The investment banking business of Nedbank Group, Nedbank Capital, says this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba comes at a time when Africa is enjoying huge opportunities in the resources sector.

The investment bank, which is among the Mining Indaba premier sponsors, has funded a number of resources and infrastructure projects in Africa. It is looking to use the platform provided by the Mining Indaba to seek further opportunities in Africa and to further leverage its strategic alliance with pan- African bank, Ecobank, which is represented in 32 African countries.

“Mining provides a base for the regional development of infrastructure, for which investment depends on the long-term revenues the mining activities provide,” says Nedbank cohead of resources finance Peter van Kerckhoven.

Nedbank recently announced that it had deepened its alliance with Ecobank through the provision of a $285-million three- year facility in support of Ecobank’s corporate development programmes. The facility is convertible into 20% of Ecobank.

Meanwhile, Van Kerckhoven points out that, in various instances, companies are starting to construct their own infrastructure to unlock the value in their projects.

“In Mozambique, the size of projects is resulting in major construction of power lines, benefiting the country’s economy,” he explains.

Van Kerckhoven attributes this to mining companies being given concessions by govern- ments to build, operate and own infrastructure.

Although infrastructure is key, Nedbank says providing financial backing to mining companies remains important to its long-term strategy of enlarging its global footprint.

Nedbank has arranged, underwritten and participated in worldwide financings amounting to $4.3-billion in the past six years.

Concluded deals include a R922-million credit facility for the funding of black economic-empowerment (BEE) coal miner Ixia Coal’s 20% participation in Sasol Mining’s BEE trans- action; diversified mining company African Rainbow Minerals’ (ARM’s) R1.7-billion refinancing of the ARM Trust BEE transaction; and gold miner Gold Fields’ R1.5-billion five-year revolving credit facility to refinance its existing debt and fund its general corporate expenditure.

The company also serves as an investment bank and corporate adviser to a number of major companies, including coal miner Exxaro, engineering, procurement and construction management company TWP and platinum miner Royal Bafokeng Platinum.

Nedbank recently launched an oil and gas finance business unit, with the launch of an oil and gas advisory and debt arranging business imminent. The company says its long-term strategy is to jointly arrange total debt packages for oil and gas projects internationally.

The South Africa-based bank hosts the Nedbank business matchmaking programme online facility powered by exhibitions-and-conference-focused com- pany Outsmart Marketing, which assists registered Mining Indaba delegates in making critical connections with other registered delegates through a predetermined meeting at the event.

The bank notes that, through careful profiling and assessment of all registered delegates, the programme matches the right individuals and sets up a specific meeting at a specific venue, ensur- ing all participants meet their desired connection in a face-to-face environment.

The benefits of the programme include setting up prescheduled meetings through a pre- matched report, preconfirma- tion of these meetings before the event and an on-site team at the Mining Indaba that will assist delegates.

In addition to Nedbank’s sponsorship of the matchmaking programme, Van Kerckhoven says the bank will have a lounge at the event, where delegates can meet while holding discussions with key members of the bank.

“A distinguishing feature of the Mining Indaba is its scale and the resultant platform it provides for people from all over the world to meet and further the development of mining in Africa, and, as a consequence, we believe it appropriate to host the Nedbank Capital Business Matchmaking Programme,” he concludes.

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