Bankers, in-house counsel and private practitioners gathered at the Waldorf Hotel in London on May 31 for IFLR's inaugural Africa Forum.
With African sovereigns and corporates in need of financing, and
yield-hungry investors drawn away from the volatility in Europe, the
continent is primed for an upswing in deal activity. But it's important
to identify where the real investment opportunities lie, how best to
approach them, and the pitfalls along the way.
Country-focus panels looked at Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria and
Morocco, and changes in relevant resource laws were discussed. Speakers
also looked at best practice for joint venture creation and the dangers
of overreliance on local precedent.
But capital raising was the day's recurrent topic. A new dynamic has
emerged between local and foreign sources of finance: dual listings are
not necessarily the best option, South African banks are stronger
competitors, and a new high...