RATINGS agency Standard & Poor's has identified five South African companies that could emerge as challengers to global blue-chip companies, down from seven firms last year when the country was enjoying strong, consumer-led economic growth.

GCB opens Sampa branch

AFTER deciding that the Private Investor portfolio had to invest in the construction sector, we ended up with two candidates: Murray & Roberts (M&R) and Aveng.

The Ghanaian Investor who is claiming 20% shareholding in Scancom Limited, operators of Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN), has noted that he was able to maintain his shareholding in the company through undercover, a year after ex-President Rawlings' damning comments about him.

Information reaching the Business desk of The Chronicle indicates that Taysec Construction Limited has sold its mining division to Australian Mining Services (AMS), for a whooping amount of US$20million.

ONCE regarded as the nation and region's most reliable source of food, National Foods Ltd, (Natfoods) has been reduced to a mere shadow of its former self.

KUMBA Iron Ore was on track to double exports of iron ore from Northern Cape to 44-million tons by 2013, CEO Chris Griffith said yesterday.

CEMENT maker Lafarge SA said yesterday the building of its Randfontein plant, a key part of its plans to increase production by about a quarter, was on track to meet its October completion deadline, despite power cuts experienced earlier this year.

Skills shortage is becoming a serious problem in Namibia, with dual-listed groups such as Nictus Group, saying they find it difficult to appoint qualified women and black people at management levels.

It was not an easy feat for Nico Tromp, the Group Managing Director of Nictus Group, to report the sterling results, as he did, to stockholders on both the Namibian Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Security Exchange.

ASPEN Pharmacare has been making headlines recently - seemingly with good reason. The latest was that it would partner pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline in combination with their own joint venture with Indian generic company Strides Onco.

TONGAAT Hulett notified shareholders it expects a 44% rise in profit from operations to R443m when it reports interim results on August 4.

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc has announced its 2008 mid- year Profit After Tax of N453.9million, representing about N215.8 or 91 per cent rise over the same period in 2007.

THE Cotton Company of Zimbabwe, a locally listed agro-processing company is seeking shareholders approval to change its trading name to AICO Africa Limited.

Operations at all five Shoprite outlets in the country were paralysed yesterday when more than 300 employees went on strike to pressure the South African supermarket chain to increase their salaries.

HOTEL-focused listed property loan stock company Hospitality Property Fund announced yesterday it had entered into an agreement to acquire the Holiday Inn Sandton for R400m.

AS it celebrates 18 years of existence, the Ateso weekly newspaper, Etop, has given out 12 bicycles to its readers.

Africa's biggest generic drug maker, Aspen Pharmacare, has clinched a licensing and distribution deal with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline that will see its products enter a host of new markets.

Two UN agencies, World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) signed a joint private mission project for the next four years with Rwanda Flora, a private organic firm, to jointly help improve household nutrition.

Shareholders in Uganda Clays Limited and Bank of Baroda are discussing how to reduce the prices at which their shares can be sold to the public.

The Board of Directors of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Tuesday indefinitely suspended Mr. Austine O. Ometoruwa as President and Chief executive Officer of the institution.

After ten (10) years with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana, Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer (MD/COO) of the company, has handed over leadership of the local beverage company, to Conrad Van Niekerk, a South African.

The Angolan firm "Sabendoandar-Empreendimentos Limitada" was awarded this year with the World Quality Commitment (WQC) prize, at golden category, whose trophy will be handed over on September 22, in Paris, France, ANGOP has learnt.

Telecommunications giant, Globacom Nigeria Limited has boosted the Lagos State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) with N1.5million financial support towards hosting its forthcoming seminar on league billed to hold next Tuesday at the new SWAN Secretariat, National Stadium, Lagos.

Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL) yesterday donated Sh1.5 million to the Tanzania Sports Writers Association (Taswa) football team.