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Enacy Mapakame Business Reporter

Listed diversified financial services group, Zimre Holdings Limited (ZHL), has tabled share purchase agreements with shareholders of Fidelity Life and Zimre Property Investments (ZPI) in a move that will give the group total control of the two firms.

This is expected to boost ZHL’s asset base.

According to ZHL, the group has entered into a share purchase agreement with the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) for the purchase of a majority stake in Fidelity Life Assurance, which will see ZHL re-integrate with Fidelity’s operations, which it unbundled in 2003.

The deal entails that ZHL purchases NSSA’s 35,09 percent stake in Fidelity. ZHL already holds 20,57 percent of the life insurer and the acquisition will see it become the majority shareholder in the company with a 55,66 percent stake.

If successful, the transaction will result in Fidelity becoming a subsidiary of ZHL and its operations being consolidated in the financial statements of the group.

According to the group, the acquisition will be done through a share swap agreement where NSSA will be issued with 65,14 million authorised but unissued ZHL shares on the basis of  one ZHL ordinary share for every 0,59 FLA shares held by NSSA.

The FLA acquisition shares constitute 4,25 percent of the ZHL total issued ordinary shares.

Fidelity operates three insurance businesses, Fidelity Life Assurance, Vanguard Life Assurance and Fidelity Funeral Services.

It has several other subsidiaries involved in the provision of micro-lending, medical aid, asset management, actuarial services as well as property development. The company has been struggling for capitalisation as it reels under the strain of huge operating costs.

ZHL is seeking to acquire the entire shareholding in ZPI under a two-pronged approach.

The two-phased approach will entail the acquisition of the remaining shares held by minority shareholders through an open market offer and the simultaneous application for the de-listing of ZPI.

“De-listing of ZPI will ease the restructuring of the business composition, enabling a leaner and more focused business structure,” said the group.

In a circular to shareholders, ZHL is offering one share for every 2,78 shares held by ZPI minorities as the group targets acquisition of 100 percent stake in the property firm.

The offer opens for acceptance on September 11 and ends on October 12 by end of business.

According to the circular, the share swap is on the basis of 30-day Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) of ZHL shares of $0,8388 against a 30-day VWAP of ZPI shares $0.2409 plus 25 percent premium ($0,3012) calculated as at May 29.

Zimre currently holds 64,3 percent of the group from 47,6 percent in 2016. Prior 2007, ZPI was 100 percent owned by ZHL before it was unbundled and separately listed following a private placement which saw ZHL being diluted from 100 percent.

According to the group, the acquisitions will result in ZHL having combined assets of $2,07 billion and shareholders’ equity of $837 million. This will increase underwriting capacity and ultimately competitiveness both in Zimbabwe and the region.

“It will enhance future capital raising efforts as the balance sheet will now be anchored by a significant  property portfolio comprising a mixture of properties in prime locations around the country,” said the group.

All three companies are trading at a price to book value of under 1x reflecting significant undervaluation of the assets by the market.

The group will hold an extraordinary general meeting for the two acquisitions on September 30, 2020.