South Africa

Naspers, the South African technology conglomerate cheered European equity markets this week as it announced it would list its international assets in a new company on the Euronext Amsterdam. The company said that the deal would just be a spin-off transaction but sources close to the situation are not writing off the possibility of an IPO as well.

Investec veteran Glynn Burger is stepping down.

Rothschild & Co has appointed Martin Kingston as executive chairman of its board in South Africa, among other personnel moves in the country.

Some investors are beginning to fear that the rally in emerging markets is running out of rope. Threats to Chinese growth could carry over and damage the prospects of emerging markets economies, according to Jupiter Asset Management.

Nedbank is planning to tap the market for a new loan, the first of an expected parade of South African bank borrowers. While bankers still worry about aspects of lending into the country, including a potential ratings downgrade and political uncertainty, appetite remains strong.

European high yield investors are as eager to buy bonds as their investment grade counterparts — the difference is, while IG issuers have been pouring paper into the market, high yield has been in a drought. But that is at last starting to break.

Sappi, the South African paper company, succeeded in issuing its €450m seven year non-call three year bond on Tuesday at a coupon that will save it money, compared with the bond it is replacing.

High yield bond issuance in Europe is perking up, with several deals being marketed or just about to be launched. Beginning its roadshow on Monday was Sappi, the South African paper company, which wants to issue €450m to replace an older bond; starting on Tuesday is French car parts group Faurecia, seeking €500m.

Anglo American, the South African mining company now headquartered in London, returned to the sterling bond market after an 11 year absence on Wednesday, the day after an upgrade by Standard & Poor’s to BBB (stable), and two days after a parallel raise by Moody’s.

A number of top tier South African banks are expected to hit the loan market in the coming months, and bankers are welcoming what are some of the most attractive credits on the continent. But the country faces a number of dilemmas, which threaten to thump its credit ratings, writes Mariam Meskin.

An equity capital markets banker at Rand Merchant Bank has left the bank to study for an MBA at Insead.

Steinhoff’s multi-billion euro equivalent debt restructuring saga took another step forward this week, with the company receiving High Court approval to press on with a scheme of arrangement related to its US subsidiary Mattress Firm.