AMG Investment Bank PLC has obtained an investment banking licence from the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA), enabling the company to offer a range of financial services in Ethiopia's developing capital market. The licence was formally handed over on November 13, 2026, during a ceremony held at ECMA's head office in Addis Ababa. The bank was established with an initial stated capital of Birr 50.1 million.
AMG Investment Bank plans to provide various services, including supporting initial public offerings (IPOs), bond and sukuk issuance, equity and debt capital market transactions, underwriting, and private placements. The bank also intends to offer mergers and acquisitions advisory, corporate restructuring, financial and sustainable finance advisory, securities brokerage, proprietary trading, research, and market intelligence. These services aim to help businesses raise capital, attract investment, and access Ethiopia's securities market.
Abera Bekele Kejela, AMG Investment Bank's Chief Executive Officer, stated that the institution would focus on strategic sectors of the Ethiopian economy, including banking and financial services, manufacturing, agro-processing, agribusiness, logistics, infrastructure, and energy. The bank also plans to engage in financing and advisory opportunities related to the privatization of state-owned enterprises and target emerging sectors such as financial technology, health technology, agricultural technology, and green finance.
The bank's next step is to secure membership in the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX), which would enable it to participate more actively in the country's securities market. This move is part of a broader expansion of Ethiopia's capital market institutions. ECMA also granted an investment banking licence to NileBridge Investment Bank PLC following a review of their respective applications.
During the same licensing event, ECMA approved eight appointed representatives and ten board directors for the two newly licensed investment banks. Dagmawit Shiferaw, ECMA Director General, formally presented the licences to the leadership of the two institutions and called on them to contribute to the development of a transparent, fair, and inclusive capital market.
With the two new licences, the total number of licensed Capital Market Service Providers in Ethiopia has reached 23, while the number of licensed investment banks has increased to 11. The licensing of AMG Investment Bank and NileBridge Investment Bank PLC is expected to enhance the country's capital market and provide more opportunities for businesses to raise capital and attract investment.
The Ethiopian capital market is expanding, with several initiatives underway to develop a transparent, fair, and inclusive market. The private sector is playing a crucial role in this development, with investment banks like AMG Investment Bank expected to provide professional services that meet market standards and promote fair transactions.
Key points
- AMG Investment Bank has secured an investment banking licence from the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority.
- The bank plans to provide a range of financial services, including IPOs, bond and sukuk issuance, and equity and debt capital market transactions.
- The licensing of AMG Investment Bank is part of a broader expansion of Ethiopia's capital market institutions.
