Africa

RETAILER EXPANDS IN NIGERIA   By Gordon Platt   Mr Price Group has developed a successful retail formula in South Africa that could work well in markets across Africa.   The majority of Mr Price’s 1000-plus stores are in South Africa, ...

SABMILLER MAKES MORE AFFORDABLE LOCAL BEER   By Antonio Guerrero   The UK’s SABMiller, the world’s second-largest brewer, plans to invest up to $2.5 billion in Africa over the next five years to build new breweries and revamp existing ones to ...

PLATINUM MINING PROJECT PROMISES BIG REWARDS   By Antonio Guerrero   South Africa’s state-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has entered into a $420 million public-private partnership to develop a mine that could become one of the world’s largest platinum producers over ...

By Thomas Clouse, Jonathan Gregson, Antonio Guerrero & Gordon Platt AFRICA Not only is Africa rich in natural resources, but it also offers the promise of fast economic growth in a number of countries, and a population lacking basic banking services. ...

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY   By Antonio Guerrero   A number of African markets may be on the verge of massive growth—fueled by a rising consumer class.   Given the long-standing reputation for political and economic volatility in some African markets, ...

SOUTH AFRICAN MINING TO GET VENTURE CAPITAL INCENTIVES   By Antonio Guerrero   South African finance minister Pravin Gordhan will grant a major venture capital incentive for SME mining companies.   South Africa: Investing in small mining operations South African finance ...

CORPORATE FINANCING NEWS: MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS   By Gordon Platt   More than 2,600 mergers and acquisitions worth $149 billion were announced in the global mining industry last year.   They represented an increase of 33% from 2010, making 2011 the ...

NEWSMAKERS: GLOBAL   By Luca Ventura   When Robert Zoellick announced in February that he would leave the World Bank in June, at the expiration of his five-year term as president, initial speculation over his possible successor revolved around the usual ...

Global Finance names the World’s Best Emerging Market Banks 2012 in Africa NEW YORK, March 20, 2012 — Global Finance magazine has named the “Best Emerging Market Banks in Africa” in an exclusive survey to be published in the May ...

Global Finance Announces the Best Banks by Region 2012 NEW YORK, March 20, 2012 – Global Finance magazine has announced its annual awards for the World's Best Banks in Developed and Emerging Markets. The list of regional winners is on ...

SA-SWAZILAND RAILWAY LINK (FINALLY) GETS THE GREEN LIGHT   By Antonio Guerrero   Transnet, South Africa's state-owned transit and logistics company, and Swaziland Railway have joined forces to complete a $2.2 billion railway linking their two countries, a plan under ...

TURNING POINT   By Michael Shari   One of Africa's most vibrant economies is in the midst of a high-stakes political transition that will determine whether it continues on a path of reform or contends with the type of backlash that shook ...

EXPANDING PRODUCT LINES AT ZAMBEEF   By Gordon Platt   Zambeef Products of Zambia is one of the largest agribusinesses in Africa, with more than 4,000 employees. In June 2011, it became the first Zambian company to list on the London ...

LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES   By Dan Keeler   The improving economic and investment environment makes Angola a tempting target for foreign direct investors. But changes aimed at improving the business environment and building infrastructure must move forward before the country ...

Global Finance announces a half-yearly update World’s 50 Safest Banks: April 2012 NEW YORK, March 1, 2012 – Bank stability is an ever-more pressing concern for the world’s corporations and investors. It is within this context that Global Finance announces ...

NEWSMAKERS: MOROCCO   By Michael Shari   Minister until recently in the reigning government's cabinet in Morocco, Salaheddine Mezouar is now the official leader of the opposition party in the country's parliament.   Making his vote count: As opposition leader, ...

NIGERIA BUILDS BIOFUEL CAPACITY AS ZIMBABWE BRACES FOR ENERGY SHORTAGE   By Antonio Guerrero   The Nigerian government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Global Biofuels, a Nigerian biofuels producer, for the construction of 15 integrated biofuels refineries at ...

MILESTONES: NIGERIA   By Michael Shari   The government of Nigeria took a calculated political risk when it removed gasoline subsidies on January 1.   Paying at the pump: Nigeria ends gasoline subsidies The sudden move more than doubled local ...

NEWSMAKERS: NIGERIA   By Anita Hawser   Nigerian central bank governor Lamido Sanusi believes the likelihood of European banks going into a major crisis is quite high, and is concerned over the impact on Nigerian oil exports.   Sanusi looks to Asia ...

NIGERIAN INBOUND INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK IMPROVING   By Antonio Guerrero   Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan says his administration is reviewing industrial policies to encourage foreign companies exporting finished goods to Nigeria to instead manufacture them locally.   New policies encourage local assembly ...