For all its vastness and economic potential, it is not particularly easy for investors to take direct exposure to companies actively growing in Africa. This is something of a surprise, given the open secret that is the continent’s rapidly growing, youthful population, its swiftly developing economies and swelling ranks of affluent consumers.
One possible route is Airtel Africa, which joined the London stock market at the end of June and went straight into the FTSE 250 midcap index in the subsequent reshuffle in September with a market value that stands at more than £2.6 billion.
Airtel Africa was previously a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, the Indian telecommunications group, which acquired its operations in 2010 and expanded it during its ownership through a series of