In recent years South African companies, especially financial institutions, have harboured international ambitions, focusing on Europe and other developing markets. However, they are now starting to look closer to home. With developed economies and Asian markets posting sluggish growth, South Africa is turning to opportunities elsewhere in Africa and working to bolster its position as the gateway…
One of the major factors holding economic growth back in South Africa is power shortages. While Eskom, the public utility, has 45,000 MW of capacity, an estimated one-third of this is currently out of commission due to a combination of scheduled maintenance and unexpected breakdowns. Power Cuts The electrical system has very little room for error and often struggles to meet demand, with this…
Given South Africa’s history and economy, financial inclusion is a serious issue for the country. It is committed to making up for the disparities of the apartheid era and it wants and needs to improve the lives of its poorer citizens, as much for the economy as for the sake of the people themselves. As such, the country has worked for more than a decade to get more South Africans banked and serviced…
The Company FirstRand is the third-largest South African bank in terms of balance sheet size, holding total assets of R979bn ($84.6bn) at December 31, 2014. It operates three primary brands: First National Bank, which has a retail and commercial focus; Rand Merchant Bank, which competes in the corporate and investment banking markets; and Wesbank, which provides vehicle and asset finance products.…
The Company Imperial Holdings was established in 1948 as a single car dealership and over the years has diversified into new products, sectors and geographies. The company’s current offering, which emerged after a major restructuring aimed at streamlining the firm in 2008, includes logistics (South Africa, Africa and Europe); vehicle retail, rental and after-market parts (retail of original…
The Company Kumba is a listed iron ore mining company and 70% subsidiary of global diversified miner Anglo American, benefitting from group procurement and mine optimisation strategies. Kumba was formed in a 2001 demerger from South African integrated steel company Iscor and a subsequent demerger of coal mining operations in 2006 to form a separately listed company, Exxaro. Exxaro simultaneously became…
The Company MTN is a multinational telecommunications company, headquartered in South Africa, with operations in 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East. MTN’s offerings include voice services through 2G or GSM networks and data services through 3G networks. Incorporated in 1994 under the name M-Cell, the company was awarded the second national licence in South Africa, commencing commercial…
The South Africa initial public offering (IPO) market was booming at the start of 2015. In the first quarter of the year, three companies listed on the exchange, more than in any first quarter since the global financial crisis of 2008-09. The combination of a strong market and innovation in regulations and listing rules attracted companies to list. However one highly anticipated offering was cancelled…
The Company Established in 1918, Sanlam has grown to become the second-largest listed life insurance company in South Africa, after Old Mutual. The group operated as a mutual fund until its listing on the Johannesburg and Namibian stock exchanges in 1998. In legacy of its demutualisation, Sanlam famously has the largest number of shareholders of any company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. A key…
The Company Woolworths Holdings is an investment holding company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange that operates through three wholly owned subsidiaries, Woolworths (proprietary), David Jones and Country Road Group, as well as a joint venture – Woolworths Financial Services. Woolworths is a chain of retail stores in South Africa and certain countries in Africa and the Middle East.…
