Awash Bank Registers 54 Million Shares with Capital Market Authority Ahead of Planned Listing

EBR_News Mar 17, 2026

The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority has approved the registration of more than 54 million existing ordinary shares of Awash Bank S.C., according to a public notice issued March 16, marking a significant regulatory milestone for Ethiopia’s largest private bank as it advances toward a planned listing on the Ethiopian Securities Exchange.

The registration covers 54,066,089 shares already held by the bank’s existing shareholders, formalized under Articles 4 and 29 of the Public Offer and Trading of Securities Directive No. 1030/2024. The directive requires all securities offered, sold, or previously issued to the public to be registered with the Authority unless specifically exempted, ensuring transparency and regulatory oversight as Ethiopia’s capital market develops.

Awash Bank is among six commercial banks that have received “Approval in Principle” from the ESX to list on the Main Market, alongside Dashen Bank, Bank of Abyssinia, Abay Bank, Anbesa Bank, and Amhara Bank. Dashen Bank and Bank of Abyssinia have already completed securities registration and published prospectuses, positioning them closest to formal listing and public trading.

The ECMA emphasized that the notice is published solely to notify the public of the securities registration and shall not be construed as an endorsement or solicitation to buy or sell any securities.

Awash Bank, which dominates Ethiopia’s retail and corporate banking sectors, is now fully compliant with ECMA rules for public disclosure and trading of its shares. The registration is seen as a key step as more financial institutions prepare to enter the formal securities market, potentially paving the way for future public offerings and secondary market trading.

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