Ghost Biz - 12 February 2026

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Today in Ghost Biz, Gary Stroebel and The Finance Ghost discuss:

• Pick n Pay’s worsening turnaround — A trading update shows headline losses have deteriorated by at least 20%, reinforcing how difficult grocery retail recoveries are, with the market effectively assigning little to no value to the core business.

• Bidvest Bank sale collapses — The planned disposal to Access Bank fell through after conditions weren’t met in time, sending Bidvest back to the drawing board while it keeps the bank stable and attractive for a future buyer.

• Standard Bank clarifies stake confusion — Stakes above 5% in other banks were driven by investment subsidiaries acting in the ordinary course of business, not a takeover strategy, with the disclosures largely regulatory rather than strategic.
12 Feb English South Africa Business · Business News

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