Investment firm Cytonn’s announcement that it is planning to list on the bourse’s Growth and Enterprise Market Segment (GEMS) has raised hopes of an end to the depressing trend that has seen only one firm join the stock market in the last 15 months.
Launched in January 2013, the GEMS has struggled to attract issuers with only five companies – real estate developer Home Africa #ticker:HAFR, manufacturing firm Flame Tree Group Holdings #ticker:FTGH, investment firm Kurwitu Ventures #ticker:KURV, footwear firm Nairobi Business Ventures #ticker:NBV and troubled Atlas African Industries #ticker:ADSS — featuring as the lonely actors at the counter.