Standard Bank predicts increased M&A activity in African telecom, media, technology

Standard Bank, Africa’s largest bank by assets, is partnering with international news and events provider TMT Finance for the inaugural TMT Finance Africa Conference 2016, which is holding in Lagos and is bringing together the leading decision makers in African telecoms, media and technology (TMT) to Lagos on September 20, 2016.

The event will feature over 60 key C-level speakers from the most active and innovative companies, investors and advisers in Africa, including: Standard Bank, IHS Towers, Airtel, Etisalat, MTN, Vodacom, Africa Internet Group, Ringier, iRoko, MainOne, iPNX, Spectranet, Fibersat, Citi, Convergence Partners, Standard Chartered PE, Carlyle, Africa Capital Alliance and Emerging Capital Partners.

“As one of the leading TMT banks in Africa, we are excited to partner with TMT Finance for this event, which will bring the key telecom, media and technology companies, investors and advisers to Lagos in Nigeria,” said Standard Bank’s Global Head of TMT, Nina Triantis, who will be speaking on the TMT M&A Panel at the conference in one of the key sessions of the day.

The event comes at a time of accelerating investment, innovation and M&A activity across Africa, and in particular Nigeria, with Lagos widely viewed as the central hub for technology innovation and investment in Africa.

“Investment and M&A in TMT continues to be especially active in Africa, with many companies across the continent considering strategic options, growth along diverse verticals, private debt and equity financing rounds, M&A, and public listings,” said Standard Bank’s Triantis. “The debt markets continue to be supportive for the right companies in Africa, despite macro challenges in many African countries as well as global uncertainty, though the funding currency and medium will inevitably reflect these challenges,” she added.

Current deals in Africa being reported by TMT Finance News include MTN’s Nigerian IPO, the sale of South Africa’s Neotel to Liquid Telecom, Millicom’s strategic review of its African assets, several fibre investment projects and fundraisings, and the potential listing/ sale of Nigerian fintech firm, InterSwitch.

The conference includes five Leadership Panel Debates, five Visionary Keynote Speeches, 8 Peer to Peer Round Tables and Five Networking Sessions.

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Key session themes announced include: Telecom Leadership Africa: Broadband Infrastructure Investment; Digital Africa; Mobile Infrastructure Strategies; Mergers and Acquisitions; Private Equity Africa Roundtable; Regulation and Policy; Financing Telecoms; Broadband Infrastructure; Investing in Mobile Data and Services; Mobile Banking, Fintech and M-Health; and Media and Convergence.