The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) introduces a draft directive limiting commercial banks' equity investments in non-banking businesses to 10pc of their total capital. The move is designed to anchor banks to their primary roles in lending and deposit mobilisation, steering clear of speculative ventures.

It carves out an exception, allowing banks to fully invest in capital market service providers, signalling a strategic opening towards developing the nascent capital markets within the financial sector.

Central bank regulators have delineated the regulatory framework, hoping to safeguard the traditional banking sector while developing the nascent capital market. The initiative is part of the federal government’s ambitious efforts to diversify the financial services industry yet cautious foray into capital markets. According to senior officials of NBE, this enables the banks to participate in the capital market's growth without veering away from their fundamental banking operations.

Despite the proposed limitation, the bill allows banks to acquire up to 100pc equity shares in capital market service providers.

Frezer Ayalew, the central bank's head of Banking Supervision, believes that most Ethiopian banks are already well-capitalised, exceeding the minimum capital threshold of five billion Birr set forth by the central bank, with a deadline in 2026. Although a directive issued six years ago did not explicitly cover capital markets, it laid the groundwork for the current regulations, offsetting the need for an additional adjustment period for banks to comply.

The regulatory posture reflects a meticulous approach to integrating capital markets into the financial ecosystem, according to a central bank official.

He noted that regulations governing banking businesses for foreign entrants are expected to be addressed separately in a pending proclamation.

"This [the bill] applies to local commercial banks," he told Fortune.

The banking system's total capital increased by 23.7pc, reaching 246.7 billion Br in the last quarter of the fiscal year 2022/23, a significant growth. One-tenth of the amount is equivalent to the tax revenue collected by the federal government in October six years ago. A study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 2018 examined the impact of regulations on banks' activities in the capital markets, with findings that the reduction in banks' market-making capacity contributed to a deterioration in liquidity conditions. It concluded that regulatory measures may have affected the ability of banks to provide liquidity and facilitate trading activities in the capital markets.

However, the central bank's draft directive, distributed to bank executives for feedback, is seen as a crucial step toward creating a more dynamic and diversified financial sector that can offer a wider range of investment opportunities and equity sources.

Oromia Bank, which reported a net profit of 1.58 billion Br in the previous financial year, views the 10pc investment limit as reasonable and within the operational capacity of most banks, especially those with a history of prudent investment practices. According to Worqu Lemma, its vice president, the investment cap is unlikely to restrict banks' ability to engage in the capital market while prioritising their primary banking activities.

The sentiment is echoed across the banking industry, with the proposed regulations receiving a generally approving nod. The directive's intent to balance the expansion into capital markets with the need to maintain the stability and integrity of the banking system is recognised as a sensible approach. Banks are provided with the flexibility to explore capital market opportunities, either by becoming securities dealers, which requires a minimum capital of 10 million Br or explore other less burdensome options. Larger banks can opt to establish investment banks.

"The market also offers options for partnerships, and it's optional," he said.

The recent approval of the capital market service providers directive, which sets minimum capital requirements for investment banks within and outside banking groups, marks a significant development in the financial sector. According to the directive, investment banks within a banking group must meet a minimum capital requirement of 100 million Br, while those outside the industry can establish with 25 million Br.