Hogan Lovells launches legal guide to investing in Africa

Global law firm Hogan Lovells has launched its first Special Report on Investment in Africa 2017, an extensive and innovative guide to the legal framework for investment in 23 of the 54 African nations. Available in print and online, the report is an up-to-the-minute, comprehensive yet easy-to-read digest covering the legal implications for companies investing in and around Africa.

Authored by a combination of Hogan Lovells lawyers and local law firms from across the continent, the report provides potential investors with easily comparable country-by-county analysis and an overview of the local legal framework on matters such as local content rules, real estate ownership, taxation, dispute resolution, and employment.

In addition, it also breaks down the legal framework of four investment sectors that are of particular importance in Africa – finance, natural resources, power and infrastructure, and private equity; and provides more in-depth insight on key areas of interest including FinTech, international arbitration, bribery and corruption, and OHADA (l’Organisation pour l’Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires), the system of harmonised business laws adopted by 17 West and Central African states.

Of particular note to investors is the guidance on Public/Private Partnerships (PPPs). Spending on Africa’s transport, energy, and business infrastructure is forecast to reach $180 billion by 2025, more than double the amount spent in 2014. Such capital-intensive projects are often most attractive to all parties when structured as PPPs. The guide includes a breakdown of PPP-related legislation in each of the 23 countries profiled.

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

“We see the report as the go-to legal guide for businesses seeking investment opportunities in Africa. Its breadth, covering all five African regions, as well as a number of key topics and sectors, sets it apart in the market as the most comprehensive of its kind and a truly invaluable resource that gives investors the ability to easily compare countries and hence improve their decision-making.”

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