/ 25 September 2008

YeboYethu offer a success, says Vodacom

Vodacom’s YeboYethu public offer has been highly popular and subscription levels have exceeded the amount of shares available, the cellphone group said on Thursday.

”Vodacom’s black economic empowerment transaction, which includes the YeboYethu public offer, has been a huge success and I’m pleased to say has surpassed our expectations,” said company chief executive Alan Knott-Craig in a statement.

”Our goal in structuring this transaction was to promote truly broad-based empowerment, and the overwhelming public response, particularly at the minimum investment level, means that we have achieved this goal.”

The offer closed on September 11.

It was nearly three times oversubscribed, with approximately 100 000 applications submitted. Almost 60% of applications were for the minimum amount of 100 shares. Just less than 50% of individual applications were from women.

The processing of applications had been under way since the closure of the offer and had involved checking details and collating information.

”Applicants will be notified of the amount of shares allocated to them within the next few weeks and refunds for those shares applied for but not allocated will be processed at the same time,” Vodacom said.

Due to the oversubscription, not all applicants would receive the amount of shares applied for. Shares would be allocated as per the guidelines set out in the YeboYethu prospectus. Interest on funds for shares applied for but not allocated would be calculated from the closing date until the date of the refund. — Sapa