Why S&P is upbeat on PPC – Moneyweb
The cement maker’s improved liquidity position and rest of Africa earning potential impresses the ratings agency. Meyrick Barker comments. view article
Congolese factory adds to PPC's burden – Business Day
PPC’s joint venture factory in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been a big drag on group results for the year ended March 2018, making up nearly half the company’s losses. Meyrick Barker comments. view article
Basil Read forced into business rescue – Business Day
Basil Read, one of seven major construction and engineering groups that has agreed with the government to speed transformation by selling assets or mentoring black contractors, has been placed in business rescue, amid a crunch in cash-flows. Meyrick Barker comments. view article
Nampak builds base in preparation for higher African growth – Business Day
By not declaring a dividend in the six months to March 2018, Nampak is hedging its bets amid improving business confidence and higher economic growth forecasts — both for SA and the continent. Dirk van Vlaanderen comments. view article
Naked Insurance strips out underwriting profit – Business Day
Naked Insurance, a Hollard-backed start-up, has become SA’s first operative insurer to relinquish underwriting profits through a business model that co-founder Alex Thomson says solves the “conflict of interest” inherent in insurance firms. Justin Floor comments. view article
A bright light at Eskom – Financial Mail
There is a least one pocket of excellence left in the Eskom group and that is the Eskom Pension & Provident Fund. Abdul Davids comments. view article
BAT still glowing for investors – Business Day
Cigarette group has produced the goods over the years but there may be bumps ahead, writes Marc Hasenfuss. Dirk van Vlaanderen comments. view article
Munro expects big things from Liberty – Business Day
Liberty CE David Munro launched straight into a turnaround-strategy speech at Friday’s results, assuring investors the insurer had “all the ingredients for success” as it reported its second consecutive double-digit drop in full-year earnings. Justin Floor comments. view article
Not on fire, but still smoking – Business Day
From a local perspective one might argue that the strong(er) rand environment is muting market enthusiasm for British American Tobacco. Dirk van Vlaanderen comments. view article
AECI to build on solid performance – Business Day
AECI has mainly shrugged off drought and SA’s disastrous mining impasse to deliver a “more than pleasing” result for the year ended December 2017. Aslam Davids comments. view article