Tag:
FirstRand
Ghost Bites
Ghost Bites (Lesaka Technologies | Motus | Purple Group | SA Corporate Real Estate | Sappi | Sibanye-Stillwater | Transpaco | Truworths | Vodacom)
Lesaka Technologies off to a good start in FY26. Sappi is suffering great pain, but at least they acknowledge it - unlike Truworths. Purple Group is charging up the J-curve. Sibanye-Stillwater is loving life, while Motus is also adapting well. Vodacom Please Call Me looks to be around R540 million. We saw deal news at Transpaco and SA Corporate Real Estate as well.
Ghost Bites
Ghost Bites (AB InBev | Adcorp | Datatec | Dis-Chem | Fairvest | Finbond | Greencoat | Optasia)
Beer volumes are still dropping at AB InBev. Dis-Chem is innovating from a position of strength. Datatec's earnings more than doubled. Great cost control is visible at Adcorp. Optasia's IPO was very successful. Fairvest is buying two malls. Greencoat needs more wind.
DealMakers
Who’s doing what this week in the South African M&A space?
Weekly summary of Merger & Acquisition activity by South African companies
Ghost Bites
Ghost Bites (Astoria | FirstRand | iOCO | Pick n Pay)
Pick n Pay's losses remain stubbornly high, with reasons for investors to be concerned about this turnaround. iOCO is doing well these days and has given strong guidance. FirstRand took a 20.1% stake in Optasia. Astoria is adding its name to the list of companies that would prefer to build in private.
Ghost Bites
Ghost Bites (Alphamin | Anglo American | Ethos Capital – Optasia | FirstRand)
Optasia will be listing on the JSE, bringing us a new fintech name to consider - but to what extent will Ethos Capital exit? Anglo American's future dance partner Teck Resources has suffered a wobbly. Alphamin released much better numbers. FirstRand's fight in the UK isn't over yet.
Ghost Bites
Ghost Bites (Investec | Mustek | Safari Investments)
Safari Investments had another strong period and is looking to raise capital for growth. Investec has guided for flat earnings in the six months to September 2025. Mustek's HEPS trajectory has finally turned positive, but what will they do next for growth?
Ghost Bites
Ghost Bites (City Lodge | Discovery | FirstRand | Lesaka Technologies | Mantengu)
FirstRand remains an excellent business. The market didn't enjoy the Discovery numbers. City Lodge is showing signs of life. Lesaka Technologies is growing solidly. Mantengu announced a new acquisition.
Ghost Bites
Ghost Bites (JSE | Nedbank | Pick n Pay | Shoprite | Telkom)
Pick n Pay is showing positive momentum and Shoprite is doing extremely well, but is it slowing down? Nedbank needs SA growth to pick up. Telkom is a victim of high expectations. The JSE itself is growing earnings despite all the delistings.
