Deals benefit local communities

[SBGroup]

Investment banking is often perceived as being all about deals, fees and handshakes. Few consider the tangible economic benefits the industry creates for people on the ground as an essential driver of growth and prosperity. Nowhere is this truer than in Africa.

Investment banking is corporate finance advisory, debt primary markets, equity capital markets, leverage, acquisition and project finance, which are all critical functions of any market economy.

While much of the abovementioned activity may appear to be far removed from the everyday realities of Africa’s people, it is in fact linked to the economic future of the continent. The ability of financial services companies like Standard Bank Group to fund strategically important projects such as power plants, railways, roads and dams, can all result in real change for the lives of Africans living in both urban and rural areas.

The Banker recently acknowledged Standard Bank Group as the Most Innovative Investment Bank from Africa in their 2015 Investment Banking Awards. Standard Bank Group was also named EMEA Finance Best Investment Bank in Africa for 2015.

Some of the Standard Bank Group deals recognised for these awards include:

• Joint financial and debt advisor, bookrunner and underwriter to Woolworths Holdings Limited on the rights issue, as well as lead debt provider and transaction sponsor on the David Jones Limited transaction and funding package
• One of the biggest transactional deals to boost marine diamond mining in Namibia that included USD150m financing to finance a new diamond exploration and a sampling vessel for Debmarine Namibia
• Complex cross border transaction structured to meet USA funding, South Africa funding and USA regulatory requirements for Oceana Group Limited’s ZAR4.6bn acquisition of Daybrook Fisheries Inc (USA)
• Sole corporate finance Advisor to Brait SE on the ZAR12.2bn acquisition of 80% interest in Virgin Active Group from CVC Capital Partners and the Virgin Group.

These deals highlight our focus on placing sector expertise at the heart of every client engagement, while harnessing our extensive footprint across the continent to capitalise on the business opportunities in Africa.

At Standard Bank Group our vision is to continually invest in companies across Africa because we know that their success can pave the way for positive growth and success of an entire country, and in turn eventually, the entire continent.

Read more about our investment banking services at standardbank.com/cib.

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