Appeal Dismissed, Liquidation Confirmed: Court Delivers Final Blow to Mastercard-Backed $106m African Startup Fund

A South African court has dismissed a final attempt to reverse the winding-up of Africa Founders Ventures (AFV), the non-profit entity behind the Mastercard Foundation-backed 54 Collective, bringing an 18-month legal battle to a definitive close. The High Court in Johannesburg ruled on 12 May 2026 that a provisional liquidation order granted in July 2025…

Scottish whisky company falls into liquidation plunging investors into uncertainty

A SCOTTISH whisky company has collapsed into liquidation, plunging thousands of cask investors into uncertainty. Edinburgh-based Whisky Merchants Trading Limited was placed into liquidation by administrators Griffins after an estimated £80 million was raised from investors across the company’s brands. Administrators said the collapse of the firm had left “thousands of global customers uncertain of…