HSBC Said to Freeze Account Tied to $500 Million Angolan Fraud

HSBC Said to Freeze Account Tied to $500 Million Angolan Fraud

LUANDA (Capital Markets in Africa) – HSBC Holdings Plc froze an account linked to an alleged fraud that siphoned about $500 million from Angolan state coffers, according to a person briefed on the matter. A large transfer raised suspicions at the bank, prompting it to alert U.K. authorities at least weeks ago, the person said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Britain’s National Crime Agency told Reuters last week it’s preparing to return funds…

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Ghanaians Protest in Accra Against Military Agreement With U.S.

Ghanaians Protest in Accra Against Military Agreement With U.S.

ACCRA (Hundreds of Ghana opposition members took to the streets of the capital, Accra, to demonstrate against a government decision to allow a U.S. military base in the West African nation. Former Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur and general secretary of the main opposition National Democratic Congress Asiedu Nketia joined protesters calling themselves Ghana First Patriotic Front. Members of the Convention Peoples Party and Peoples National Convention were among demonstrators clad in black and red clothes…

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One Corner of South Africa’s Market Hasn’t Caught Ramaphosa Bug

One Corner of South Africa’s Market Hasn’t Caught Ramaphosa Bug

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – It seems it will take more than “Ramaphoria,” as they call it in South Africa, to spur the country’s corporate debt issuers into action. South African assets have rallied since Cyril Ramaphosa was elected leader of the ruling African National Congress in December, setting him on a path to replace Jacob Zuma as the country’s president last month. With economic growth accelerating, inflation slowing and the new administration acting against corrupt officials, business…

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MTN Is Said to Raise Target for Ghana IPO to $787 Million

MTN Is Said to Raise Target for Ghana IPO to $787 Million

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – MTN Group Ltd.’s Ghanaian unit lifted its target for an upcoming initial public offering by more than a half to 3.48 billion cedis ($787 million), according to two people familiar with the matter. Africa’s biggest mobile-phone company by subscribers is preparing to list a 35 percent stake in its Ghanaian business on the local stock exchange, valuing the unit at about $2.2 billion. While the bourse estimated the value…

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Steinhoff Says Directors Due Extra Pay for Working Harder

Steinhoff Says Directors Due Extra Pay for Working Harder

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Steinhoff International Holdings NV, the retailer that’s wiped out more than $12 billion of value since an accounting scandal exploded in December, plans to reward directors for having to do more work than usual. Steve Booysen, head of Steinhoff’s audit and risk committee and part of the supervisory board’s independent committee, is due a once-off payment of 200,000 euros ($247,000) “to cover the additional work undertaken during the period…

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Naspers to Sell $10.6 Billion of Tencent to Fund Investments

Naspers to Sell $10.6 Billion of Tencent to Fund Investments

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African media company Naspers Ltd. is cashing in a tiny sliver of one of the greatest venture-capital investments ever. The company is selling $10.6 billion of shares in Tencent Holdings Ltd., equal to 2 percent of the stock in the Chinese operator of the WeChat messaging service, the Cape Town-based company said in a statement Thursday. The sale comes hours after Tencent, Asia’s most valuable company, warnedit will sacrifice short-term margins, spending…

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Zimbabwe’s New President Chalks Up $4.2 Billion PGM Deal

Zimbabwe’s New President Chalks Up $4.2 Billion PGM Deal

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Karo Resources, a company linked to mining entrepreneur Loucas Pouroulis, will spend $4.2 billion on a Zimbabwean platinum project in the first big investment since President Robert Mugabe’s ousting in November. The deal is the largest to date in Zimbabwe’s mining industry, Mines Minister Winston Chitando said. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the “country open for business” as he seeks to revive the economy and attract investment.  “It is not business as usual anymore,”…

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