Exchange-Listed Companies

RMB (FirstRand) via its Family Office Group Solutions business, has acquired a 20% stake in Genfin Holdings for an undisclosed sum. Genfin’s subsidiaries include Genfin Business Finance, which delivers alternative lending solutions for SMEs and Kanga Finance, a developmental credit provider. The equity investment and bespoke debt funding solution will be used to provide further growth capital to its subsidiaries.

African Infrastructure Investment Managers (Old Mutual) is to double its equity commitment to NOA Group having first invested $90 million (R1,6 billion) into the vertically integrated energy platform in November 2022. NOA aims to develop, finance and operate a portfolio exceeding 2.5 GW of renewable energy assets over time.

Invenfin, the venture capital arm of Remgro, has made a further investment of US$1,5 million in Root. Founded in SA in 2016, Root offers a low-code platform that empowers modern digital insurance products designed for direct, affinity, and embedded distribution at scale. The end-to-end insurance platform helps companies sell digital insurance products in Africa, the UK and in Europe. Funds will be used to accelerate its expansion plans in Europe and the UK.

Singapore-based Grindrod Shipping, 83% owned by Taylor Maritime Investments Ltd, a subsidiary Grindrod Shipping Pte Ltd, has entered into two agreements to acquire Taylor Maritime Management from Taylor Maritime Group and to buy Tamar Ship Management from Taylor Maritime Group and Temeraire Holding. Under the terms of the transaction, Grindrod Shipping Pte Ltd and Island View Ship Management Pte Ltd have agreed to acquire the companies for c.US$11,75 million with a maximum value not exceeding $13,5 million. The transaction will be financed via a combination of cash and the allotment of new Grindrod Shipping shares. The acquisition is subject to certain conditions and is expected to close before mid-October.

An agreement to settle the dispute between African Equity Empowerment Investments (AEEI) and BT Communications Services South Africa (BTSA) has finally been reached and AEEI will dispose of its 30% stake in BTSA for R290 million. The stake was sold in 2008 by BT Group plc (BT) for R27 million to AEEI as its BEE shareholder with BT holding an option to repurchase the stake upon the occurrence of certain events. In 2021 a dispute arose over the call option which has been the subject matter of an arbitration ever since. AEEI has “taken the decision to preserve shareholder value by unlocking cash reserves for growth and to limit further advisory and legal costs”.

Equites Property Fund subsidiary, Equites International, has disposed of a property currently let to Tesco Distribution, located on Dodwells Road in Hinckley, UK to Relif UK IB.V. The purchaser, part of the Realterm Europe Logistics Income Fund, will acquire the property for a purchase consideration of £29,75 million. The transaction is a category 2 transaction and so does not require approval by shareholders.

Currently in business rescue, Rebosis Property Fund is to dispose of a further four office properties to Katleho Property Investments for an aggregate consideration of R160 million. The properties were valued at R291 million in April 2023. The beneficial shareholder of Katleho is Heriot Investments.

Unlisted Companies

Red Rocket, an independent power producer established in 2012, has received a capital injection of US$160 million from management shareholders vehicle, Bill Kilgore Investments and an international consortium of clean energy investors comprising Inspired Evolution, STOA and FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank.

The Cape-based payment orchestration platform Revio has raised US$5,2 million in a seed investment round. Fintech fund QED Investors led the round with participation from Partech and existing investors Speedinvest, RaliCap and Everywhere VC. The startup helps merchants optimise their order to cash lifecycle. Funds will be used to scale Revio’s coverage across the continent and expand its capabilities to add value for customers.

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