The Editorial Team |

The Wheel Turns for South African Bonds as Sell-Off Worsens

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African government bonds handed dollar investors a whopping 13 percent return in the first quarter, the best performance out of 25 major emerging markets. In the second quarter, they’ve lost it all, and then some. Rand-denominated debt has lost 17 percent since the beginning of April, the most among developing nations after Argentina and Turkey, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s partly a result of the rand’s…

Libya Says Ras Lanuf Oil Storage Cut by 40% After Militia Attack

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TRIPOLI Libya said an attack on the Ras Lanuf oil terminal cut storage capacity by about 40 percent, underscoring the continued threat from armed groups for whom energy installations remain prized targets. Damage to two storage tanks at Libya’s third-largest port on Thursday reduced capacity to 550,000 barrels from 950,000 barrels, state-run National Oil Corp. said Monday. Ras Lanuf stopped loading oil for export last week after clashes erupted, taking more barrels off the market just as…

PPC Extends Slump Amid Ongoing Weak Demand for Cement in Congo

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KINSHASA (Capital Markets in Africa) – PPC Ltd. suffered its biggest two-day decline this year after reporting earnings that missed some expectations and as difficulties continue to plague the cement maker’s operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. South Africa’s biggest producer of the building material is seeking a fresh start under Chief Executive Officer Johan Claassen after fending off a series of takeover approaches last year. The Johannesburg-based company is counting on an upturn in demand in…

Winter Downpours Help Ease Risk of Cape Town Running Dry

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Fears that Cape Town, South Africa’s second-biggest city and most popular tourist attraction, would run out of water have abated as good winter rains help top up dam levels and ease the worst drought on record. The six main dams supplying the city are at 38.1 percent of capacity, compared with 31.8 percent a week earlier and just 23 percent a year ago, the city said on its website on Monday. Cape…

Buyout Said to Value Largest African Feedlot at $450 Million

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Africa’s largest cattle feedlot is considering a management buyout that will value the company based south of Johannesburg at about 6 billion rand ($450 million), according to two people familiar with the matter. The management of Karan Beef (Pty) Ltd. may approach the Public Investment Corp. — which manages pension funds of South African government workers — to assist it with funding, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information…

African Telecom Firm Eaton Towers Is Said to Postpone IPO

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – African telecommunications company Eaton Towers Ltd. has decided to postpone an initial public offering on concern that conditions are hurting valuations, according to people familiar with the matter. Eaton Towers, partly owned by Ethos Private Equity Pty Ltd., was seeking a valuation of about $2 billion in a sale in London and Johannesburg, the people said, asking not to be named as the details aren’t public. The firm was initially planning…

Liberty Refused to Pay Ransom After Computer Systems Hacked

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Liberty Holdings Ltd., the South African insurer midway through an overhaul to improve profit, said it refused a ransom demand after hackers breached its information-technology infrastructure and accessed some emails. The stock fell the most since April 4. “We did engage with the external parties involved to determine their intentions, but we made no concession in the face of this attempted extortion,” Liberty Chief Executive Officer David Munro said Sunday in…

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