The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) ticked down to 47.7 index points in November from 48.1 in October. The decline was broad-based as four of the five subcomponents of the headline PMI nudged down when compared with the previous month. Despite the decline, the average level of the PMI in October and November is still slightly above that recorded in the third quarter.

Worryingly, business activity slumped further in November. The index fell by 6.2 points to a multi-year low of 39.4 in November. According to Stats SA, quarterly manufacturing production contracted in the third quarter of 2019. The weak readings on the business activity index seen in the fourth quarter so far argue against a strong, if any, recovery in manufacturing output.

Demand remained under pressure with the new sales orders index not being able to hold on to all of last month’s gains. Respondents saw a decline in export demand during the month. The only major subcomponent to record an improvement compared to the previous month was purchasing inventories, which picked up from a ten-year low reached in October.

Notwithstanding the increase, the index remained well below the neutral 50-point mark. The only subcomponent to come in above 50, which generally points to improving conditions, was the supplier deliveries index.

On a more positive note, respondents turned slightly less pessimistic about the near-term future. The index tracking expected business conditions in six months’ time increased to 47.4 index points in November after recording five consecutive declines. Nonetheless, despite the uptick, the latest reading means that conditions are still expected to worsen in six months’ time, albeit less so than before.

Finally, the purchasing price index fell by a further 5.7 points after a 7.7-point decline was recorded last month. The sharp declines point to a significant moderation in cost increases. Indeed, the index fell to the lowest level since early 2018.

Absa Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) says there are good business opportunities in some markets in sub-Sahara Africa outside South Africa where the bank has appetite to increase its agricultural lending book. Roux Wildenboer, Absa CIB Sector Head (Agriculture) says potential exists in countries such as Kenya, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.

He says a gradual improvement in both the regulatory environment and investment climate is good for the agricultural sector. Despite bottlenecks in accessing markets due to poor road and rail infrastructure, the agricultural sector is nevertheless key to economic development and job creation in these countries.

Wildenboer says he is particularly excited about the agricultural potential in markets such as Kenya and Tanzania. Kenya is famous for its tea and horticultural products, while Tanzania is a major producer of cashew nuts. Ghana is already the world’s top producer of cocoa, while Ivory Coast – where Absa does not have a presence – is a leading producer of cocoa and nuts.

“We want to have emphasis on larger presence countries where we already have operations, and this includes countries like Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania. But there is also potential in other markets such as Mozambique and Mauritius, even though the latter sugarcane industry has been suffering, particularly with increasing health awareness where the soft drinks industry and consumers are substituting sugar with other sweeteners which impacts on the sugar industry,” Wildenboer says. “Uganda is another market we want to grow as it is a country with opportunities we can capitalise on.”

Wildenboer says because agriculture still remains a predominantly labour intensive industry in many African countries where mechanisation is yet to be developed, it can provide employment opportunities for young people.

“Agriculture in Africa is by its nature labour intensive. Wherever we engage and assist with finance, the developmental spin offs is significant in terms of employment creation. For example, a viable poultry production business can have a medium size abattoir, delivering say a million chickens a week, can create between 300 and 400 jobs”.

“There is a counter that farmers will over time use technology in order to be competitive but even then, agriculture still has a large potential to create employment, as well as in all downstream businesses such as transporters, retail, parts suppliers and agents. But there is also a multiplier effect we see in agriculture and Absa wants to be at the forefront of this positive impact,” Wildenboer says.

He adds that governments can play a role by ensuring market and regulatory certainty as well as further investments in infrastructure. “The freer the market is the better, as free markets stimulate competition, technology and efficiencies. For small and medium scale producers, governments can assist by implementing sound policies to ensure the growth of sustainable businesses,” Wildenboer concludes.

• Barclays Bank of Uganda Limited renamed as Absa Bank Uganda Limited
• Barclays Bank Moçambique renamed as Absa Bank Moçambique, SA
• Subsidiaries in other countries remain Barclays; to be rebranded before mid-2020

Absa Group Limited subsidiaries Barclays Bank of Uganda Limited and Barclays Bank Moçambique were renamed Absa Bank Uganda Limited and Absa Bank Moçambique, SA, respectively, today, signalling significant progress in the group’s continent-wide rebranding programme.

The rebranding of the Ugandan and Moçambican subsidiaries also marks another substantial milestone in Absa’s separation from Barclays Plc, a process that is scheduled for completion by mid-2020.

The group-wide rebranding programme, one of the largest corporate rebranding projects in Africa currently, started with the launch of a refreshed visual identity in South Africa in July 2018 to reflect the group’s new identity as a standalone African bank.

“Today, we as Absa Group re-affirm our commitment to growth and economic development across the continent. We have a long and respected history in Uganda and Moçambique, which will serve us well for the future,” said Peter Matlare, Absa Group Limited Deputy CEO and Chief Executive of Absa Regional Operations. “By adopting the Absa name, we are leveraging our rich African heritage to drive relevant initiatives that can further unlock potential and support accelerated growth,” he said.

The rebranding programme will further unite Absa’s operations in 12 African countries behind a single identity, purpose and strategy. Absa Group’s Barclays-branded subsidiaries in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania and Zambia will be rebranded by mid-2020.

• United States Federal Reserve Board and New York State Department of Financial Services have approved Absa Bank Ltd application to open a Representative office in New York
• Absa expects the office to be operational and performing regulated activities before the end of the year
• Absa has already opened a London representative office in September 2018

Absa Bank Limited has received regulatory approval from both the United States Federal Reserve Board and New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS), the New York State regulator, to open a representative office in New York. The office is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

Charles Russon, Chief Executive of Absa Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), notes that the opening of the Absa Bank Limited representative office is critical to the CIB strategy to be closer to its corporate and institutional clients who invest in Africa.

“This is a significant milestone in our growth strategy. Our representative office in New York will enable us to be a globally scalable business by bolstering relationships and driving more connectivity with our global clients through Absa Bank’s independent presence in the US following our separation from Barclays,” Russon says.

James Gregory, Chief Representative for Absa Bank Limited New York, adds: “Through this office, we will be able to directly market our banking services and products to corporate and institutional clients at their HQ decision making locations. We are particularly pleased, as this is progress in our journey to become a leading pan-African CIB franchise with strong international expertise and connectivity.”

Absa has already opened a representative office in London, and will explore other locations for representative offices where the client franchise determines a need.

“Absa wants to be a key enabler of Africa’s success through these representative offices and through this and other initiatives such as the strategic MOU we announced early this year with Societe Generale, we are able to support our clients’ ambitions” Russon says.

Absa has today confirmed its sale of the Edcon store card debtors’ book to RCS Group, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas Personal Finance, subject to regulatory approvals. The transaction includes the sale of Edcon’s store card debtors’ books in both South Africa and Namibia.

“The sale is positive for Absa as it will free up capital and management time to focus on executing against the strategy that Absa announced last year,” said Arrie Rautenbach, CEO, Retail and Business Bank, Absa. “In terms of the strategy, our priority is to regain our leadership in core areas,” he said.

South Africa has for the third year running, claimed top position among 20 African countries ranked by the Absa Africa Financial Markets Index in terms of financial markets development. This is mainly because of its sizeable lead in market depth and deep market liquidity supported by strong domestic investors.

The country was also ranked top in access to foreign exchange, market transparency, tax and regulatory environment and capacity of local investors. It however came second to Egypt on macro-economic opportunity and third on legality and enforceability of standard financial markets master agreements after Mauritius and Kenya, respectively.

The index, now in its third year, assesses progress and potential across six key pillars and was produced by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF), an independent research think tank for central banking, economic policy and public investment.

The countries were ranked based on the following pillars:

Pillar 1
Market Depth: Examines size, liquidity and diversity of products in markets, as well as countries’ efforts to merge exchanges and launch new markets.

Pillar 2
Access to foreign exchange:  Looks at factors that impact markets’ accessibility to international investors, including the severity of capital controls, exchange rate reporting standards and levels of foreign exchange liquidity.

Pillar 3
Market transparency, tax and regulatory environment: Assesses countries’ regulatory and tax environments for financial markets, as well as transparency and enforcement of accounting rules.

Pillar 4
Capacity of local investors: Examines the size of local investors, assessing the level of local demand against supply of assets available in each market.

Pillar 5
Macro-economic opportunity: Evaluates economic performance, financial risks and financial transparency, demonstrated by availability of data, open monetary policy communication and the timely release of state budgets.

Pillar 6
Legality and enforceability of standard financial markets master agreements: Measures how well countries have adopted internationally accepted legal standards, the enforcement of netting and collateral positions, and insolvency regime adequacy.

The head of global markets for Absa regional operations, George Asante says South Africa’s top ranking across four pillars is not surprising given the development and sophistication of its financial markets. However, other countries ranked in the index are fast catching up due to ongoing regulatory and policy reforms in those markets, which Asante partly attributes to the impact the index is having.

“South Africa tops the index largely due to its sizeable lead in market depth. While it is likely to remain an outlier in this pillar, the creation of new bourses and key mergers between existing ones will improve the standing of other countries in coming years,” Asante says.

South Africa’s high position on access to foreign exchange after having been overtaken by Kenya in the previous edition of this index was as a result of high interbank foreign exchange turnover, regular exchange rate reporting and a favourable reserve level relative to net portfolio flows.

In the market transparency, tax and regulatory environment pillar, South Africa’s scored highest on its tax environment for financial markets which plays a crucial role in offering investors incentives to invest in financial products. “They provide transparency, which is vital for fostering investor confidence,” Asante says.

South Africa beat other countries on the fourth pillar of capacity of local investors because of its deep and liquid capital markets which offer local pension funds many investment options.  “Its pension funds are also large relative to the capitalisation of assets listed on the Johannesburg stock market, which means they contribute to its liquidity and development, as well as benefitting from it,” Asante says.

Commenting on the overall findings, Asante says the impact of the index is demonstrated by the progress financial regulatory authorities are making to further reform their financial markets across African markets.

“There has been a concerted effort among African policy-makers to react to the findings. This can be seen in the vast improvements in Pillar 6, ‘legality and enforceability of standard financial markets master agreements’, where countries have responded to past findings in order to align with best practice. The index is therefore becoming a powerful barometer for policy-makers and playing a role in building an Africa which is able to fund itself,” he says.

Peter Matlare, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Absa Group, meanwhile says the deepening and widening of financial markets are crucial steps towards national economic self-sufficiency in Africa.

“To reach the next level of growth, Africa requires a collective commitment to ensuring the transnational cross-pollination of ideas. This index suggests we are making headway. The continent’s challenges are clearly visible and its countries are crafting actionable solutions,” Matlare says.

He says Absa is committed to furthering the development and prosperity of the continent and its people. The bank believes the insights in the index will inspire active engagement among policy-makers and market participants, resulting in measurable actions that foster inclusive growth and sustainable development which benefits the people of Africa.

We have partnered with the Maharishi Institute (MI) to set up the Absa Cybersecurity Academy to address a skills shortage. The programme is an externally focused, corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at empowering marginalised South African youth, who would otherwise not have had access to a tertiary education. The learners who participate will become certified cybersecurity analysts.

South African youth from marginalised backgrounds are hungry for opportunities to develop skills that will result in employment. They are often unable to access tertiary education due to financial circumstances and without education their future is bleak and the cycle of poverty continues.

Given the enormous need for skilled cybersecurity professionals locally and globally, we saw the opportunity to truly make a difference. The youth aged 15-24 years are the most vulnerable in the South African labour market. Statistics SA reported that the unemployment rate among this age group was 55% in the first quarter of 2019, while Cyber Ventures estimates that the global shortfall of cybersecurity jobs will rise to 3.5 million by 2021.

It is a challenge partially rooted in the socio-economic environment, the growing void between youth skills, employer needs and because the South African education system is failing to train the next generation for the digital economy.

Unlocking hidden talents that will make the African continent the hub of cybersecurity talent; we have the people, we just need to help them rewrite their futures.

View our YouTube video for more on our CyberSecurity

Absa Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) was recently appointed by Bayport Management Ltd (Bayport) to be the joint book runner in the first ever USD social bond to be issued by a corporate in Africa.

The US$260 million senior unsecured social bond, which is due in 2022, was heavily oversubscribed, reflecting investors’ recognition of the positive social impact of Bayport’s services on the markets in which the group operates. The bond has since been listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm Sustainable Bond List.

Social bonds are instruments whose proceeds exclusively finance or re-finance projects that deliver a wider social impact. In Bayport’s case this includes job creation through small and medium-sized enterprises financing, as well as financial inclusion.

Absa’s participation in the Bayport social bond is aligned to the bank’s strategy to be a force for good in society, which focuses on providing finance and assisting clients to achieve sustainable economic growth in the markets it operates, says David Renwick, Head of Investment Banking at CIB.

“There is a definite trend from global investors to invest in more socially responsible projects and companies because they want to see their funds are being invested in responsible activities. Green bonds were the first type of socially responsible investing instruments and have been around for at least a decade. In Africa, green bonds have been issued in countries such as South Africa and Nigeria,” says Renwick.

“But social bonds are newer, and while there have been a few such bonds issued in the past, the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) published its Social Bond Guidelines in 2018 to provide a disclosure framework meant to promote integrity in the development of the market by clarifying the approach for issuing a social bond,” he says.

Renwick says Bayport chose Absa because of the long-term relationship the company has with the bank. “Because they wanted to issue in the international market, it was critical for them to partner with a bank that understands their business and risk profile. It therefore became a natural choice to appoint Absa as the only African bank on this transaction,” says Renwick.

He adds: “Absa is ready to assist other corporates interested in issuing social bonds because we have both the expertise and access to institutional investors and other global financial institutions with an appetite for these instruments.”

Bayport Capital Markets Executive, David Rajak, says the successful USD corporate social bond issue affirms that social relevance underpins Bayport’s business, and that the market recognises it.

“This, together with the group’s sustained robust financial performance, has helped drive a significantly broader base of investors compared to Bayport’s six previous bonds issues in the international capital markets. One of Bayport’s core values is to enable economic and self-empowerment by giving access to life-changing financial solutions, which is what we will do with the capital raised through the social bond”.

Rajak adds that “the social rating is an affirmation of Bayport’s customer-centric business model. “While our funding partners have long been aware of this, it is great to have it independently acknowledged as well. The social rating cements our commitment to be a socially responsible and relevant credit provider, and to lead market innovation in our industry.”

Bayport’s Botswana operation was the first credit provider in Africa and first payroll lender in the world to achieve Client Protection Certification by The Smart Campaign.

Absa Bank Limited (“Absa”) acted as Joint Global Coordinator, Bookrunner, Mandated Lead Arranger and Facility Agent on the refinance and upsize of Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited’s (“Harmony”) existing U$350m term loan and revolving credit facility with a new 3+1 year U$400m term loan and revolving credit facility (the “Facility”).

The syndication of the Facility was oversubscribed, confirming the confidence of the participating banks in the credit quality of Harmony, their mining assets and the strength of their balance sheet.

Absa’s support for the deal reaffirms its status as a leading funder of projects in the mining sector in South Africa and the rest of Africa. According to Tawanda Madondo (Senior Coverage Banker Natural Resources – CIB ) Absa’s understanding of the global gold industry and in depth knowledge of Harmony led to the successful syndication the Facility.

Harmony has expanded from being the third largest gold mining company in South Africa to the largest, in part due to organic growth and acquisitions – some of which Absa has supported.

“The success of the deal means local and international banks have strong credit appetite for successful South African companies like Harmony ” says Andrew Sprenger (SA DebtTransactor – CIB). “We were able to lead deal roadshows in Johannesburg and London to ensure the oversubscription of the Facility – and in the process, reconfirmed Absa’s credentials as a leading debt financing franchise in the market and a core relationship bank to Harmony”.

Harmony intends using the Facility to grow existing operations and grow its asset base in South Africa, Papua New Guinea and the rest of Africa. Herman Perry (CFO – Treasury) from Harmony commented that, “Absa played a key role in the successful conclusion of the Facility – both from a Lender, Bookrunner and Global Co-ordinator perspective. We are pleased to partner with Absa on our growth journey”.

Absa Group Limited today became one of the Founding Signatories of the Principles for Responsible Banking, committing to strategically align its business with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

By signing the Principles for Responsible Banking, Absa joins a coalition of 130 banks worldwide, representing over USD 47 trillion in assets, in committing to taking on a crucial role in helping to achieve a sustainable future.

Taking place at the start of the UN General Assembly, the official launch of the Principles for Responsible Banking marked the beginning of the most significant partnership to date between the global banking industry and the UN. “The UN Principles for Responsible Banking are a guide for the global banking industry to respond to, drive and benefit from a sustainable development economy.

The Principles create the accountability that can realize responsibility, and the ambition that can drive action.” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the launch event, attended by the 130 Founding Signatories and over 45 of their CEOs.

As expressed in the Principles for Responsible Banking, Absa is convinced that “only in an inclusive society founded on human dignity, equality and the sustainable use of natural resources can our clients, customers and businesses thrive”.

By signing up to the Principles, we commit to “using our products, services and relationships to support and accelerate the fundamental changes in our economies and lifestyles necessary to achieve shared prosperity for both current and future generations”.

“A banking industry that plans for the risks associated with climate change and other environmental challenges can not only drive the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies, it can benefit from it,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “When the financial system shifts its capital away from resource-hungry, brown investments to those that back nature as solution, everybody wins in the long-term.”

The Principles for Responsible Banking are supported by a strong implementation and accountability framework. By signing them, Absa commits to being transparent on both our positive and negative impact on people and planet. Absa will focus where it has the greatest impact – in its core business – and set, publish and implement ambitious targets to scale up positive and address any negative impacts in line with global and local goals.

“We are very proud to be one of the first African banks to commit to the UNEP FI Principles for Responsible Banking,” said René van Wyk, CEO of Absa Group.

“We continue to include sustainability practices into our business, meeting a number of notable milestones in our pursuit of long-term value creation for clients, shareholders, and society as a whole.

“We acknowledge the social and environmental dilemmas facing our continent and our ability to responsibly influence all aspects of sustainability: economic, social, as well as environmental. With our declaration to the Principles for Responsible Banking, we affirm and express our willingness to assume an active leadership role in bringing about sustainable changes in Africa,” van Wyk said.

The Principles for Responsible Banking will provide Absa with an effective framework to systematically identify and seize new business opportunities created by the emerging sustainable development economy, while at the same time enabling the bank to effectively identify and address related risks.