Companies face up to tricky markets and global pressures

Though the South African economy is struggling, its corporates are still sought-after in the international and the domestic bond and loan markets. But the risks of expanding businesses within Africa were highlighted last year by the $5.2bn fine on South African telecommunications company MTN. And as Basel III is introduced in the country, it will become more harder, or at least more expensive, to tap the loan market for maturities of five years or more. Meanwhile, the US rate rise will surely make the international bond markets more expensive for South African borrowers. At GlobalCapital’s roundtable, held in Cape Town on November 26, representatives from companies, banks and institutional investors gathered to discuss the changing environment for corporate issuers and investment in them.