| Covid-19 appears to be the final straw for Famous Brands and its investment in the UK's Gourmet Burger Kitchen. With all its restaurants in the UK and Ireland now closed due to lockdowns in those countries, the tentative recovery at the upmarket burger chain will be stalled and it doesn't plan to throw any more money at it. That could result in the full impairment of its investment. Meanwhile, Libstar has become the latest JSE-listed company to postpone payment of a dividend due to the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus and the countrywide lockdown. It hopes to pay last year's final dividend in September though. It's not just dividends that are being postponed: some companies are also holding back on releasing their results and postponing their annual general meetings (AGMs) due to the lockdown and social distancing rules. The good news is that there is no need to thanks to technology. Ince has been assisting with online AGMs for companies since 2013, when it held the first hybrid online and physical AGM for Sasol's BBE Share Scheme - Sasol Khanyisa - using iMeeting. It's an an interactive, virtual platform that facilitates shareholder attendance at a live AGM. And it's endorsed by the JSE. The AGM is one of the most important events in the business calendar and one you don't want to miss out on. Read more about iMeeting here. For investors on the JSE looking on in despair, you aren't alone: the All Share Index rout isn't out of line with many other markets whilst relative to peers the rand has held up quite well - a statement that may seem counterintuitive to South Africans forking out R18 for a US dollar. In its latest report, Ingham Analytics also points to recent sober credit analysis from Moody's that lends some refreshing calm to the debate. Is there bounce back potential? What about global GDP? What about credit markets and the impact on equity markets? Click here to find out more. Meanwhile, "The Market's Twin Towers" on the Ingham Analytics website seems like a title that has more to do with 9/11 in New York than what is happening right now in markets. Another must read from top trader Andrew Kinsey, who as usual puts a different twist on things. Click here to read. Also today, Altron is mulling a separate listing of Bytes UK, the software services group that provides a big chunk of its revenue. Despite volatility at the moment, it's going to start preparing for a flotation on the London Stock Exchange, with the hope that capital markets have stabilised by the time it's ready to list. And Quantum Foods will report a big drop in first-half earnings after fetching lower prices for its eggs. All the latest from DealMakers too. We've made it through the first week of lockdown. I hope you have a good, safe weekend. Stephen Gunnion Managing Editor, InceConnect
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