Table of Contents
Key Points
- Thom Mpinganjira's FDH Bank stake nears $1 billion, fueled by a 112% rise in the bank's share price in 2025.
- Mpinganjira’s holdings grew by $490.62 million in 2025, reflecting strong investor confidence and FDH Bank’s solid financial performance.
- FDH Bank's market cap exceeds $1.25 billion, making it the third most valuable stock on the Malawi Stock Exchange.
Malawian tycoon Thom Mpinganjira is strengthening his position as one of Malawi’s wealthiest individuals, with the value of his stake in FDH Bank now exceeding $500 million. This significant growth comes after a notable rise in the shares of the Blantyre-based lender on the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE).
Mpinganjira, who founded FDH Bank, owns a 40.07 percent stake through his investment firm, M Development Ltd. According to data from Billionaires.Africa, his holdings have seen an increase of MWK468 billion ($270 million) since the beginning of 2025, driven by strong investor confidence and the bank's solid financial performance.
This follows a gain of $126.6 million in 2024, when Mpinganjira’s stake grew from MWK196.6 billion ($113.32 million) to MWK416.34 billion ($240 million). Combined, these gains have secured his place among Malawi’s richest. However, despite his growing fortune, challenges remain, including the need for further growth in FDH Bank’s performance and concerns about his liabilities and personal debts.
FDH Bank’s stock rises 112.49%
FDH Bank, a key player in Malawi’s financial sector, operates under FDH Financial Holdings and provides a wide range of services, including banking, investment management, and advisory. Founded by Mpinganjira in 2002, the bank has expanded rapidly, with 53 branches and 91 ATMs across the country as of 2020.
The bank's stock has surged by 112.49 percent since the start of 2025, making it the second-best performer on the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) this year. Its share price has risen from MWK148.23 ($0.08534) on Jan. 1 to MWK314.98 ($0.1814) today, placing FDH Bank among the top companies on the exchange with a market capitalization exceeding $1.25 billion.
Mpinganjira’s stake in FDH Bank rises
For Mpinganjira, this sharp rise in FDH Bank's stock has further increased the value of his stake. His holdings have climbed by MWK468 billion ($270 million), from MWK416.34 billion ($240 million) at the beginning of 2025 to MWK884.4 billion ($509.7 million), reinforcing his position as one of Malawi's wealthiest individuals and a significant figure in Southern Africa’s investment scene.
The strong performance of FDH Bank, coupled with growing investor confidence, highlights Mpinganjira’s ongoing influence in Malawi's financial sector and underscores the strength of homegrown businesses across Africa. Despite facing legal challenges, including a nine-year prison sentence for attempting to bribe constitutional court judges, Mpinganjira remains one of the continent’s leading business figures.
The story was updated to reflect that Mpinganjira’s stake has surpassed $500 million—not near $1 billion as previously stated. He holds a 40.07 percent indirect stake in FDH Bank through his investment firm, M Development Ltd, rather than the earlier reported 74.05 percent.
