Africa

Rhodes Food Group, the South African producer of canned food and ready meals, has completed a R663m ($46m) capital increase, through an accelerated bookbuild launched on Wednesday night.

HSBC's Bryan Pascoe, former head of DCM and more recently group treasurer, has switched jobs at the bank to become global head of client coverage in its commercial banking division.

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) started signing banks to join its third syndicated loan of the year this week. African multilateral banks have raised more in syndicated loans in 2016 than in any other year, according to Dealogic.

In this round-up, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange saw surges in trading of offshore RMB (CNH) futures, BMO became the first Canadian bank to become market maker for CAD-RMB direct trading, and the country of Djibouti is launching a Silk Road Bank. Plus a recap of GlobalRMB’s top stories this week.

Caa1 rated Banque Misr is syndicating a loan with a longer than usual tenor of five years, though a guarantee from the Egyptian central bank will help drive demand, according to two bankers away from the deal.

Daily portfolio flows to emerging markets have fallen since the US election, with the seven day moving average declining to its the lowest level since August 2015, according to the Institute of International Finance.

Bayer, the German life sciences group, picked Tuesday night to launch the first part of its $19bn equity financing for its $66bn takeover of Monsanto. Bayer's deal comes as equity markets are revitalised by the new conviction that Western policy is shifting to reflation.

Shares in Dis-Chem Pharmacies, the South African retail pharmacy group, closed 16% above their offer price on their debut on Friday, after the company had raised R4.38bn ($305m) by pricing its IPO slightly above the middle of its range on Monday.

In the midst of an aggressive EM bond rout, Egypt was given a much needed boost after the International Monetary Fund approved a three year $12bn loan on Friday.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies, the South African retail pharmacy group, has tightened the price range on its Johannesburg IPO, which values it at up to R16bn ($1.1bn).

Egypt’s return to the Eurobond market could be postponed until next year after its finance ministry raised a further $2bn of funding from international banks.

In this round-up: RMB indices record a stabilisation of the currency against the trade-weighted baskets, Hong Kong RMB deposits increase nearly 2% in September, and the China cross-border interbank payment system (CIPS) expands to 400 indirect participants. Plus, a recap of our top stories this week.