* France's BNP Paribas SA has begun strategic exploration of the potential sale of its retail banks in Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, Agence Ecofin wrote. The bank stressed that it does not intend to withdraw from the continent entirely but that it aims to accelerate the refocusing of its activities in Africa.
GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL
* The shareholders of Al-Etihad Cooperative Insurance Co.
* The board of Saudi Arabia-based Malath Cooperative Insurance Co.
* Amir Riad, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC's head of corporate finance and investment banking, told Thomson Reuters' Zawya that he is optimistic about Islamic bond, or sukuk, issuances in the second half as the current instability of oil prices would likely have sovereigns seek more financing.
* Moody's changed the outlook on the Bahraini banking system to stable from negative, citing an expected slight acceleration in economic growth.
* Kuwait Finance House KSCP
* Kuwait International Bank KSCP issued $300 million in perpetual Additional Tier 1 Islamic bonds, or sukuk, callable after five years.
* Ithmaar Bank
* Sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority
* Oman's Celebrity National Financial Services Company SAOG
* Capital Intelligence Ratings affirmed the omA+/omA1 long- and short-term national scale ratings of Oman's Alizz Islamic Bank SAOG,
REST OF MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
* The African Development Bank granted Tunisia's Amen Bank
* Israeli financing platform Chargeafter Ltd.
EAST AND WEST AFRICA
* Rwanda-based Bank of Kigali is in discussions to acquire local insurer Sonarwa SA. CFO Nathalie Mpaka told Reuters that a proposal could be presented to the bank's board by August.
* KCB Group PLC's shareholders are said to have unanimously approved the plan to acquire 100% of National Bank of Kenya Ltd.
* Insurer Sanlam Kenya PLC
* The World Bank granted Kenya a $750 million loan for reforms on inclusive growth, poverty reduction and other targets.
* Ghanaian central bank Governor Ernest Addison said the resolution of Heritage Bank Ltd. and Premium Bank Ltd. had cost 1.4 billion cedis, Citing Business News wrote. This comes on top of the 9 billion cedis the government already spent on the resolution of other collapsed lenders.
* Ghana-based Bedrock Insurance Co. Ltd. has launched product offerings yesterday, according to Joy Business. The company obtained an operating license from the National Insurance Commission in December 2017.
* Nigeria-based Access Bank PLC
* S&P Global Ratings affirmed the long-term local-currency issuer credit and insurer financial strength ratings of Nigeria-based African Reinsurance Corp.
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
* The shareholders of South African lender Standard Bank Group Ltd.
* Liberty Holdings Ltd.
* South Africa's African Rainbow Capital Pty. Ltd.
* Angola's Banco Sol SA launched a 128 billion kwanza line of microcredit to be disbursed this year among young entrepreneurs as part of a partnership with the Ministry of Public Administration, Labor and Social Security, Angop wrote.
* Mozambique's Moza Banco SA said it was offering a new service called Express Bill aimed at improving the short-term financing of small, medium-sized and large companies by giving them access to financing guaranteed by invoices from their customers, Jornal Notícias reported, citing the bank's chairman, João Figueiredo.
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD
Asia-Pacific: IDBI Bank's Q4 net loss narrows YOY; Fitch lowers Canara Bank ratings
Europe: UK slams EU plan on share trade; funds eye Sabadell unit; Amundi's Germany plans
Latin America: Mexico cuts 2019 GDP forecast; Brazil looks to ease further reserve requirements
North America: BofA faces suit; FDIC chair eyes community bank deposits; CFPB settles with BSI
Global Insurance: Conn. public health bill; tornado slams Kansas; Reliance General sale talk
Deza Mones, Henni Abdelghani, Sophie Davies and Helen Popper contributed to this report.
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This S&P Global Market Intelligence news article may contain information about credit ratings issued by S&P Global Ratings. Descriptions in this news article were not prepared by S&P Global Ratings.