AXYS Investment bank has partnered with UK-based Janus Henderson Group, which has entered the Kenyan market, to provide local institutional and private investors access to offshore investment funds. This development comes as more sophisticated local investors seek for more rewarding returns, away from the locally available options.
The move reflects growing demand for global, hard-currency investments in Kenya, joining similar offerings that provide access to managers such as BlackRock and Vanguard.
AXYS Group Corporate Profile
AXYS Investment Bank operates as AIB-AXYS Africa, has its Head Offices in Mauritius. The firm entered Kenya in 2015 by acquiring ApexAfrica Capital. Then in 2020, AXYS merged ApexAfrica with AIB Capital to form AIB-AXYS Africa, which is fully owned by AXYS Group.
AXYS Investment Bank is a distinguished member of AXYS Group, a fully integrated investment house, with over 30 years of market expertise, serving both retail and institutional investors, as well as High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs).
The firm provides comprehensive investment solutions including local equities and bonds, global market execution, offshore funds access, research & advisory, and wealth management services.
As part of the wider AXYS Group, AXYS Investment Bank combines local market expertise with global reach to deliver exceptional value to our clients.
AXYS Investment bank is expected to ride on Janus Henderson Group’s huge balance sheet worth £366.7 billion in assets globally, providing Kenya’s investment industry with an expanded offshore offerings and dollar-denominated investment products.
AXYS Investment Bank has tapped into this global expertise soon as the Capital Markets Authority(CMA) upgraded the license of this former stockbrokerage firm to an investment bank, allowing it to move beyond equities and fixed income brokerage.
The Kenyan investment bank can now provide corporate finance advisory, sustainable finance advisory, and alternative investments, utilizing its digital trading platform to offer better access for retail and diaspora investors.
AXYS is among three new investment banks that the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) recently approved as part of its broader effort to expand full-service investment banking capacity and diversify the professional services available to both local and international investors.
The three new investment banks are not fresh entrants to the Nairobi Securities Exchange but represent upgrades from existing intermediaries.
Cinemark, which was previously licensed as an Authorized Securities Dealer, has had its permit upgraded to allow the firm to offer a comprehensive suite of services including corporate advisory, securities dealing, underwriting, fund management, and market-making.
The firm aims to serve a diverse client base ranging from retail and diaspora investors to high-net-worth individuals and institutional corporates.
According to CMA latest data, addition of these three firms brings the total number of licensed investment banks and securities entities to 22.
The increase signals a notable shift in Kenya’s capital markets, as intermediaries increasingly move toward offering integrated, “one-stop-shop” financial solutions. The complete list of these licensees is as follows:
- ABSA Securities Limited
- Dyer and Blair Investment Bank Limited
- Equity Investment Bank Limited
- Faida Investment Bank Limited
- Genghis Capital Limited
- KCB Investment Bank Limited
- NCBA Investment Bank Limited
- Renaissance Capital (Kenya) Limited
- SBG Securities Limited
- Standard Investment Bank
- Sterling Capital Limited
- Dry Associates Limited
- Salaam Investment Bank Kenya Limited
- Gulfcap Investment Bank Limited
- Pergamon Investment Bank Limited
- Investcent Investment Bank Limited
- Capital A Investment Bank Limited
- Victoria Wealth Management Limited
- Rock Investment Bank Limited
- Fintrust Securities Limited
- AIB-AXYS Africa Limited
- Cinemark Consult Limited
According to the CMA, these regulatory upgrades are expected to enhance market depth and broaden product diversity.
By enabling firms to offer a wider array of services including underwriting and syndication, the authority aims to strengthen investor confidence and provide more robust support for issuers seeking to raise capital.
Leave a comment