South Africa Scraps Sale Of National Airline Stake Amid Valuation Dispute
<p>South Africa’s Public Enterprises Minister has said “there is no clear path forward” with the sale of its national airline stake.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.arise.tv/south-africa-scraps-sale-of-national-airline-stake-amid-valuation-dispute/">South Africa Scraps Sale Of National Airline Stake Amid Valuation Dispute</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.arise.tv">Arise News</a>.</p>
South Africa has cancelled plans to sell a stake in its national airline, South African Airways (SAA), after failing to reach an agreement on valuation and other terms with a consortium of private investors.
The government had intended to sell 51% of the struggling SAA to the Takatso Consortium since 2021, aiming to reduce the need for repeated bailouts of the airline.
However, after three years of negotiations, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan announced on Wednesday that the deal had collapsed, stating that “there is no clear path forward.”
Mr. Gordhan pointed to the impact of the post-Covid-19 market as a significant factor in the decision, which led to a reassessment of SAA’s value.
He said, “We are convinced that SAA can sustain itself in the next year to 18 months and that there are various other ways in which immediate financing can be obtained.”
The Takatso Consortium released a statement expressing that the changes in the deal to acquire SAA would have taken too long to achieve.
As a result of the terminated deal, SAA will remain fully state-owned for now, although the government noted that the airline remains open to exploring other partnership opportunities.
The collapse of the deal deals a blow to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s efforts to privatize underperforming state entities and mitigate state debt.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-fancy-cocktail-being-poured-right-a-man-working-behind-a-bar-in-montreal.jpg?id=60063913&width=1200&height=400&coordinates=0%2C136%2C0%2C136"/><br/><br/><p><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/montreal-bars-unique-theme" target="_blank">Montreal's cocktail scene</a> is getting some serious international love.</p><p><em><a href="https://www.theworlds50best.com/bars/northamerica/list/1-50" target="_blank">The World's 50 Best</a></em> just dropped its 2025 ranking of the top bars in North America, and five Montreal spots have made the cut, with two securing their place in the prestigious top 50.</p><p>Topping the Montreal list is Cloakroom at #31. The swanky, dimly lit speakeasy near Peel and Sherbrooke known for its moody ambiance offers bespoke cocktails tailored to each guest's taste. While it's far from impossible to find, you'll need to get past a secret door to make your way into this 25-seat hotspot. </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIghDl0ADIN/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIghDl0ADIN/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Montreal's other top-50 entry is Atwater Cocktail Club, which ranks #36. Known for its creative cocktails, this underground Little Burgundy hotspot is also easy to miss, as there is no signage. Nevertheless, those who know its charms have done a great job of spreading the word. </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGRCKU1xD24/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGRCKU1xD24/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Meanwhile, Bar Bisou Bisou, a stylish newcomer in the Old Port landed at #75 on the list of 100.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIuDkK3xdtk/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIuDkK3xdtk/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Rounding out the Montreal mentions are Bar Bello, a playful Saint-Henri spot at #84, and The Coldroom, a speakeasy near Place d’Armes that slipped into the list at #91.</p><p>This year's top spot overall went to Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City, with other frontrunners from New York, Chicago, and Toronto dominating the top half of the list. Toronto's Bar Pompette also cracked the top 10, coming in at #7.</p><p>In total, 23 Canadian bars were recognized among North America's finest:</p> <ul> <li> Bar Pompette (Toronto) — #7</li> <li> Civil Liberties (Toronto) — #21</li> <li> Botanist Bar (Vancouver) — #26</li> <li> The Keefer Bar (Vancouver) — #28</li> <li> Cloakroom (Montreal) — #31</li> <li> Atwater Cocktail Club (Montreal) — #36</li> <li> Bar Mordecai (Toronto) — #37</li> <li> Mother (Toronto) — #44</li> <li> Library Bar (Toronto) — #51</li> <li> Missy's (Calgary) — #52</li> <li> Prophecy (Vancouver) — #53</li> <li> Civil Works (Toronto) — #55</li> <li> Proof (Calgary) — #58</li> <li> Laowai (Vancouver) — #67</li> <li> Cry Baby Gallery (Toronto) — #68</li> <li> Humboldt Bar (Victoria) — #69</li> <li> Bar Bisou Bisou (Montreal) — #75</li> <li> Bar Bello (Montreal) — #84</li> <li> The Coldroom (Montreal) — #91</li> <li> Meo (Vancouver) — #92</li> <li> Slice of Life (Toronto) — #96</li> <li> Shelter (Calgary) — #99</li> </ul> <p>Cheers to that.</p>
