/ 5 September 2000

Merger leads to Prosperity

REUTERS, Johannesburg | Tuesday

FOUR South African companies had teamed up to form Prosperity, the country’s first black-owned and second-largest firm of benefit consultants and actuaries.

NBC Financial Services, Kopana Ke Matla Investment Company, Plc Holdings and Peregrine were the partners in the new group, worth R100m.

Kopano is the investment arm of COSATU while Peregrine is a financial services company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Prosperity would hold several operating and investment subsidiaries, including Prosperity Multi Manager, Prosperity Investments and Prosperity Insurance.

NBC executive chairman and chief executive Max Maisela said the company would provide multi-manager portfolio and investment services to the retirement and savings industries, with a focus on the government, quasi-government and parastatal sectors.

“We will be the first black-owned company to aggressively enter a multi-billion rand market … within two to three years we aim to be a major contender and will consider a listing on the JSE when appropriate,” he said.

Peregrine would hold 37.5% of Prosperity Holdings, while Kopano Ke Matla and PLC Holdings would each have a 25.1% stake.