Hogan Lovells launches third annual legal guide to investing in Africa

Global law firm Hogan Lovells has launched its third annual Special Report on Investment in Africa 2019, a comprehensive guide on the legal and regulatory framework of 30 out of 54 African nations to help businesses make informed decisions on where to invest on the continent.

Constituting the biggest edition of the Special Report yet and authored by a combination of Hogan Lovells lawyers and local law firms from across Africa, potential investors can use its easily comparable country-by-country analysis on matters such as local content rules, real estate ownership, taxation, dispute resolution, and employment. There are also four Special Features which provide added insight into the areas of mining, international arbitration, diversification, and DFI investment in infrastructure. Each of the authors has detailed first-hand experience of their jurisdiction and understands the key challenges clients face on a day-to-day basis.

As seen in previous years, the Special Report also contains four Sector Overviews of investment sectors that are of particular importance in Africa – Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Power & Infrastructure, and Technology, Media & Telecoms.

Companies featured in the report came from all four corners of Africa, with major corporations, financial institutions and governments from Europe, Asia and the Americas investing in the region due to its attractiveness for immediate returns coupled with the continent's long-term potential.

The release of our third consecutive Africa investment report coincides with the firm's sixth annual Africa Forum in July 2019. Held at Merchant Taylor's Hall in London, the event will see a select audience of senior business leaders, influencers and decision makers discuss what key issues are at stake for local investment in Africa, and how to capture market share of the new scramble for the region's burgeoning offerings. The event will give delegates an opportunity to share, discuss and debate on the theme: Africa Making an Impact.

Commenting on the guide’s launch, Head of Hogan Lovells Africa practice and contributing editor partner Andrew Skipper said:

"The narrative is changing driven by the concerted effort of African leadership and through evidence, confidence and pride. There are positive examples where returns on investment for those who understand the risks and play a long-game can be high; and with significant institutional reforms under way, increased ease of doing business rankings and some of the world's highest GDP growth predictions, African countries are ripe and keen to secure investment."

The report was produced in collaboration with African Law & Business, a Global Legal Group publication.