Table of Contents
Key Points
- Vista Group acquires Société Générale Burkina Faso, boosting presence in West African banking market.
- The deal strengthens Simon Tiemtore’s vision to build a pan-African financial powerhouse across 25 African countries.
- Vista expands financial ecosystem with banking, insurance, and trade finance services tailored to SMEs and women.
Vista Group, a financial services company under Lilium Capital founded by American-Burkinabe billionaire Simon Tiemtoré, has finalized the acquisition of a majority stake in Société Générale Burkina Faso. The deal strengthens Vista’s position in the West African nation, reinforcing its ambitions to build a continent-spanning financial powerhouse.
“This acquisition marks a decisive milestone,” said Tiemtoré, Chairman and CEO of Vista Group Holding. “We are building a comprehensive financial ecosystem that supports every Burkinabè citizen and business toward sustainable growth.”
Three-pronged financial ecosystem in Burkina Faso
With the acquisition, Vista now operates three key financial entities in the country—Vista Bank Burkina, launched in 2021; Vista Assurances Burkina; and the newly acquired Société Générale Burkina Faso unit. Combined, these institutions position Vista among the top-tier financial groups in Burkina Faso by customer reach, branch network, and service breadth.
The deal aligns with Vista’s wider plan to expand into 25 African countries in the coming years, with a focus on financial inclusion, SME growth, and economic development.
Backed by global partnerships and local ambition
A subsidiary of Lilium Group LLC, Vista provides a wide array of financial services including accounts, loans, insurance, payments, and trade finance. Through strategic partnerships with global institutions, Vista targets micro, small, and medium enterprises with tailored services such as leasing, factoring, mesofinance, and women-focused banking products.
Vista is also scaling up its trade and supply chain finance, corporate banking, and bancassurance offerings, while leveraging partnerships to cut operating costs and boost profitability.
Tiemtore’s vision: Building a Pan-African financial powerhouse
Simon Tiemtore, the founder of Lilium Capital, has built a reputation as a strategic investor across Africa’s financial services, energy, hospitality, and FMCG sectors. With over 18 years of experience—including roles at Afreximbank, Morgan Stanley, PwC, and Skadden Arps—Tiemtoré brings global financial expertise to Vista’s expansion.
Since 2015, he has led a series of acquisitions, including a Gambian bank rebranded as Vista Bank Group. In 2023, Vista agreed to acquire Orabank from a consortium of international investors, including Emerging Capital Partners, Proparco, and DEG.
Momentum in Mozambique and France
The Société Générale deal follows Vista’s full acquisition of Banco Société Générale Moçambique (BSGM) in early 2024. The eight-branch network will be rebranded as Vista Bank Moçambique, further cementing the group’s southern African footprint.
Earlier this year, Vista received regulatory approval from France’s ACPR to launch Vista Bank France, supporting its ambition to connect African markets with European capital and trade flows.
