South Africa Archives

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Emerging & Frontier Markets

Emerging Markets : Zimbabwe’s Zero-Sum Game

AFRICA All change: Zimbabwe's coins have value again. With hyperinflation eroding the nation’s economy, Zimbabwe’s government is taking desperate measures. It lopped off 10 zeros from the Zimbabwe dollar, as inflation is now running at 2.2 million percent ...

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Features : Risky Business

CORPORATE TOOLBOX / POLITICAL RISK In recent years, political risks facing multinationals have grown more significant. Corporations are far from blameless in creating that risk, though. Heightened tensions: Multinationals in countries such as Venezuela face growing risks. With ...

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Corporate Finance : Here’s your converted text: Telecom Deal Helps Banks Clear Lbo Loan Backlog

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS The agreement announced last month by Verizon Wireless to buy rural cell phone service provider Alltel for $5.9 billion in cash and $22.2 billion in debt did more than create the biggest mobile-phone company ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Emerging Markets : Kenya Calling

AFRICA Kenya's mobile communications industry flourishes following IPO of Safaricom. A June IPO by Kenyan mobile operator Safaricom was oversubscribed by 532%, according to Kenya’s finance minister Amos Kimunya. The government exercised a provision allowing ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Cover Story: The Found Continent

AFRICA Long ignored by mainstream investors and corporations, Africa has suddenly found itself in the spotlight. Its resilience in the recent credit crunch is just part of the reason. An oil worker stands on the deck of ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Emerging Markets : Bharti Airtel Harbors Global Ambitions

INDIA India's construction industry promises rich returns. Bharti Airtel, India’s largest wireless company, with 62 million subscribers, is in talks with MTN of South Africa to acquire between 51% and 100% of that company. The deal could potentially ...

Country Report

Features: Troubled Giant

COUNTRY REPORT / NIGERIA Despite vast hydrocarbon reserves and a government committed to economic diversification, Nigeria still faces tremendous problems. A resurgence in its banking sector may help accelerate future progress. Oil is Nigeria’s lifeline, accounting for some 80% ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Emerging Markets : Growth Remains Strong But External Threats Increase

AFRICA Botswana's new president, Seretse Ian Khama. Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa is set to continue strongly this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, which says the region is “better placed today to withstand a worsening of ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Emerging Markets : Us Agency Backs African Debt Fund

NEWS The Overseas Private Investment Corp. (OPIC), a US development finance organization, has committed up to $100 million in initial funding for a sub-Saharan debt fund to be managed by Standard Bank of South Africa. The Standard Africa Development ...

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Corporate Finance : Big Chinese Ipos Keep Coming Despite Downturn In Stock Market, Putting Shanghai Exchange In Lead

Global Equity/drs The Shanghai Stock Exchange raised more funds in initial public offerings last year than any exchange worldwide, and it is taking aim at another record in 2008, despite a 30% pullback in the Shanghai composite index ...

Country Report

Features: Growth interrupted

COUNTRY REPORT: SOUTH AFRICA Flagging global growth, an ongoing energy shortage and increasing wage and inflation pressures are weighing heavily on South Africa’s economy. In a hole: South Africa's mining industry has been badly affected by recent power ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Emerging Markets : Roaring Economy Boosts State-Owned Companies’ Profits

CHINA Riding high: China's economic growth continues to break records. China’s economy grew 11.4% in 2007, its fastest rate in 13 years. Fourth-quarter GDP growth fell to 11.2% year-on-year, however, as government tightening measures and weakening global demand ...