African specialist merchant banking group engaged in asset management, investment banking and fiduciary and administration services.

Imara, with deep local roots, is your key to accessing the opportunities in Africa by coupling our ‘blue chip’ international expertise and networks with our local experience and contacts.

Backed by a small group of private investors from the United States, Europe and Africa with a long-term investment horizon bringing stability, financial support as well as significant experience in financial services and investing across Africa.

Management and founding, Fleming and Wulfsohn families, have a combined history of more than 100 years building businesses in Africa and international financial services groups.

Imara’s mission in all our activities is to achieve both significant financial returns and strong measurable positive impact.



Owner managed, private pan Africa financial services group, founded in 1954



Investments in Morrocco, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi. Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Mauritius



Strong African presence through subsidiaries, affiliates, partners and employees - who call Africa home

Our credibility comes from being at the forefront of African capital markets for over 70 years.

  • intimately involved in the establishment and growth of stock markets across Southern Africa
  • launched one of the earliest pan African equity funds
  • advised on African transactions in excess of US$4.5b
  • founded the oldest stockbroker in Zimbabwe

Our people are aligned with our clients as shareholders and investors in our products and services.

International qualifications and training paired with local experience and access. Many having worked at Imara for a long time.

View our People

The Imara Group’s origins date back to 1954, as Edwards & Co in Zimbabwe, which provided broking, corporate advisory and fund management services. In 1994 the UK merchant bank, Robert Fleming, in a joint venture with Edwards & Co, established a corporate advisory company and in 1998 an asset management company.

Following the sale of Robert Fleming  to JP Morgan in 2000, local management effected a MBO to create the Imara Group which was subsequently listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange.

The Group was bought by FWA, a partnership of Imara management and international private investors in 2017 and delisted from the Botswana Stock Exchange.

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