1/ Coca-Cola HBC: Following the blockbuster 21 October 2025 announcement that Coca-Cola HBC will acquire a 75% controlling interest in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) for $2.6-billion, 2026 is set to be a decisive year. As the deal targets a final close by end-2026, the group has committed to a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. With a market capitalisation expected to place it comfortably within the JSE Top 40, Coca-Cola HBC will become a primary target for institutional investors looking for exposure to the second-largest Coca-Cola bottler globally.
2/ Old Mutual Bank: Following its phased public launch in late 2025, the next twelve months will be the definitive test for this new entrant. Old Mutual has invested approximately R2.8-billion into the core technology of the bank and anticipates an initial loss run rate as it builds toward its 2028 break-even goal. In 2026, the market will be watching to see if it can successfully convert its massive insurance customer base into active banking clients while fending off competition from established incumbents and new retail entries.
3/ Transnet: Though a State-Owned Entity, Transnet certainly deserves to be featured. 2026 will be the year of reckoning for Transnet as it moves from stabilisation to private sector integration. Under the leadership of Michelle Phillips, Transnet enters the year focusing on the operationalisation of the R127-billion infrastructure investment plan. The market will be watching for the successful rollout of the DCT Pier 2 partnership with ICTSI (effective 1 January 2026) and the expansion of private rail slots. For the South African economy, Transnet’s ability to move closer to its 200-million-tonne rail volume target in 2026 is the single most important factor for export growth.
By BusinessXplain
