/ 6 May 1999

CAXTON WAITS FOR NAIL

THE SHUFFLE at the top of New Africa Investments ltd (Nail) may put fresh life into negotiations between Nail and the Caxton publishing group for the purchase of Johnnic’s 43% stake in Caxton. Johnnic gave Nail a three-month option to purchase its stake in Caxton in early March as part of a deal to get Nail’s 7% share in MTN. Caxton’s pre-emptive rights over the deal make agreement with Nail crucial, and analysts argue that a change at the top of Nail may ease negotiations. If Nail takes over Caxton, it will form a multi-billion rand media group with interests in the Sowetan, the Citizen and Sunday World titles.