• Bank aims to raise CFA67.5 billion ($120 million) by selling 20% stake on BRVM

• Offering expected in May 2026, with listing scheduled for August 31

• Strong 2025 results support expansion plans across West Africa

Bridge Bank Côte d’Ivoire plans to list on the regional stock exchange to fund its expansion across West Africa.

According to market information released on April 30, the bank plans to sell 20% of its capital on the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), with a target of CFA67.5 billion, or about $120 million. The indicative share price is set at CFA6,750.

The transaction is expected to take place in May 2026, pending approval of the prospectus by the Regional Council for Public Savings and Financial Markets (CREPMF).

The process will begin with an investor interest phase from May 4 to May 15, followed by a subscription period from May 20 to May 29. Settlement is scheduled for June 15, with the stock expected to begin trading on August 31.

If completed as planned, Bridge Bank Côte d’Ivoire would become the 48th listed company on the BRVM, which serves the eight member states of WAEMU. Market observers see the deal as one of the most anticipated listings of the year, given the bank’s position in the regional financial sector.

The offering is backed by solid financial performance. In 2025, the bank reported net income of CFA27.2 billion, up 19% from the previous year. Net banking income rose 15% to CFA68 billion, while operating expenses increased by 14%. The cost-to-income ratio stood at 41.8%, reflecting improved operational efficiency.

These results support the broader expansion strategy of its parent company, Bridge Bank Group, which is 77% owned by Bridge Group West Africa.

Since launching in Côte d’Ivoire in 2006, the group has expanded with the creation of Bridge Microfinance and the opening of a branch in Senegal in 2021. It now plans to enter Guinea in January 2027 and is also seeking regulatory approval to operate in Burkina Faso, where it submitted an application in April 2025.

The BRVM, according to its chief executive Edoh Kossi Amenounve, ranks as Africa’s fifth-largest stock exchange, with 47 listed companies, most of them based in Côte d’Ivoire. The exchange is working to expand its offerings with new instruments, including exchange-traded funds, derivatives, ESG indices, and green, social, and sustainable bonds.

Across Africa, 25 stock exchanges represent a combined market capitalization of about $2 trillion, or roughly 1.3% of global equity markets. The BRVM continues to position itself against the dominance of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, which accounts for nearly 70% of the continent’s market value.

In this context, Bridge Bank Côte d’Ivoire’s planned listing marks a key step in its financing strategy and could strengthen its visibility, while offering investors a new banking stock in the regional market.

Chamberline Moko