right companies, and we expect to see several IPOs and M&A transactions in 2018,” she added.
Standard Bank is one of the major sponsors of TMT Finance Africa in Cape Town 2018. more than 70 speakers are expected to join the event including companies such as MTN, Econet Wireless, Vodacom, Millicom, BCX, MainOne, Convergence Partners, SEACOM, Intelsat, Liquid Telecom, Teraco, Uber, Safaricom, Letshego, Wananchi Telecom, Rand Merchant Bank, IFC World Bank and many others.
