Ukhamba Holdings, the black economic empowerment (BEE) shareholder of Imperial Holdings Limited, on Tuesday announced the distribution of its first dividend of R1,8-million to 15 000 previously disadvantaged employees of the Imperial group.
Ukhamba, which acquired 10,1% (valued at R2,8-billion) of Imperial in March last year, is a broad-based investment company that empowers a significant number of Imperial’s previously disadvantaged employees.
Ukhamba generates wealth for its 15 000 members and inspires a culture of investment among Imperial’s employees. In March last year, each previously disadvantaged Imperial employee received units in the Ukhamba Trust, a 47,1% shareholder in Ukhamba. The Imperial Ukhamba Community Trust and Imperial Holdings own the balance of Ukhamba, with 6% and 46,9% shareholdings respectively.
Imperial’s previously disadvantaged employees can voluntarily acquire further units in Ukhamba through the Ukhamba Trust.
Ukhamba’s initial rating by EmpowerDEX’s BEE ratings committee was “BB” and stated it had an effective black ownership level of 64,83%.
Bill Lynch, CEO of Imperial, commented: “As a leader in transportation and mobility in South Africa, Imperial embraces broad-based BEE as a key sustainability imperative. Ukhamba, our first empowerment transaction, has been aimed solely at benefiting our previously disadvantaged employees.
“Through its performance-based earn-in clause, Ukhamba has received its first tranche of 1 740 001 Imperial shares during August 2005 for no consideration. The market value of this tranche is R220-million and is a meaningful achievement so far.
“Once the remainder of the 21,1-million shares are converted over the next few years, Ukhamba’s investment will be worth in excess of R3-billion. This is true empowerment at grassroots level with no borrowings required to fund the investment.
“I am delighted to report that Imperial’s most recent dividend distribution of 220c per ordinary share, paid on October 3 2005, has resulted in Ukhamba Holdings receiving a dividend of R3 828 002.” — I-Net Bridge