BA Investment originally started in 1969 as a branch office of British American Insurance, a life insurance company with its head office in the United States and branches in more than 40 countries.

Over the first two decades of its operations in Mauritius, British American Insurance grew into a leading life insurance company, and was transformed from a branch office to a locally registered company in 1990. Two years later, the tremendous growth of the company resulted in a listing on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius through an initial public offering.

This marked a break from the parent company in the US, from which British American Insurance Mauritius acquired British American Insurance in Malta and Kenya. The company also began to expand outside the insurance sector when it acquired Mauritius Leasing, the first leasing company in the country.

The late 1990s were marked by continued expansion in the financial services sector with the acquisition of a stockbroking company, the creation of an asset management firm and the subsequent launch of its first equity fund, the opening of a mortgage lending company, and a money transfer operation as an exclusive agent of Western Union.

From 2001 to 2003, investments were expanded into tourism, vehicle dealership, construction and media.

As a result of diversification, British American Insurance was replaced on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius by British American Investment (Mtius) Ltd in a reverse takeover in 2003. The restructure was the key to further growth and transformation into an investments holding company. Since its listing, BA Investment has doubled its investment portfolio through organic growth of existing holdings and new investments, both in start-ups and established companies.

Investments in construction, transportation, financial services and tourism have been increased and consolidated, while investments in media have been successfully merged with a larger group. At the same time, the company entered the healthcare arena with the construction of a 200-bed multi-discipline hospital in a joint venture with the Apollo Hospitals Group, Asia’s largest private healthcare provider.

In 2008, BA Investment greatly increased its holdings in the financial services sector with the acquisition of the Mauritius-based South East Asian Bank, now rebranded as the Bramer Banking Corporation.

In terms of geographical expansion, BA Investment strengthened its investments in Kenya and Malta. Through BA Investment Kenya, the company enlarged its portfolio from the insurance sector into asset management and banking, and holds an 11% share in Equity Bank, the fastest growing bank in Kenya with 2 million customers. In Malta, the company merged its fully-owned subsidiary with Globe Financial Services to form GlobalCapital plc, which is listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. Smaller, strategic investments have also been made in Madagascar, South Africa, France and Dubai.