As part of contractual commitments with shareholders, the company is planning an initial public offering (IPO) by March 2026 but that date could be brought forward, he added.

"Ideally, all stars aligning, we'd like to get the IPO out of the way before March 2026 and the thinking is Q2 of 2025 but we'll have to see how the cycle goes," he said in an interview on the sidelines of the Africa Property Investment Summit.

Lango, with real estate assets including prime office and retail properties in Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia, is in discussions with the London Stock Exchange to get all processes in place for the listing, Reilly said.

The listing will be delayed if market conditions are not conducive.

Lango was jointly established by South Africa's biggest property group Growthpoint Properties, which has a 16% shareholding, and global investment manager Ninety One in 2018.

The company is preparing to set foot in East Africa, targeting Nairobi as an entry point. Reilly said Lango is in the process of concluding a deal in the Kenyan capital.

"If you look at us now, we've historically been more West Africa heavy and there is a recognition on our side, strategically, to take a bit more of a diversification view point in that we need to really become much more of a Pan African player," Reilly said.

Over time the company would also seek to expand into Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia, he added.

(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Richard Chang)

By Nqobile Dludla