Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira  Capricorn Group Limited has announced the retirement of long-serving board member Johan Swanepoel, who stepped down as an independent non-executive director on 5 November 2025.  The update was released through a notice on the Namibia Stock Exchange (NSX). Swanepoel served the group for more than 26 years, including five years as chairperson.  The board praised his “exceptional leadership and vision,” saying he helped shape Capricorn Group into one of Namibia’s most respected financial institutions. Although leaving the group board, Swanepoel will continue as chairperson of Bank Windhoek Limited, a Capricorn subsidiary, allowing the company to draw on his…

Chamwe Kaira  Curro Holdings has moved a step closer to going private after the Botswana Competition and Consumer Authority granted unconditional approval for the proposed buyout. The transaction, driven by Jannie Mouton Stigting, aims to acquire all issued Curro shares through a scheme of arrangement.  Once completed, Curro will be delisted from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). Details of the deal were first shared with shareholders on 2 October 2025 in a circular outlining the suspensive conditions required for the takeover.  While Botswana has now approved the transaction, it still awaits clearance from South Africa’s competition authorities. Curro, which jointly…

Staff Writer  Trade experts and policymakers met in Windhoek on Thursday to discuss ways to expand regional and continental market access for Namibian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).  The discussions took place during the Market Access and Trade Opportunity Evening, hosted by Standard Bank Namibia in partnership with the Namibia Investment and Finance Academy (NIFA). The event formed part of the Standard Bank Blue Growth Series, an initiative focused on SME growth, financial inclusion and sustainable entrepreneurship.  Entrepreneurs and MSMEs received insights on trade finance, logistics and practical strategies for entering new markets across borders. The head of commercial…

Staff Writer  Koryx Copper Inc. has completed its corporate move from British Columbia to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.  The continuation was carried out under section 308 of British Columbia’s Business Corporations Act, authorised by the Registrar of Companies and approved by shareholders at a special meeting on 15 October 2025.  The company will now operate as Koryx Copper S.A., pending final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange. The TSX-V has already given conditional approval for the transition. As part of the move, the company strengthened its board with two new independent directors, Cristina Lara and Tarik El Hanch.  Lara…

Chamwe Kaira  The Bank of Namibia (BoN) plans to introduce an Instant Payment Platform (IPP) in 2026 to support fast, low-cost digital payments.  BoN governor Johannes !Gawaxab said the system will help freelancers and small creative businesses access income and markets more easily.  He spoke during a discussion on “Unleashing the Power of the Creative Industry” held in Windhoek this week. The bank is also reviewing collateral rules, exploring intellectual property–based lending, and promoting innovation-friendly regulation through the Namibia Regulators Forum. !Gawaxab said Namibia’s future depends on the imagination, innovation and ingenuity of its people, not only on minerals or…

Chamwe Kaira  Revenue performance for the 2025/26 financial year has fallen below initial projections due to external and cyclical factors outside Namibia’s control, the Ministry of Finance has said. Executive director Michael Humavindu said the shortfall has slightly widened the fiscal deficit and will require additional financing for the rest of the year. He said the government remains committed to raising capital in a responsible and sustainable way to meet its obligations and support economic activity. The ministry will continue to adopt proactive, disciplined and transparent debt management practices. “The government remains committed to protecting fiscal stability while ensuring that…

Chamwe Kaira  Africa Bitcoin Corporation Limited has expanded its cryptocurrency treasury after acquiring more Bitcoin.  The company, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), said its subsidiary Africa Bitcoin Strategies bought 0.6833 Bitcoin on 7 November. The Bitcoin was purchased at an average price of N$1.77 million per coin, bringing the total transaction cost to N$1.21 million, including all fees.  The purchase was made through the VALR over-the-counter trading desk and funded from the company’s recent equity capital raise of N$4.05 million. Africa Bitcoin Corporation now holds 3.1949 Bitcoin in total, with a combined…

Staff Writer  Venture capital and private equity can drive business growth, create jobs, and support innovation, the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) said during a public discussion held in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation.  The event, titled “Investing in Potential: How Venture Capital and Private Equity Can Drive Namibia’s Economic Transformation”, brought together private sector leaders, investment professionals and civil society members. The discussion focused on how venture capital and private equity can help Namibian enterprises grow, diversify the economy and ensure strong governance and developmental impact.  Speakers highlighted that access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers…

Chamwe Kaira  The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has been referred to South Africa’s Competition Tribunal for alleged anti-competitive conduct, the bourse said this week.  The referral follows an announcement made by the Competition Commission on 9 November after it submitted a non-confidential version of its referral affidavit on 1 October 2025. The Commission did not release further details in its public statement. The case originates from a complaint filed in October 2022 by A2X Proprietary Limited.  A2X claims that the JSE is misusing its powerful position by using unfair methods related to its broker dealer accounting (BDA) system and the…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s civil aviation sector has recorded strong progress over the past year, with the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) reporting major financial and operational gains.  The authority said the 2024/25 financial year marked a defining period of confidence and transformation in the aviation sector. Minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi praised the sector’s contribution to economic diversification and regional integration.  “I look forward to building on these achievements in the years ahead, as we work collectively towards realising our vision for a resilient and dynamic transport and logistics hub for Namibia,” he said. Aligned with the sixth…