Radebe Sipamla, a portfolio manager at Mergence Investment Managers, is sharply critical of Nedbank’s proposed acquisition of the Kenyan NCBA group, warning that it reflects a poor history of dealmaking. He describes Nedbank’s acquisition track record as “horrendous” and cites its failed Ecobank investment as a prime example of FOMO-driven capital allocation that ultimately destroyed shareholder value. While NCBA has generated returns above its cost of capital in recent years, Sipamla highlights persistently high credit risk metrics, including non-performing loans, arguing these risks raise concerns that the deal could become an “Ecobank 2.0”.

MTN Irans’s woes deepen with CEO ousted over shutdown delay
Commenting on Bloomberg on MTN’s operations in Iran, Peter Takaendesa, CIO of Mergence Investment Managers, highlights that MTN’s problems in