MTN Makes Takeover Approach for South Africa’s Telkom

MTN Makes Takeover Approach for South Africa’s Telkom

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – MTN Group Ltd. recently made a takeover approach for Telkom SA SOC in a deal that would’ve combined South Africa’s second and third largest telecommunications operators, according to people familiar with the matter. Telkom has so far shown no interest in a sale, said the people, who asked to remain private as the talks are confidential. It remains unclear whether the larger rival will continue its pursuit, the people…

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One of World’s Poorest Countries Found Better Way to Do Stimulus

One of World’s Poorest Countries Found Better Way to Do Stimulus

LOME (Capital Markets in Africa) -Atani Bamaze was working his small plot of land, scything weeds down to the rust-colored soil, when he received a lifeline in the form of a text message. It was late 2020, and though Bamaze still didn’t know anyone sickened by Covid-19, the pandemic had disrupted his life all the same. The village in Togo where he lives with his wife and infant daughter relied on trade and travelers from…

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Women Are Taking Over Top Nigerian Banks That Favor Male Clients

Women Are Taking Over Top Nigerian Banks That Favor Male Clients

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africsa) – Tomi Somefun still recalls the shock in 2015 when she was summoned to meet the board of Unity Bank Plc and offered the position of chief executive officer. That made her the only female CEO of a Nigeria-based lender — the second woman to occupy the top position. But she’s no longer an outlier. Women now make up almost one-third of the CEOs of Nigeria’s commercial banks, well ahead of African peers…

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South Africa’s Godongwana Faces Policy Tightrope in First Budget

South Africa’s Godongwana Faces Policy Tightrope in First Budget

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana faces the challenge of presenting a clear strategy to revive South Africa’s torpid economy and return public finances to a sustainable path when he presents his first mid-term budget on Thursday. Key metrics in the spending plan for the next three years will benefit from windfall mining revenue and upward revisions to gross domestic product, with the budget deficit likely to narrow faster than previously expected. Still, the country…

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Why the Low-Key Methane Pledge Is a Big Deal for the Climate

Why the Low-Key Methane Pledge Is a Big Deal for the Climate

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – As leaders at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, thrash out how to rein in catastrophic levels of global warming, one of the most important deals is taking place on the sidelines. The Global Methane Pledge — a collective commitment to cut emissions of the potent greenhouse gas 30% by 2030 -– is signed by more than 80 countries so far, representing more than two-thirds of the…

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Wall Street Is Amassing a Crypto Army and Paying Up for Recruits

Wall Street Is Amassing a Crypto Army and Paying Up for Recruits

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Wall Street leaders turned up their noses when Bitcoin exploded onto the scene more than a decade ago. Now they’re paying sweet premiums to crypto recruits, amassing an army of enthusiasts within the traditionally staid realm. Some of the biggest banks and financial firms have added about 1,000 crypto-related roles since 2018, according to Revelio Labs, which collects data by scraping LinkedIn. Among those hiring the most are JPMorgan Chase…

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Crypto Advocates Call for Clarity Amid Climate Summit

Crypto Advocates Call for Clarity Amid Climate Summit

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Digital-asset companies are pushing back against claims of excessive energy usage in the cryptocurrency sector as world leaders flock to Glasgow this week for key climate change talks.     Global Digital Finance, whose members include industry juggernauts BitMEX, Coinbase Global Inc. and Crypto.com called for greater data transparency around issues of sustainability. The group published a report on Monday in an effort to set industrywide environmental goals amid…

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