Imara hosts investor indaba

biggest foreign investor conference in a bid to market the country’s growth potential.
Vice President Joice Mujuru is expected to officially open the indaba to run on Thursday and Friday.
Imara, which has a strong presence in numerous sub-Saharan markets, has made a strategic commitment to market Zimbabwe’s growth potential to the world.
It is understood that 40 internationally based investment fund managers have already confirmed their attendance at Imara’s third annual Zimbabwe Investor Conference, including the first Japan-based investment firm to signal an interest in Zimbabwe’s resurgent economy.
Imara Capital Zimbabwe chief investment officer, Mr Sean Gammon said they were expecting fund managers from North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asian mainland.
Imara Capital Zimbabwe is co-hosting the conference with Imara Holdings and Auerbach Grayson, Imara’s US-based partners that have helped build awareness of Zimbabwean opportunities in North America. Fund managers are also expected from South Africa, Botswana, Central and East Africa.
Imara organised Zimbabwe’s first in-country international investment conference following the formation of the inclusive Government and the 2009 dollarisation of the economy.
At that time, the group – known for its strong Zimbabwean connections – committed to ongoing efforts to present Zimbabwe’s investment case to international fund managers.
“The conference not only promises to be the biggest indaba yet, it will also feature several firsts.
“We have secured the first representation of Japanese investors – a positive move as Japan has traditionally shown little interest in Africa’s so-called frontier markets, unlike India, China and some Middle Eastern investors.
“The conference will also feature the first presentation by Masawara plc, a UK-listed private equity fund with exclusive focus on big growth and value opportunities across Zimbabwe’s fast-reviving economy,” said Mr Gammon.
Imara Capital has also secured a strong mining sector presence. Executives from Zimplats (part of South Africa-based Impala Platinum) will address delegates. Zimplats operates the Ngezi platinum mine in Zimbabwe.
Also on the agenda is a presentation by UK-listed Mwana Africa, which operates the Freda Rebecca gold mine. It also has a majority stake in the Zimbabwe-listed Bindura Nickel Corporation.
Senior executives from a wide range of economic sectors will be among speakers, including representatives of Padenga Holdings, the crocodile ranch owner that is now positioned as the world’s largest producer of crocodile species skins.
Contributions are also expected from AICO, Hippo Valley Estates, CBZ Holdings, Barclays Banks, Delta Corporation, DZL Holdings and Innscor Africa.
Imara is an independent investment-banking group that prides itself in objective decision making in the service of its clients.
The company is a mid-sized firm and has offices in Angola, Botswana, South Africa and the UK and associate offices in Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Imara has also partnered with Chapel Hill Denham in Nigeria, NIC Capital in Kenya, Namibia Equity Brokers and Mac Capital in Dubai.
The Group is an active participant in Africa’s financial markets and maintains extensive research coverage of regional equities.
Funds under management exceed US$450 million and assets under administration exceed US$1,77 billion.