Author: Loni Prinsloo

MTN Group has appointed Citigroup and Standard Bank Group to advise on a sale and leaseback of some of the carrier’s South African telecommunications towers, according to people familiar with the matter.

Prosus is investing in agritech company DeHaat in a bet on India’s $350-billion farming industry. The group led a series-C funding round of $30-million that DeHaat will use to expand.

Renergen has patented cryogenic cases that can keep vaccines at ultra-cold temperatures for 30 days, a potential way of getting some of the first coronavirus shots to be approved to remote areas.

MTN Group is looking to sell and lease back part of its portfolio of 13 000 South African towers, a sign that new CEO Ralph Mupita is looking to build on a disposal plan kicked off by his predecessor.

Prosus is on the lookout for acquisitions after the Dutch e-commerce giant reported a 28% rise in first-half earnings and a net cash position of US$4.3-billion.

Vodacom Group reinstated growth targets and said it has the financial strength to take part in a long-awaited auction of broadband spectrum in South Africa.

MultiChoice Group has expanded its repertoire with an agreement to buy a 20% stake in Africa-focused sports-betting platform BetKing for as much as R1.8-billion.

Airtel Africa plans to sell about 4 500 telecommunication towers across five countries including Tanzania and Madagascar to help reduce $3.5-billion of debt and prepare for looming bond repayments.

Liquid Telecom has raised $307-million through a rights issue to fund a rapid expansion of its data centre business across Africa.

Naspers-backed cryptocurrency platform Luno is expanding into Australia as bitcoin rallied 59% this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.