BGFI Holding Corporation officially joined the A Premium compartment of the Central African Stock Exchange (BVMAC) on May 7, 2026. This entry propelled the stock market capitalization to FCFA 1,658 billion, marking a significant increase for the regional exchange based in Douala.
The parent company of the BGFIBank group thus becomes the seventh company listed on the BVMAC's equity compartment, which is common to the six CEMAC countries: Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, and the Central African Republic. The impact of this IPO was immediate, more than tripling the market capitalization.
According to Louis Banga Ntolo, Managing Director of BVMAC, the arrival of BGFI Holding Corporation increased the capitalization of the equity compartment from FCFA 479 billion to FCFA 1,658 billion, representing an increase of more than 246%. BGFI Holding Corporation thus becomes the leading capitalization of the regional financial center, representing 38% of the equity market, surpassing Socapalm, which now holds 36%.
The introduction of BGFI Holding Corporation also increased the free-float capitalization by 61%, from FCFA 70 billion to approximately FCFA 115 billion. This development is a major asset for the BVMAC, which often faces a narrow equity compartment and a limited number of listed companies. Louis Banga Ntolo estimates that this operation could increase the contribution of the financial market to the financing of CEMAC economies to more than 5% of regional GDP, compared to 2.4% to 2.5% previously.
A total of 566,568 BGFI Holding Corporation shares were admitted to the first listing, following a fundraising of FCFA 45,324,880,000 from 7,601 subscribers spread across 24 countries. This strong participation from individuals demonstrates a growing interest in stock market investments in the sub-region. To improve market accessibility, a share-splitting mechanism was put in place, dividing an old share into nine new shares, bringing the unit price from FCFA 89,000 to FCFA 10,000.
This IPO is part of BGFI Holding Corporation's strategy to strengthen its capital and support its regional development, particularly its banking subsidiaries in Cameroon, the DRC, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, and Europe. Henri-Claude Oyima, CEO of BGFI Holding Corporation, said that this operation aligns with the group's strategic plan, which aims for a presence in fifteen countries by 2027, as well as strengthening governance and operational efficiency. The group plans to continue this IPO in the third quarter of 2026 to reach its initial target of 10% of the subscribed share capital.
The arrival of BGFI Holding Corporation at the BVMAC is seen as a strong signal to large companies in the sub-region, encouraging them to consider the financial market as an option to finance their growth. The success of this operation will depend on the liquidity of the stock, the regularity of trading, and the market's ability to attract new issuers.
