By adopting an innovative physical cash pooling solution Aspen Pharmacare, in partnership with BNP Paribas, has unleashed a host of improvements – from interest cost savings to simplifying the reconciliations process. Here’s how the teams achieved this joint project, which is a first of its kind in South Africa. Cash remains king, and as with […]
From political instability to FX illiquidity, investing in Africa is not without its challenges. However, with untapped markets, high growth rates and a young population with an increasing spending capacity, investment opportunities on this vibrant continent are also in abundance. So, how do European firms navigate this unfamiliar territory? Ultimately, it’s those who sow the […]
ACTSA’s primary purpose is to facilitate the exchange of information beneficial to the management of corporate treasury operations and the professional development of its members. It also provides both its members and potential members with ongoing networking opportunities, exposure to international treasury practices and a forum for the discussion of industry-specific issues. I have been […]
Unprecedented economic shifts in global markets have created uncertainty across the board, fuelling currency volatility particularly in emerging market economies. As a result African currencies tend to take the brunt the most, when compared to that of developed countries. Recently, major global central banks, such as the US Fed and ECB, have turned significantly more […]
“The world has changed” is a statement that will only surprise you if you have been oblivious to events in the last 100 years. A whistle-stop tour of development milestones shows that despite the proclamations of a certain president during his nation’s Independence Day celebrations recently, commercial and military aeroplanes didn’t exist in the latter […]
The outcome of the global financial crisis of 2008 – 2010 led regulators and central banks the world over to re-look at the way banks are regulated and governed. So what exactly has changed in the South African context? Basel III requirements The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision now imposes the following requirements: The Liquidity […]
South Africa’s major corporates seem not to have awakened yet to the fact that in a few years interbank offered rates (such as LIBOR and JIBAR) will transition to alternative reference rates. This transition will be one of the most significant transformations of interest rate benchmarks in the last 25 years, but are major corporate […]
In recent years, the role of the corporate treasury has been steadily evolving and transforming. Over the past decade, since the global financial crisis of 2008, the pace of this evolution has increased dramatically, and in the past few years, the strategic importance of the treasury function has been significantly raised as financial institutions have […]
Mergers and acquisitions offer a handy insight into the health of a business environment. Acquisitions are usually done by large corporates to meet strategic objectives, including growth and diversification. However, M&A activity in South Africa is currently experiencing headwinds owing to political and macroeconomic factors. An analysis by DealMakers South Africa shows that total deal […]
Sparks are flying across the treasury landscape in Africa as digital cash management and e-payments become the order of the day. Dushen Thathiah, Head, Cash Management for Transactional Products & Services, Standard Bank, explains why API-driven ‘integrated’ channels are on treasury leaders’ lips and outlines the cash management risks and opportunities resulting from Africa’s digital […]
The Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals set ambitious targets for transitioning to a low carbon global economy, including keeping the rise in the global temperature to well below two degrees Celsius. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates that South Africa, which is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, requires more than US$588bn between […]
Major South African banks have rather timidly started their journey towards implementing the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book (FRTB), the most significant transformation of the trading market risk framework for the last 20 years. This new capital requirement standard will have significant impacts on the cost of derivative transactions for corporate treasuries, as the […]
