Standard Bank is emerging as a key player in the black economic empowerment (BEE) landscape, with significant investments in two of the country’s top empowerment groupings, Shanduka and Safika. The companies are led by Saki Macozoma and Cyril Ramaphosa respectively.
Safika and Shanduka are major players in the BEE market. Shanduka is listed as having substantial interests in Alexander Forbes Financial Services, Dinatla (which owns part of Bidvest), Rentworks, Shanduka Resources and the Tutuwa Consortium.
Safika, apart from its interest in Standard Bank and Liberty, is listed as having stakes in Stanlib, Altech, Nduna, and Simeka Investment Holdings, among others.
The value of the 20% stake in Safika has not been disclosed but it is likely to be worth several hundred million rand to Safika, which says the cash injection furnishes it with a substantial war chest for further acquisitions.
It also means Standard Bank has indirectly repurchased its own shares. That’s because Safika is already part-owner of the bank, having led the Tutuwa Consortium that bought 10% of Standard Bank last year in a deal worth about R4,3-billion. In July last year, Safika simultaneously acquired a stake in Liberty Life and Stanlib, raising the total deal value to about R5,6-billion.
Standard Bank’s investor relations manager Kim Howard says the Safika acquisition forms part of the bank’s investment portfolio, which also includes 15% of Ramaphosa’s Shanduka group. “We announced at the time of the Tutuwa deal that we intended to acquire a stake in Safika. We have built up a good relationship with Safika, and we have a high opinion of their management capabilities. Safika is at an early stage in its development and we want to help them achieve their growth objectives.”
Safika’s main shareholders are Moss Ngoasheng, Macozoma (who is also a director of Standard) and Vuli Cuba, each with 20%, Marc Ber (10%), Soto Ndukwana (5%) and Richard Chauke (5%).
Coronation Asset Management banking analyst Neville Chester says Standard’s investment in Safika is consistent with strategies being pursued by other banks. Investec, for example, has tied up with Tiso and Peu Investments, both BEE groups that acquired stakes in the bank.
“It makes sense to have an ownership relationship, as this will benefit Standard in terms of investment banking and corporate finance businesses. In reality, most groups are aligning themselves with BEE groups since this is where they see future growth happening,” says Chester.
Howard says the closer relationship does not mean the bank will get first bite at any funding calls as Safika goes on a buying spree.
Standard Bank says there is no obligation on it or Safika to disclose the size of the deal. The deal is not large enough in terms of the bank’s total business to fall within the JSE Securities Exchange disclosure rules, nor does it represent a change in its strategic thrust (which would also require disclosure). Safika is not listed on the JSE , so it is under no obligation to announce the size of the deal.