Barclays is passionate about helping young women to take their place at the forefront of business.

Barclays is passionate about helping young women to take their place at the forefront of business. In partnership with lnvestSoc, Barclays will be hosting the Pioneering Young Women’s conference; a three-day interactive workshop from 6-8 July 2015 where young women will learn from the pioneers who’ve made a difference.

The theme of the event is – Aim High. Prosper, and will provide incredible content within the following sub-themes:

Day 1- Opening Day – Discovering the leader within me

You will embark on a facilitated journey of self-exploration that seeks to identify your leadership style. The Strengthsfinder activity will help you identify your strengths and how best to utilise them in developing yourself as a leader. Exercises and introspection will help you unpack “who am I”, “How do I show up”, “how do I brand myself”, and “what can I offer”. This journey starts with discovering your unique passions, strengths and vision for the future.

Day 2- Showing up as a leader

On this day, you will be invited to explore, create and develop your personal brand and values whilst remaining cognisant of your impact when interacting with others. A PVP is a personal manifesto that should tell those you come into contact with, who you are and what you stand for. This day will provide you with exposure to individuals who have been successful in creating PVP’s that are synonymous with excellence.

On this day you will be given the opportunity to gain deeper insights into the world of Barclays as you engage with some of our business leaders and alumni. You will also be given an opportunity to practise your networking skills with the BAGL Graduate community, and draw on their experiences as newbies’ in the world of work.

Day 3- Leading with a Global mind set

Global consciousness is the order of the day. We begin the day with an exuberating talk on current trends and how to be globally conscious. You will be exposed to knowledge and skills to help pursue your innovative side. This day aims to expand your practical education on the basic fundamentals required to make any venture you undertake relevant, successful and sustainable.

You will learn through the narratives of others, that success is never achieved in isolation. It is dependent on understanding the people you serve (clients), mobilising the people you work with (colleagues) and leveraging the broader role-players you are able to influence (external stakeholders and networks). This day aims to inspire you as our next generation, to take charge and own your role as pioneers to continuously Aim high and Prosper.

How do you get involved?

Applications run every year during April – May, for this year’s event applications are already closed, but you can follow the conversation via social media using #PYW2015

The seasonally adjusted Barclays Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) remained unchanged at 51.4 index points in July. The flat reading follows a strong gain (albeit from very depressed levels) in May and a further rise in June.

The major subcategories of the PMI put in a mixed performance during July. On a positive note, the seasonally adjusted business activity and inventories indices posted further gains. At 53.2 index points, the business activity index reached the best level since January 2015.

Of the key PMI subcomponents, the inventories index recorded the biggest gain in July. The index rose by 3.4 points to 60.2. There was also some good news on the input cost front. The PMI price index declined by 2.1 points to 75. The easing in cost pressures may already reflect the impact of lower commodity prices, including the renewed decline in the Brent crude oil price.

Not all good news

Unfortunately, it was not all good news. The new sales orders index declined by 1.9 index points and fell back below the 50 threshold. This may provide further evidence of the general demand weakness in the domestic economy. The employment index remained stuck well below the 50 level. The index lost almost 2 points to 46.9.

Somewhat surprisingly, purchasing managers remained optimistic about the future. The index measuring expected business conditions in six months gained 1.2 points to 63.2. It could be that the sustained weakening trend of the rand exchange rate and improved news flow on the Greek debt crisis buoyed sentiment.

The PMI leading indicator is not nearly as upbeat. The indicator looks at the ratio between new sales orders and inventors. A number above 1 suggests that demand is outstripping the level of inventories and below 1 vice versa. The leading indicator declined further to 0.8 in July, which does not bode well for manufacturing production going forward.

Barclays is proud to announce a new partnership with the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University in support of South Africa’s monthly manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), a leading economic indicator. Barclays will commence sponsorship of the PMI from 01 August 2015.

The index, now known as the Barclays Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), is an established and important indicator of business conditions in South Africa. The index was previously known as the Kagiso PMI.

“The PMI is a reliable leading indicator for actual South African manufacturing production as well as trends in the broader economy,” says Jeff Gable, head of Africa non-equity research at Barclays Africa.

Barclays’ support for the index is in recognition of the importance of the manufacturing sector, which contributed 13.9% to South Africa’s gross domestic product last year. It is also in recognition of the importance of the PMI in monitoring the health of the sector.

“The survey has sound academic foundations and is compiled on a monthly basis by the BER in association with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Southern Africa (CIPS). Since its inception in 1999, the manufacturing PMI has become one of the key releases on the monthly data calendar and is used by business people, analysts and policy makers”, says Prof Ben Smit, director of the Bureau for Economic Research.

Released on the first working day of every month, the index is compiled based on a survey of purchasing managers in the manufacturing sector. The survey gauges monthly changes in business conditions including production, sales orders and employment, among other factors.

Lusaka- Barclays Bank Zambia Plc has announced its recent winning of three awards during the just ended Copperbelt Mining, Agriculture and Commercial Show that was held in Kitwe.

The Bank won awards in the following categories: ‘Best Overall Exhibitor Award’ – a prize that was presented by Republican President H.E Edgar C. Lungu; ‘Best Exibition award’ – Financial Institutions and Runner up for ‘Best interpretation of the theme’ award.

The winning of these awards bears testimony of Barclays Bank Zambia’s commitment to supporting customers in key economic sectors such as Mining and Agriculture, providing its customers with innovative world-class banking services as well as supporting sustainable development of communities across the country.

Value banking services

“We are delighted to win these awards which reflect the considerable steps we have taken in supporting our customers who operate in the key sectors of the economy such as Mining and Agriculture. Our strategy of bringing value banking services to our customers through the introduction of innovative products and services that include digital banking and electronic platforms has being pivotal to how we operate in order for us to provide them access to easy banking solutions that are aligned to global trends.

The success we celebrate today would not have been possible without our customers and we would like to thank them for their continued support” said Barclays Bank Zambia Managing Director Mr Saviour Chibiya.

During the show, the Bank showcased its wide product and service offering that included: a fully functional branch with the paperless solution which makes it easier for customers to carry out transactions without filling in paperwork, the Intelligent ATM service that has cash deposit capabilities giving customers immediate value, Zambia’s first Kwacha credit card, ATM Cash Send which enables Barclays customers to send money to be withdrawn from any ATM by a customer or non-customer, Vehicle and Assets Financing service, as well as the investments that the Bank is making through Community Investment programmes through partnerships such as UNICEF, Plan

More awards

International, Grassroots Soccer and Junior Achievement that have positively impacted over 220 000 beneficiaries across the country. Mr Chibiya further said that in line with the Bank’s purpose of ‘Helping people achieve their ambitions- in the right way’ Barclays Bank Zambia is continuously reviewing the feedback received from customers in order to serve them better because by meeting their needs, the Bank is helping them to Prosper which ultimately translates into Barclays Bank Zambia playing an integral role in helping the economy to Prosper.

In addition to winning the award, Barclays Bank Zambia has this year also been recognised by PMR a South African Based independent research organisation for the ‘Best Business Banking’ and ‘Best Personal Banking’ awards.

EMEA Finance recognises Barclays with the Best M&A Deal in Africa, Best Privatisation M&A Deal, and Best Syndicated Loan in Africa and EMEA awards

Barclays Africa Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) has been named the Best M&A House in Africa (and EMEA) as well as the Best Bond House in Africa at the 2014 EMEA Finance Achievement Awards. The awards ceremony is due to be held in London in June 2015.

The EMEA Finance Achievement Awards panel reviews the performance of regional economies and banking systems while analysing submissions on landmark capital-markets deals from sovereigns and companies. Through this rigorous process the panel selects the best-performing financial services players in various categories.

In addition to the top Best M&A House in Africa (and EMEA) and Best Bond House in Africa awards, Barclays Africa CIB took first place for:

• Best M&A Deal in Africa: Steinhoff buys Pepkor
• Best Supranational borrower: African Development Bank
• Best Privatisation M&A Deal: Skye Bank buys Mainstreet Bank
• Best Sterling bond: African Development Bank’s £250mn issuance
• Best Syndicated Loan in Africa: First Quantum Minerals’ US$3bn loan
• Best Syndicated Loan in EMEA: INT/IHS’s US$800mn loan
• Best Sovereign Bond in EMEA: Kenya’s US$2bn issuance
• Best Corporate Bond in Africa: OCP’s US$1.55bn issuance
• Best Rand Bond: Old Mutual Life Assurance Company’s ZAR1bn issuance
• Best Covered Bond: Raiffeisen CZ’s €500mn issuance
• Best Convertible Bond in Africa: Steinhoff’s €465mn issuance
• Best Securitisation deal in Africa: Nqaba Finance’s ZAR382mn notes

“Barclays Africa is proud of the work we have done across a wide range of M&A transactions in 2014. We have helped our clients in various sectors to secure new business opportunities and raise the necessary capital to optimise their operations,” said Philip Lindop, Head of Banking at Barclays Africa CIB. “As an organisation, Barclays Africa is striving to be the Go-To bank in Africa. This recognition highlights that our clients are increasingly turning to us to partner with them in finding the best possible solution for their business and for Africa.”

Barclays Africa’s work across eight deals in Africa in 2014 secured its position as the Best M&A House in Africa. One of the projects considered for this award was Barclays’ mandate as the sole sell side advisor to the investor group led by Helios Investment Partners on the sale of 100% of Continental Outdoor Media to JCDecaux and Royal Bafokeng Holdings.

Exclusive financial advisor

In the mining sector, Barclays acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Norilsk Nickel on the disposal of its African assets comprising of nickel and chrome mines in South Africa and Botswana to a Botswana government owned mining company for a cash consideration of US$337 million.

Barclays Africa helped Steinhoff International Holdings Limited as the Joint Bookrunner and Sole Transaction Sponsor in its ABB and Rights Issue, resulting in the Best M&A Deal of the year award. The innovative financing structure that was implemented helped to create the largest ever primary equity capital raise in the South African market.

The offering is the second largest ever equity capital raising event from a South African issuer and the largest equity offering in Africa in 2014. Both the ABB and the Rights Issue were heavily oversubscribed, helping ensure that the best possible pricing could be achieved on both tranches and also helping support a positive aftermarket.

Largest sale of an African bank

Barclays Africa’s work as the joint financial advisor to the state-owned Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria on its disposal of 100% shareholding in Mainstreet Bank to Skye Bank for approximately US$767 million secured its leading position for the Best Privatisation M&A Deal Award. This was the largest sale of an African Bank in 2014.

A US$3 billion underwriting of First Quantum Minerals Limited’s syndicated Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facilities to refinance existing facilities, finance general corporate purposes, capital expenditure and working capital requirements, secured the Best Syndicated Loan in Africa Award. The Barclays Africa team also took home the Best Syndicated Loan in EMEA Award for its debt funding to assist IHS Nigeria acquire MTN Nigeria’s telecommunication tower portfolio of 9,150 towers located in Nigeria.

Philip Lindop concludes, “Barclays Africa has won a number of awards from EMEA Finance over the years. We are grateful for the ongoing recognition from the judging panel and for our clients’ confidence in us supporting them in achieving their ambitions.”

In a world that is slowly and surely being taken over by technology, we have to ask ourselves: ‘do the intricacies of what makes us human still matter’? It was this thought that became the driving force behind the creative campaign for the 2015 Barclays L’Atelier art competition.

On the 3rd of February 2015, major role-players in the South African art industry, members of the media and selected VIPs were invited – by none other than Stephan Welz, one of South Africa’s leading art experts – to be a part of history by witnessing the unveiling of a revolutionary piece of technology that would forever change the world of art.

Unique algorithm

Stephan Welz, together with the lead engineer and head technician involved in the development of this technology, officially unveiled ANÝ – a revolutionary machine that, at the touch of a button, could produce a piece of art in a matter of minutes. The engineers demonstrated how ANÝ tapped into a subject’s thoughts, feelings and emotions and, using a unique algorithm, translated these into style, technique and ultimately medium before producing a thought-provoking and intriguing piece of art.

As you can imagine, this rather upset the audience as they began to understand what this machine would mean for the world of artists; that ultimately, with ANÝ in existence, artists could become redundant. The prospect of ANÝ being mass-produced seemed possible and this realisation had outraged some of those present. Just before chaos erupted, Mr Welz calmly put everything into perspective.

Art needs people

He explained how this had all been a ruse, an elaborate stunt that hit home with an extremely poignant message: in our ever-changing world, the concept that technology can replace almost everything is not too far-fetched. This idea was to be the inspiration for the creative message for the 2015 Barclays L’Atelier art competition: art doesn’t need technology to survive. Art needs people. Art needs artists. Art needs you.

“The campaign reminds us how fundamentally important being human is to art,” says Dr. Paul Bayliss, Absa Art and Museum Curator. “Yes, machines can do almost everything, but the creative process relies on something that can never be replicated by technology: being human. Art is emotive, it is intuitive and its soul is intrinsically connected to the soul of its human creator. The L’Atelier art competition campaign this year is themed ‘Art Needs You’. We hope that this message will resonate with young visual artists who are passionate about their role in creating evocative works of art.”

A Risky Idea

“The campaign thought originated from our insight that art and the creation of art is intrinsically linked to our human emotions, intuition, passion and creative expression,” says Dana Cullinan, Creative Director at The Jupiter Drawing Room.

“In a world that is being constantly driven by technology, we wanted to create a campaign that would make artists feel a bit unnerved, yet inspired by the future of art and its survival. Although super-fictitious in its approach, we hope we are by no means predicting the future of art. The ‘Art Needs You’ campaign has the power to create self-belief in oneself as an artist and what an individual can create. This machine we have created will evoke a sense of perspective for the modern artist.”

Campaign Rationale

The campaign has three key objectives: to increase awareness of the competition in South Africa and Africa; to increase entries throughout South Africa and, for the first time, throughout Botswana, Zambia, Kenya and Ghana. Importantly, the campaign also commemorates the important 30th anniversary of the Barclays L’Atelier art competition.

The campaign was brought to life in two phases. The first was the event and it had two primary goals: to land the campaign message, “Art Needs You”, as well as to inspire the media and guests to spread this message and help uncover top young talent in the visual arts.

The second phase of the campaign is the call-to-entry. This phase consists of print, radio and digital media and will further entrench the message that art cannot exist without artists.

Name of the Machine

“We wanted to give the machine a very personal name, such as ‘Sophie’ or ‘Tim’, as we felt it would give the machine more personality and therefore make it more credible. Drawing on our campaign message, ‘Art Needs You’ we used the ‘A’ the ‘N’ and the ‘Y’ to create ANÝ. We then decided to pronounce it Annie, because she was ‘produced’ by a French engineer,” says Cullinan.

Summary

“It is fitting that this year we have adopted a ‘why not?’ approach. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the L’Atelier art competition. The world was never imagined from a technological perspective back then, thirty years ago,” concluded Cullinan.

The Creation of Art

Entries for the Barclays L’Atelier art competition are now open. This is also the first year that the competition will spread its roots beyond South Africa as we invite young artists from Botswana, Zambia, Ghana and Kenya to enter.

All young artists, self-taught or professionally trained, aged 21 to 35, who are residents and/ or citizens of these countries, are eligible to enter. Entry forms are located on the lateliercompetition.com website, and can be submitted until 6 March 2015.

Salient features

• Diluted headline earnings per share (HEPS) increased 10% to 1 537,5 cents.
• Declared a total dividend per share (DPS) of 925 cents, up 13%.
• Rest of Africa headline earnings grew 14% to R2,0 billion and South Africa rose 9% to R11,1 billion.
• Return on equity (RoE) improved to 16,7% from 15,5%.
• Pre-provision profit increased 5% to R27,3 billion.
• Revenue grew 6% to R63,1 billion, as net interest income increased 10% and non-interest income rose 2%, while operating expenses grew 7% to R35,8 billion.
• Credit impairments fell 10% to R6,3 billion, resulting in a 1,02% credit loss ratio from 1,20%.
• Barclays Africa Group Limited’s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) of 11,9% remains above regulatory requirements and our Board targets.

Barclays Africa Group Limited (‘Barclays Africa’ or ‘the Group’) has delivered solid financial results for the year ended 31 December 2014 and is on track to deliver on its strategic priorities and financial commitments. The Group today reported a 10% increase in headline earnings to R13 billion from R11,8 billion in 2013 as pre-provision profit rose 5% to R27,3 billion and credit impairments declined by 10% to R6,3 billion.

Maria Ramos, Chief Executive of Barclays Africa Group, says:

“Our strategic execution is on track and we have delivered solid growth in our headline earnings in line with expectations. Demonstrable progress has been made towards meeting our ambitious financial commitments.”

“The Group has never been in a stronger position than it is today. These results clearly show that we have built a solid foundation and that we are building the ‘Go-To’ bank in Africa. We will keep improving our business in South Africa by picking up the pace on turning around RBB while simultaneously driving growth in our Corporate Bank and WIMI franchise across the continent. There is great upside in extracting more value from our existing portfolio so this is our main priority for 2015,” adds Maria Ramos.

The Group declared a 13% higher total ordinary dividend per share of 925 cents given its strong Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) levels and internal capital generation. This further demonstrates the sustainable returns created for our shareholders, which is also reflected in the Barclays Africa share price, which has appreciated by 47.2% in the past 12 months (to end February), and the R21 billion in dividends declared over the past two years.

During the period under review, Retail and Business Banking’s (RBB) headline earnings increased 9% to R8,3 billion, due largely to lower credit impairments and a strong performance by Business Banking South Africa. Home Loans’ earnings jumped 78% to R1,8 billion as credit impairments fell 51%.

Corporate and Investment Bank’s headline earnings grew 16% to R3,9 billion led by a 24% increase in earnings growth by Corporate. Markets net revenue increased 17% on the back of strong growth in Fixed Income and Credit, Equities and Prime Services. CIB’s South African earnings grew 9% while Rest of Africa increased 38%.

Headline earnings from Wealth, Investment Management and Insurance (WIMI) decreased 3% to R1,4 billion. A decline in headline earnings from the Life Insurance business offset a modest increase in earnings from Wealth and Investment Management and the solid returns produced by Short-term Insurance and Fiduciary Services. WIMI’s headline earnings outside South Africa increased by 36%.

The Group’s earnings remain well diversified by business and product line. RBB accounted for 61% of Group headline earnings (excluding head office, eliminations and other central items) while CIB contributed 29% and WIMI 10%.

Barclays has been recognised for its innovative approach to extending financial services to village savings groups in Uganda at the Corporate Entrepreneur Awards held at the World Trade Centre in New York on Tuesday.

Run by MarketGravity, the awards recognize game changing innovation and entrepreneurship from within large companies. Barclays took top honours in the ‘Social Impact’ category which recognises corporate innovation that has had a positive social or environmental impact.

In Uganda, more than 80 percent of the population is unbanked and half of all households lack access to financial services of any kind. Financial exclusion reinforces the cycle of poverty by limiting access to healthcare, education and employment. This forces many people to keep their money in unsecure places, increasing the risk of loss or theft.

Barclays, Grameen Foundation and CARE International UK launched two mobile applications to help families in Uganda gain better access to financial services; helping them in turn to increase and manage their incomes. In the pilot to date, Barclays Uganda has linked 270 savings groups, providing over 9,000 individuals with access to financial services, representing a portfolio of over $400,000 in savings.

Corporate Entrepreneur Awards judges said that the project “ties closely into top-line growth for Barclays whilst addressing a fundamental issue in Africa.”

On receiving the award, Mark Thain, Barclays, said “It’s a sobering fact that more than half of the world’s working adults are excluded from financial services. Providing the unbanked with basic financial services access through mobile technology enables them to plan and invest for the future, save money securely and protect themselves against unforeseen events.”

For more information on the award, please visit:

• http://marketgravity.com/blog-item/2014-corporate-entrepreneur-award-winners

The Corporate and Investment Banking division of Barclays Africa Group Limited (Barclays Africa) acted as the sell-side advisor to the state-owned Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in the sale of Mainstreet Bank to Skye Bank. The deal is the largest acquisition of an African bank in 2014.

“This is a landmark achievement for AMCON and the Nigerian banking industry,” said Stephen van Coller, Chief Executive of Corporate and Investment Banking at Barclays Africa. “Barclays Africa is pleased to have helped AMCON realise its ambitions, and we remain committed to expanding African financial markets and to delivering world-class financial services across the continent.”

AMCON was established in 2010 to efficiently resolve the non-performing loan assets of the banks in Nigeria, acquire distressed Nigerian banks and stabilise the industry after the Nigerian debt crisis. AMCON separated the toxic assets of the affected banks and injected capital into the businesses in order to restore them to profitability. As part of this process, AMCON took over the assets of three banks that were considered particularly distressed and housed their revitalised assets in three new banking entities, namely Mainstreet Bank, Keystone Bank and Enterprise Bank.

Mainstreet Bank created

Mainstreet Bank was created to house the assets and some liabilities of the defunct Afribank Plc and establish a viable enterprise. The restructure included staff-reorientation, recruitment of new staff, branch modernisation, and migration to an upgraded core banking software package.

The revitalised bank currently services approximately 1.9m customers in Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking and Treasury through a distribution network of 201 branches, nine cash centres and 200 ATMs.

Barclays Africa acted as joint sell-side advisor in partnership with Afrinvest West Africa, a Nigerian firm involved in investment banking, securities trading, asset management and investment research in West Africa.

Only global advisor

“As the only global advisor involved in the transaction, Barclays Africa, in enabling AMCON’s vision, was able to draw on its resources and pull together a bespoke team to provide international best practice in concert with deep local expertise,” added van Coller.

The Barclays team advising on the sale of Mainstreet Bank comprised professionals from the global financial institutions team as well as Lagos and Johannesburg based corporate finance and M&A teams.

In conjunction with the global Barclays team and industry coverage bankers, Barclays Africa provides strategic advisory services on acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, leveraged buyouts, takeover defence, special committee assignments and exclusive sales across the continent. Barclays Africa’s track record of delivering strategic advisory services in Africa was recently recognised when the bank was named the ‘Best Investment Bank in Africa’ and ‘Best M&A House in Africa’ at the Euromoney 2014 Awards for Excellence.

Sustainable competition

“As represented by the Mainstreet Bank deal, consolidation of the banking industry in Nigeria is creating more sustainable competition in the market and repositioning the industry to meet national and global economic challenges,” added Hasnen Varawalla, Head of Corporate Finance, Barclays Africa.

The transaction is dependent upon conditions precedent and approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria.