Barrick’s Acacia Faces Further Setback as Tanzania Deal Delayed

Barrick’s Acacia Faces Further Setback as Tanzania Deal Delayed

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Gold producer Acacia Mining Plc slumped in London trading after majority shareholder Barrick Gold Corp. withdrew a timetable for resolving a dispute with Tanzania’s government. Barrick had previously said it would provide Acacia with a detailed proposal by the end of June, after taking control of negotiations aimed at settling a number of issues, including lifting Tanzania’s ban on the export of mineral concentrates. Nine months since announcing a preliminary deal, the Toronto-based…

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Steinhoff Africa, Brait Charge Investors for Manager Loans

Steinhoff Africa, Brait Charge Investors for Manager Loans

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – In 2011, two companies linked to South African billionaire Christo Wieseoffered top managers an option to buy shares in the businesses they were running. Plenty of companies do that, but not necessarily with this additional sweetener: The executives in question received bank loans to buy the stock — loans that were guaranteed by the company in the event they couldn’t be repaid. Clothing retailer Pepkor Holdings Pty Ltd., now part…

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Congo’s Bemba to Return Home After Acquittal as Vote Looms

Congo’s Bemba to Return Home After Acquittal as Vote Looms

KINSHASA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba will go home next month, a party official said, after the political heavyweight’s acquittal of war crimes convictions delivered an unexpected twist to this year’s elections. The 55-year-old politician’s return presents President Joseph Kabila and his ruling coalition with a rival they expected to still be behind bars at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. And if Bemba fails to agree partnerships with…

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Nigeria Projects Smaller Budget Shortfall Even as Spending Rises

Nigeria Projects Smaller Budget Shortfall Even as Spending Rises

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria said its budget deficit will narrow this year even as the government ramps up spending to spur a stuttering economy. The fiscal shortfall will close to 1.74 percent of gross domestic product from 2.18 percent in 2017, according to a presentation delivered Thursday by Budget Minister Udo Udoma in Abuja, the capital, a copy of which was emailed to reporters by his ministry. Of the 2 trillion naira ($5.5 billion)…

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Tiger Brands Considers North Africa for Continental Expansion

Tiger Brands Considers North Africa for Continental Expansion

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Tiger Brands Ltd. is considering North African nations among expansion targets as the continent’s biggest listed packaged-food maker looks for growth outside its home market of South Africa. The company is still developing its ‘rest-of-Africa’ strategy, which has been delayed by about six months as management dealt with one of its plants having been linked to South Africa’s listeriosis infection crisis, said Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Mac Dougall. Tiger Brands,…

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KCB, Equity Bank Seen as Biggest Winners If Kenyan Rate Caps Go

KCB, Equity Bank Seen as Biggest Winners If Kenyan Rate Caps Go

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – KCB Group Ltd. and Equity Group Holdings Ltd., Kenya’s largest lenders, will be the biggest beneficiaries from the scrapping of laws limiting the amount of interest banks can charge, according to Exotix Capital Ltd. analyst Faith Mwangi. Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich has started steps to revoke legislation that the International Monetary Fund has said is damaging the economy and banks have blamed for stalling loan growth. The government is racing to meet an…

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World Bank, IMF Raise Rwanda’s 2018 Growth Estimate to 7.2%

World Bank, IMF Raise Rwanda’s 2018 Growth Estimate to 7.2%

KIGALI (Capital Markets in Africa) – The World Bank and International Monetary Fund revised their projection for Rwanda’s economic growth this year to 7.2 percent as rains improved food supply. The revision comes after Rwanda’s government posted 10.6 percent growth in gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2018 after services, which make up almost half of national output, accelerated. Rwanda is one of Africa’s top performers and has expanded an average of more than…

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