The integrated regional stock exchange for West Africa is working with the miners’ favourite global exchange for raising capital in order to build a platform for listing mining shares. Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres (BRVM), based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, aims to have a dedicated section for mining ready for business by 2018.
BRVM General Manager Edoh Kossi Amenounve told Bloomberg in an interview that the new mining exchange will be open for companies exploring or operating mines in the region. He explained that the BRVM is talking with Canada’s Toronto Stock Exchange (TMX Group) to set up a “technical partnership” between the two bourses and will “take inspiration” from the Canadian mining-exchange model. Discussions may be completed by the end of 2016.
He told Bloomberg: “Mining companies operating in the region only raise funds in foreign currencies.. Some of them have approached us to see how they could raise the resources they need in local currency. Some have even asked us for a dual listing with the Toronto stock exchange, but the regulating framework isn’t compatible at the moment.”
The BRVM links eight West African countries in an innovative exchange, including gold exporters Mali, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), and the world’s fourth-largest uranium producer, Niger. Many want to boost their mining industries: Burkina Faso is developing new gold and manganese mines, while Côte d’Ivoire is diversifying from agriculture, including cocoa, and aims to develop its untapped mining deposits, including gold and iron ore, according to Bloomberg. The BRVM attracts investors partly because the countries are part of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and so use the CFA Franc, which is pegged to the euro.
Amenounve said: “Most of the countries of the region have significant mining deposits… The development of the mining sector has been extremely important in the last few years. We want to support this development.. We need local, African shareholders to invest in the mining sector.”
The bourse currently dominated by banks and telecommunications shares. It is amending its listing regulations to accommodated the new mining platform. Currently listing regulations require two years of certified accounts. The BRVM exchange aims to list mining issuers, including new companies who are raising money for exploration.
