South African financial services group Sanlam has agreed to sell its stake in South African banking group Absa to British banker Barclays.
It said on Monday that it has entered into a conditional irrevocable undertaking that it will dispose of at least 60% of its Absa shareholding to Barclays for R82,50 per share.
This follows the announcement of Barclays’ proposal to all Absa shareholders to acquire 60% of their shares, made earlier on Monday. Sanlam’s shareholders’ funds currently have a beneficial ownership of approximately 19% in Absa.
In terms of its agreement with Barclays, Sanlam said it has agreed, subject to certain conditions, to allow Barclays to acquire its entire Absa holding to the extent that other Absa shareholders do not participate in Barclay’s partial offer.
The deal could thus net Sanlam up to R10,3-billion, depending on how much it finally sells to Barclays.
The agreement also does not prevent Sanlam from participating in a higher acquisition price, or from accepting a materially better alternative offer from an alternative bidder, the group said. However, it is still subject to Sanlam shareholder approval.
Sanlam added that its board will use the proceeds of the sale to “continue to manage the growth of Sanlam in the most appropriate manner to achieve long-term value for Sanlam shareholders”. This includes the pursuit of investment opportunities that complement the company’s growth strategy and meet the appropriate hurdle rates.
Any excess capital will be returned to shareholders through an “optimal” combination of capital distribution and share buy-backs.
Regarding its “bancassurance” operations built up with Absa, Sanlam noted that it has received a commitment from the bank to continue developing the relationship between the two groups, and that Barclays has indicated its support for the relationship going forward.
Commenting on the financial impact of the disposal on its operations, the insurer said that, assuming only 60% of its stake is sold, Sanlam’s headline earnings per share will fall by 22,2 cents, from 116,6 cents to 94,4 cents, while adjusted headline earnings per share based on the long-term rate of return will fall by two cents, from 151,6 cents to 149,6 cents.
The company’s net asset value per share, meanwhile, will increase by 21 cents, to 1Â 035 cents from 1Â 014 cents. Embedded value per share will rise by 21 cents, from 1Â 346 cents to 1Â 367 cents.
Sanlam’s shareholders are set to vote on the proposed sale of the Absa stake at a meeting scheduled for June 9. Sanlam’s board of directors fully support the disposal, the company said, and has recommended that shareholders vote in favour of the transaction.
Remgro also to sell shares
Industrial holding giant Remgro has also committed to sell all or part of its 9,3% stake in Absa. At the offer price of R82,50 per share, it could net Remgro up to R5,07-billion in proceeds.
Announcing the agreement on Monday, Remgro said that it has undertaken to sell all or part of its 61,4-million Absa shares to Barclays, as the transaction gives Remgro an opportunity to realise its investment on attractive terms.
Remgro currently has a significant exposure to the South African financial-services sector through its stakes in both Absa and FirstRand, and the company will retain its FirstRand holdings.
For the six months to the end of September last year, Absa contributed R226-million to Remgro’s net profit after tax, and R1,99-billion to its net asset value.
Remgro said the disposal of 60% of its Absa stake will result in a 5% decline in the company’s headline earnings per share, to 467,6 cents from 492 cents prior to the disposal, and an 8,4% increase in its net tangible asset value per share, to 6 236 cents from 5 752 cents.
The group added that due to the uncertainty surrounding the exact amount of the sale, it will only announce information regarding its use of the sale proceeds when it reports its annual financial results towards the end of June.
Absa shares rally
Meanwhile, shares in Absa rallied to a record high on Monday morning after Barclays made its revised and formal bid to acquire a majority stake in the group.
Financial services group Sanlam and investment trust Remgro, which have agreed to sell their stakes in Absa to Barclays, which total 28%, were also boosted.
At 10.36am, Absa shares were 2,88% or R2,30 stronger at R82,30 after earlier touching a best-to-date R82,35. It was also the morning’s most active stock, with R140-million-worth of shares changing hands.
Sanlam was up 1,18% or 14 cents at R12,05 and Remgro was 1.69% or R1,60 stronger at R96. — I-Net Bridge