Inside the East Africa Exchanges 20 Share Index

EAE 20 Share Index The East African Securities Exchanges Association (EASEA) has officially launched the East Africa Exchanges (EAE) 20 Share Index, marking a significant milestone in the integration and development of the region’s capital markets.

This groundbreaking initiative introduces the first-ever regional markets index designed to spotlight the performance of East Africa’s most prominent listed companies and foster greater visibility, investor confidence, and cross-border investments within the East African region.

The EAE 20 Share Index is a market capitalisation-weighted index, comprising a cross-section of the top 20 listed public companies from multiple sectors across Nairobi, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda stock exchanges. Collectively, these listed companies represent over 85% of the region’s equity market universe.

The companies included in the Index are:

1. Safaricom Plc
2. KCB Group Plc
3. Equity Group Holdings Plc
4. The Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited
5. Absa Bank Kenya Plc
6. CRDB Bank Plc
7. NMB Bank Plc
8. Tanzania Breweries Limited
9. Tanga Cement Company Limited
10. Tanzania Cigarette Corporation
11. Bralirwa Limited
12. BK Group Plc
13. I&M Bank (Rwanda) Plc
14. Cimerwa Plc
15. MTN Rwandacell Plc
16. MTN Uganda Limited
17. Stanbic Uganda Holdings
18. Bank of Baroda (Uganda)
19. Airtel Uganda Limited
20. Quality Chemical Industries Limited

To qualify for inclusion in the Index, companies must meet the following criteria:

i. The company’s shares must be primarily listed on one of the participating East African securities exchanges.

ii. The company must have maintained a continuous listing for a minimum of one year on the respective exchange.

iii. The company should be a recognized blue-chip firm, demonstrating strong profitability and a consistent dividend payment history.

The index will track price movements and changes in market capitalization of its constituent firms, offering a transparent benchmark for investors, analysts, and policymakers.

Commenting on the launch, Nairobi Securities Exchange Plc (NSE) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Frank Mwiti, stated: “The introduction of the first regional index marks a significant milestone in the growth and deepening of East African capital markets and their economies. The EAE 20 Share Index is poised to enhance market transparency, attract both cross-border and international investment, and provide a dependable benchmark for tracking regional market performance.”

“It also reinforces ongoing efforts to promote the harmonisation and integration of East African exchanges, fostering deeper collaboration across the region including laying a strong foundation for the development of innovative financial instruments, including exchange-traded funds and other index-linked products,” he added.

EASEA is the umbrella body representing securities exchanges and depositories in the region.

1. Nairobi Securities Exchange Plc
2. Uganda Securities Exchange Plc
3. Dar-es Salaam Stock Exchange
4. Rwanda Stock Exchange
5. Somali Stock Exchange
6. Burundi Securities Exchange
7. Ethiopia Securities Exchange
8. National Securities Exchange of Somalia
9. Central Depository & Settlement Corporation (Kenya)

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