South Africa | - Part 30

South Africa’s Biggest Gold Miner Halts Dividends as Debt Builds

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Sibanye Gold Ltd. canceled its dividend after debt ballooned while it swung to a loss, marking a series of firsts for the South African producer that’s been one of the world’s top performers in its four-year history. Sibanye will focus on cutting borrowings after its $2.2 billion purchase of U.S. platinum-group metals producer Stillwater Mining Co. earlier this year, making the payment of a cash dividend “inappropriate,” the Johannesburg-based…

Telkom Says South Africa Mulling Sale of Up to $1 Billion Stake

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Telkom SA SOC Ltd. said the South African government is considering various options regarding its 39 percent stake in the fixed-line operator as it seeks to raise cash to bail out the country’s unprofitable national airline. The state’s shares in the former telecommunications monopoly are worth about 13 billion rand ($996 million). Lawmakers are in talks with government-owned companies including the Industrial Development Corp. and the Public Investment Corp. to…

Standard Bank’s First-Half Profit Rises 14% as Impairments Drop

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Standard Bank Group Ltd., Africa’s largest lender by assets, said first-half profit rose 14 percent after impairments dropped and costs were contained. Net income climbed to 12.3 billion rand ($937 million) from 10.8 billion rand a year earlier, the Johannesburg-based lender said in a statement on Thursday. Earnings per share excluding one-time items, known locally as headline earnings, advanced 11 percent to 7.56 rand beating the 7.44 rand median estimate of…

No Witch Hunt’ for S. Africa’s ANC Rebels, Mantashe Says

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Johannesburg (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress won’t try to expose its lawmakers who voted in secret with the opposition in the no-confidence motion against President Jacob Zuma, the party’s secretary-general said. “There will be no witch hunt for those who voted with the opposition,” Gwede Mantashe said in a post on his Twitter account on Tuesday. “We don’t know who voted what way.” More than two dozen members of the ANC backed…

Less Predictable South Africa Policy May See Moody’s Rating Cut

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Johannesburg (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s credit rating may be cut to junk if its policies become “even less predictable” or shift in a way that could undermine the economy, Moody’s Investors Service said. Policy uncertainty and political turmoil have increased in the last two months as the nation’s anti-graft ombudsman instructed lawmakers to change the central bank’s mandate, the mines minister published new regulations that the industry says undermine investment and President Jacob Zuma’s…

South Africa Court Scraps Bid to Alter Central Bank Role

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s High Court scrapped a bid by the nation’s anti-graft ombudsman to change the central bank’s inflation-targeting mandate. The Public Protector’s instruction that lawmakers should start a process to change the constitution and amend the Reserve Bank’s mandate is set aside, Judge Cynthia Pretorius said in a ruling. The judgment removes the risk of politicians interfering in the functioning of the central bank and may ease concerns about…

Old Mutual First-Half Profit Climbs as Insurer’s Split Looms

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Old Mutual Plc, the London insurer planning to split into four separate businesses, said first-half profit almost doubled after it reduced debt and sold shares in its U.S. asset management unit. Pre-tax adjusted operating profit rose 37 percent and net income climbed to 531 million pounds ($689 million) from 284 million pounds a year earlier, the London-based insurer said in a statement on Friday. Diluted basic earnings per ordinary share increased…

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