Pepkor Rethinks Investec Tie-Up as It Eyes Solo Bank Startup

Pepkor Holdings Ltd. is weighing plans to abandon a possible partnership with Investec Bank Ltd. and instead launch a lender on its own, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The retailer, Africa’s largest seller of clothing and mobile phones, had considered teaming up with Investec to expand into financial services. It’s now mulling a plan to roll out the venture independently, the person said, asking not to be identified because the process is ongoing. A final decision hasn’t been made and Pepkor is expected to update the market at an investor presentation in Cape Town as early as this month, the person said.