Standard Bank Archives - AfricaBusiness.com

17Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Affordable housing rental market looks increasingly attractive

The South African residential market offers an attractive opportunity in the affordable housing rental segment largely driven by low and middle income earners who do not qualify for bonds and increased demand for housing located closer to areas of economic opportunity. Gerhard Zeelie, Head Real Estate Finance (Residential) at Standard Bank South Africa, says: "Investors who select good locations, efficiently manage their assets and look after their tenants can reap good returns from affordable housing rentals. Rentals in the affordable housing rental market can typically offer returns of between 8.5% and 9% after tax, assuming conservative gearing and taking moderate capital ...

12Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Standard Bank Group leads US$550m Shoreline Natural Resources facility

Standard Bank Group, as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner, has closed a US$550,000,000 syndicated bank guarantee and bridge facilities for Shoreline Natural Resources. This is one of the largest finance deals completed in Nigeria so far in 2012. Shoreline has used the facility to acquire 45% in OML 30, an oilfield in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, from 1 November 2012. China Development Bank joined Standard Bank Group as mandated lead arranger. They were joined by lead arrangers Ecobank Nigeria and First City Monument Bank. The facility was fully underwritten by Standard Bank Group. It was signed with Shoreline on 29 June 2012, has a 12+6 month tenor and is structured as a bank ...

10Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

Standard Bank Group to scale back its international operations

Given the challenging global economic climate and evolving regulatory regime for banks, Standard Bank Group's Corporate & Investment Banking business (CIB) is continuing to right size its international operations in a responsible and deliberate manner. As part of this process, CIB will be driving higher levels of efficiency in both its front and back offices, and is planning to scale back certain product lines and geographies. These actions will be focused on CIB's geographic footprint outside Africa excluding Latin America. Says David Munro, Chief Executive, CIB: "Our strategic positioning remains strong. However we continue to seek ways to simplify our business, reduc...

10Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy

Standard Bank Group commits R9.4bn to first batch of renewable energy projects

Standard Bank Group has emerged as the leading investor in the first round of South Africa's renewable energy independent power producer (REIPP) procurement process, backing a total of 11 wind and solar projects. Standard Bank Group will provide comprehensive corporate and investment banking services to all its clients, including underwriting R9.4-billion worth of debt, providing interest and currency hedges, carbon trading credits, and corporate bonding and guarantee facilities. Standard Bank Group has also taken an equity stake in four projects. The South African government's allocation of 1,416MW for this first round of the procuremnt process has translated...

30Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

Standard Bank, Microsoft and Samsung partnership

Standard Bank South Africa, Samsung and Microsoft have partnered to give Standard Bank South Africa customers first option on Samsung's new Ativ tablets, running the brand new Microsoft Windows 8 operating system - prior to the availability of the device in the mainstream market. The announcement coincides with the worldwide launch of the highly anticipated Windows 8 operating system. Launches were held in New York and South Africa on 25 October. The Standard Bank banking app, launched earlier this year on Apple, Android and Blackberry platforms, is also South African's first banking app in the Windows 8 app store. Samsung's Windows Ativ tablets are ultra-slim, lightweight, long battery power devices, and will be available to only Standard Bank customers in South Africa fo...

30Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

Joburg and Standard Bank in new banking partnership

Standard Bank South Africa has beaten four banks in a tender bid to partner with the City of Joburg. The participating banks were subject to the same rules and requirements, in line with the prevailing legislation, the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). The City had utilised the services of one of the big four audit and consultancy firms to ensure that the process was transparent and fair to all participants. "This signifies the beginning of a new partnership with Standard Bank," says Mr. Trevor Fowler, the City Manager. "We believe the partnership with Standard Bank will support the City of Johannesburg as it rolls out the GDS 2040 Strategy , will assist the City, through commitments undertaken during the bidding presentation, on numerous aspects which are in lin...

10Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, South Africa News

‘Sh’boom’ heralds launch of major new Standard Bank TV campaign

Standard Bank has launched the next phase of its brand campaign “Moving Forward” including a major television commercial that captures key moments in world history, demonstrating progress and the positive emotion people feel when they move forward. The campaign, developed by the group’s advertising agency TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris, will flight in South Africa and other African markets where Standard Bank has a presence. The 60 second commercial follows a series of global events - from the first flight in the early 1900’s to the first democratic elections in South Africa. These moments capture significant social change and technology advances that have moved the world and humanity forward in a positive way. The famous tune “Sh’boom” by The Crew Cuts, which enjoyed nine weeks at Number...

22Jul

By AfricaBusiness.comNo Comments

African News, South Africa News

Standard Bank South Africa’s Muvo card brings cutting edge technology to bus system

The introduction of the MasterCard Muvo card in Durban will herald the beginning of the end of carrying cash for bus fare in South Africa. Commuters using People Mover and Durban Transport buses throughout Ethekwini municipality in KwaZulu-Natal province will use the card to pay their fare. The card is powered by Standard Bank South Africa and introduced through its innovation arm Beyond Payments and transport IT specialistAlmex. The card is an anonymous debit MasterCard that is coupled with the National Department of Transport's specified ticketing solution. It is also prefunded and reloadable, and can be used as a standard EMV MasterCard, as well as in a contactless environment enabled though the MasterCard PayPass™ contactless technology. The launch follows the successful...

22Jul

By AfricaBusiness.comNo Comments

African News, Algeria News, Egypt News, Ethiopia News, Mauritius News, Nigeria News, South Africa News, Zambia News

Africa to gear up for more meaningful engagement with China

The partnership with China should aim to boost Africa's overall capacity, competitiveness and trade in a way that supports African development. African nations must use the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to complement the continent's regional institutions and policy agenda. This is according to a report by Standard Bank Group economists Jeremy Stevens and Simon Freemantle ahead of the fifth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, China, that starts on 19 July 2012. Jeremy Stevens, Standard Bank Group's Beijing-based economist, says that the summit comes at a time when China is distracted by domestic economic challenges and political matters. Meanwhile Africa is now even more reliant on China, in particular Chinese demand for African commodity exports, but even ...