Continental Reinsurance public offer highlights Pan-African growth opportunity

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The Continental Reinsurance Holdings Limited public Offer continues to build momentum as investors take a closer look at one of Africa’s leading pan-African reinsurers and the long-term growth opportunity presented by the continent’s insurance sector.

A statement from the Group today said the Public Offer, which opened on 5 August 2026, gives both retail and institutional investors the opportunity to participate in the continued growth of a business that has spent more than four decades supporting insurance markets across Africa. As the first reinsurer to seek a listing on the Botswana Stock Exchange, the transaction represents an important milestone for both Continental Reinsurance and Botswana’s capital markets.

The transaction comprises US$126.1 million relating to the acquisition of existing shares and US$30 million in fresh primary capital for the Group, representing total IPO proceeds of approximately US$156.1 million. The listing will strengthen Botswana’s position as a platform for pan-African financial services, with the Group’s Botswana-domiciled holding company accredited under the Botswana International Financial Services Centre framework. Following approval by the Botswana Stock Exchange of a revised offer timetable, the Public Offer now closes on 9 October 2026. Lawrence Mutsunge Nazare, Group Managing Director, said:

“The Public Offer gives investors an opportunity to understand our business, our markets and our future growth plans. Continental Re has spent more than 40 years helping insurers across Africa absorb risk, build resilience and support economic growth. Through this Public Offer, we are inviting investors to participate in the next phase of that journey.

The US$30 million in fresh primary capital will strengthen our underwriting capacity, support solvency and rating resilience, and help scale our Alternative Solutions business. It will also support our aspiration to strengthen our financial strength rating over time, positioning Continental Re to serve even more clients across the continent. We believe our disciplined underwriting, strong governance, pan-African footprint and long-term growth strategy provide a compelling investment proposition, and we look forward to welcoming new shareholders.”

A Business Built Across Africa

Continental Re provides composite reinsurance solutions to insurance companies across more than 50 African countries through six regional hubs in Gaborone, Lagos, Nairobi, Douala, Abidjan and Tunis. For more than four decades, the Group has helped insurers manage risk, strengthen resilience and respond when catastrophic events occur. Today, it serves more than 900 cedant, broker and counterparty relationships through a diversified portfolio spanning Property & Engineering, Casualty & Liability, Marine & Aviation, Energy & Political Risks, Agriculture and Life Insurance.

The Group’s differentiation lies not in balance-sheet scale but in its pan-African distribution network, four decades of market experience and proximity to cedants and brokers across multiple linguistic, regulatory and economic environments – competing on market knowledge, relevance and responsiveness rather than size alone

Growth Capital Going to Work

Proceeds from the Public Offer will support Continental Re’s next phase of growth by:

Strengthening the Group’s capital base.
Expanding its Alternative Solutions business.
Supporting its aspiration toward a stronger financial strength rating over time.
Supporting continued investment in technology and operational capability across Africa.
The Group’s Alternative Solutions business is a key part of this strategy. It uses Continental Re’s pan-African distribution and underwriting capabilities to originate and structure African risks for placement with highly rated global capacity – generating fee, commission and underwriting income in a capital-efficient way, without requiring the Group to retain all the associated risk on its own balance sheet.

Continental Reinsurance delivered another year of resilient financial performance, including:

Insurance revenue: BWP 2.32 billion (USD 173.1 million)
Gross written premium: BWP 2.27 billion (USD 165.6 million)
Profit before tax: BWP 105.3 million (USD 9.7 million), representing growth of more than 50% year-on-year
Loss ratio: 33%
Combined ratio: Improved to 92% (from approximately 94% in the prior year)
Financial strength rating: AM Best B+ (Stable Outlook), with balance-sheet strength assessed as Very Strong
The Board intends to distribute between 40% and 60% of annual net income as dividends, subject to future performance and Board approval.