• Vista acquires 99.99% of Saham Assurances Niger

• Company rebranded as Vista Assurances Niger

• Deal marks entry into Niger’s small insurance market

Vista Group Holding, a pan-African financial services group founded by Burkinabe entrepreneur Simon Tiemtoré (photo), announced on Thursday, February 12, 2026, that it has completed the acquisition of 99.99% of Saham Assurances Niger for an undisclosed amount. The company has since been rebranded as Vista Assurances Niger.

The deal marks Vista Group's official entry into Niger's insurance market, coming several months after SanlamAllianz announced plans to sell its Nigerien subsidiary. Vista Group had been identified as a potential buyer as early as September 2025, and the completion reinforces Simon Tiemtoré's regional expansion strategy.

"Through Vista Assurances Niger, our ambition is to democratize access to protection, strengthen confidence in the insurance sector, and support households and businesses in managing everyday risks. This acquisition reflects our determination to provide useful, practical solutions adapted to local realities," he said.

Vista Group already operates in the insurance sector through Vista Assurances Guinée and Vista Assurances Burkina Faso. With this latest acquisition, the group now holds three insurance subsidiaries in West Africa, an expansion that complements its growing banking presence in the sub-region through Vista Bank and reflects a strategy of integrating banking and insurance operations.

A small but growing market

According to a 2023 report titled "The Insurance Market in Africa, 2019-2023 Data" published by the Federation of African National Insurance Companies (FANAF), insurance companies operating in Niger collected 44 billion CFA francs in life and non-life premiums. This represented a 1.5% increase from 2022, though Niger remains among the three smallest FANAF markets by premium volume.

By comparison, Côte d'Ivoire recorded 595 billion CFA francs in premiums in 2023, representing 32.1% of the FANAF market. Cameroon, Senegal, and Burkina Faso also account for significant shares of regional premium issuance. Together, these four countries represent more than two-thirds of the Federation's market.

The Nigerien market includes several players, including Sunu Assurances, Mutual Benefits Assurance Niger, and NIA SA Niger. However, the insurance penetration rate remains low by international standards, limiting overall market volume.

For Vista Group, the challenge will be to increase premium volume, expand the customer base, and manage technical risk effectively.

Chamberline Moko