February-March 2010

Caffeine buzz

Caffeine buzz

Richard Worthington built Coffeeheaven into a thriving coffee shop chain in Eastern Europe – and attracted the attention of an industry leader. He told Tim Burke about his journey.

United nations

United nations

Plans to create a single African economy within the next two decades are ambitious but achievable. Banks and stock exchanges are already primed for the benefits. Liz Salecka reports.

Warming up

Warming up

Despite the disappointing outcome of the Copenhagen climate summit, banks are still hopeful of a brighter future for carbon trading. If uncertainty around the clean development mechanism scheme is addressed, the African market for one could yet take off, reports Julian Evans.

The trouble with teamwork

The trouble with teamwork

Public-private partnership efforts to combat climate change should advance despite the Copenhagen summit’s outcome. But private-sector companies may need convincing, writes Henry E. Teitelbaum.

Go east

Go east

Austrian real estate investor Sparkassen Immobilien is selling assets in developed markets to free up cash for deals in emerging Europe. Director Holger Schmidtmayr tells Tim Burke about its plans.

The fixers

The fixers

New funds are ready to turn around distressed assets across Central and Eastern Europe. Tim Burke reports.