Observer Money

Sanlam has announced that Sanlam Life, Sanlam Personal Loans Proprietary Limited (SPL) and Tyme Bank Limited have entered into agreements which will result in the establishment of a joint venture focused on unsecured personal loans with an embedded credit life offering. The establishment of the joint venture will be subject to the fulfilment of certain suspensive conditions. SPL provides unsecured personal loans of between R5000 and R300000 to qualifying individuals on repayment terms of 12 months to six years at a fixed interest rate. The SPL loan book size was R5 billion as at 31 December 2024. Tyme Bank is…

The World Diamond Council (WDC) has welcomed the meaningful progress made towards expanding the Kimberley Process definition of conflict diamonds after a successful week of open and productive dialogue at the 2025 Intercessional in Dubai. The meeting, hosted by the UAE and current KP Chair Ahmed Bin Sulayem, marked a significant breakthrough in seeking to expand the definition of conflict diamonds after years of discussion. The current definition, established over two decades ago, primarily addresses diamonds financing rebel movements against legitimate governments. However, the evolving nature of conflicts necessitates a broader scope. The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA), representing 15…

Justicia Shipena Blue Crane Safaris Namibia CC, OLC Arandis Solar Energy Corporation, and Lizwise Investment emerged as top winners at the Development Bank of Namibia’s 2025 Good Business and Innovation Awards, held on Monday evening at the Windhoek Country Club and Resort. The event marked two decades of celebrating Namibian entrepreneurship and innovation.  Winners were recognised across three key categories: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Large Enterprises, and the DBN Innovation Award. Blue Crane Safaris Namibia CC was named winner in the SME category, with Ongula Homestead Group as first runner-up.  In the Large Enterprise category, OLC Arandis Solar Energy…

Chamwe Kaira The government is considering issuing a new Eurobond or seeking a syndicated facility in 2026. However, analysts have urged caution due to the country’s heavy exposure to US dollar- and euro-denominated debt and the ongoing volatility in global bond markets. Simonis Storm Securities warned that any new issuance should be carefully timed and backed by a clear fiscal consolidation plan. “Investor appetite will not be guaranteed, and we’ve seen risk premiums widen fast across similarly rated sovereigns,” the firm said. Namibia has increased its reliance on the domestic bond market in recent years. In the 2020/21 financial year,…

Chamwe Kaira Oryx Properties Limited has received approval from the Namibian Competition Commission to acquire 100% of Safari Investments Namibia (Proprietary) Limited. The approval, granted on 9 May, comes without any conditions. Safari Investments Namibia owns and manages the Platz am Meer Shopping Centre, a waterfront mall in Swakopmund. Oryx first issued cautionary announcements about the deal in March and May. The company said, “The transaction and purchase price remain contingent upon the fulfilment of conditions agreed upon with the sellers. Therefore, we advise unitholders to be cautious when trading their Oryx securities until we make another announcement. The deal…

Chamwe Kaira South Africa remained the largest recipient of dividend payments in 2024, according to the Foreign Investment Report by the Bank of Namibia and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). Since 2019, more than 50% of dividend payments have gone to South Africa. This reflects strong profits in the financial, insurance, wholesale, and retail trade sectors. Mauritius increased its share of dividends from 1.9% in 2019 to 28.1% in 2024, driven by better profitability in the gold industry. The United Kingdom saw a decline in its dividend share in 2024. This was mainly due to weak diamond…

Chamwe Kaira  Gecko Gold Mining plans to explore copper, zinc, gold, and precious stones in the Otjozondjupa Region. The company aims to contribute to the country's socio-economic development through mining. Mining is Namibia’s leading economic sector, accounting for about 10% of the country’s gross domestic product each year. Gecko said the prospecting and exploration activities could boost other sectors and create temporary jobs. The company also expects to generate mineral rights levies, taxes for the government, and business opportunities for local small and medium enterprises. The company sees mining as a source of trained workers and small businesses that support…

Chamwe Kaira  Liquidity pressures are becoming clear in Namibia Breweries Limited’s (NBL) balance sheet, according to an analysis by Simonis Storm Securities. Bank overdrafts have risen to just over N$230 million. Meanwhile, net debt dropped to N$403 million from N$536 million a year earlier. However, this apparent improvement hides a weaker capital structure. The net debt-to-equity ratio jumped to 64.01%, up from 34.6% the previous year, showing a decline in balance sheet strength. Working capital also shows stress. Inventories increased by 4.7%, and trade and other payables grew by 22.5%. At the same time, trade and other receivables fell by…

Chamwe Kaira  Recent developments point to positive changes in the country’s trade environment, driven by targeted reforms and capacity-building efforts to improve efficiency, market access, and competitiveness, says Almandro Jansen, an analyst with Simonis Storm. In March 2025, the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade launched the Namibian Trade Information Portal. This digital platform centralises key trade information, such as customs procedures, licensing requirements, tariff schedules, investment incentives, and trade regulations.  Jansen explained that the portal reduces red tape and makes trade processes more predictable. “It is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to engage in regional and global…