Finance

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio denied Italy is looking for help from the European Central Bank after a media report suggested that the cabinet in Rome is reaching out to the Frankfurt-based institute for a new round of government-bond purchases. “We are not asking for any help from anyone, as there is no speculative attack” at present against Italy, he told reporters in Cairo on Wednesday during an official visit to…

LUANDA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Angola’s Eurobonds surged after the OPEC member said it asked the International Monetary Fund for financial support. Yields on the southern African nation’s $1.5 billion of bonds maturing in November 2025 fell 27 basis points, the most in almost two years, to 7.51 percent by 1:25 p.m. in London. The Ministry of Finance announced late Monday that it had called for the IMF to add a “financing component” to its support…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria’s state-owned agricultural-lending facilitator said it disbursed $373 million to farmers in the past year to help boost production of export crops. Known as Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, or Nirsal, the agency underwrites risk for credit going to farmers, part of the efforts by the oil-rich country to increase revenue from farm exports and reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons. The credit beneficiaries are mainly small-holder…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s government is close to agreeing to new tax breaks for international carmakers including Toyota Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co. and BMW AG in return for initiatives to boost jobs and exports, according to Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies. A deal on a 15-year incentive program to replace one that expires in 2020 should be reached this year, Davies said in an interview Tuesday. While work is still to…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – MTN Group Ltd. agreed a 200 billion naira ($554.3 million), seven year loan facility with 12 Nigerian lenders to fund voice and data service expansion in its biggest market. The facility is denominated in naira and structured with a two-year moratorium and a repayment period of five years, the Johannesburg-based company said in an emailed statement. Lenders providing the facility include Ecobank Nigeria Ltd. and Fidelity Bank Plc. MTN, Africa’s…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Rising exploration is driving growth opportunities for mining services providers, according to Ausdrill Ltd., which has agreed to acquire a smaller rival to create Australia’s second-largest company in the sector. Ausdrill’s A$697 ($500 million) cash and share acquisition, including debt, of Barminco Holdings Pty will form a company with a client roster that includes BHP Billiton Ltd. and Newmont Mining Corp., Ausdrill said Wednesday in a statement. The mining sector is revving up a hunt…