Hyprop has joined with Standard Bank to introduce a capital market debt funding structure appropriately suited to listed property companies

Coega, Standard Bank ink deal

Standard Bank has launched a R4,5bn home-loan securitisation issue in what it has billed as the biggest debt capital markets transaction to date.

South Africa's banks and developers are finally coming to the party.

Standard Bank is interested in buying a stake in the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) to expand its reach in Africa.

The Hyprop share is up 2.3% to R24 buoyed by the booming property market - also the news that more than 60% of Hyprop unit holders are in favour of taking over rival property group SA Retail.

It is beginning to be evident to those who track the fortunes of Cape property companies that Spearhead, although still a long way off being in the big league of property owners is very definitely "thinking big" – and is growing its portfolio faster than any other Cape property holding/development company.

Africa could see a marked increase in foreign direct investment after British-based risk consultancy Control Risk Group downgraded the continent’s risk profile for the third year running.

The past 18 months have seen a flurry of corporate activity in the listed property sector with property acquisitions, mergers and new listings invigorating the sector and commentators expecting this trend to continue in the medium term.

Unscrupulous property developers are ripping off home buyers by walking away from uncompleted complexes when the money runs out, leaving the owners to pick up the tab for finishing the work.