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ABSA BANK LIMITED - Finalisation announcement in respect of the scheme of arrangement and preference share dividend declaration

Release Date: 04/07/2025 11:48
Code(s): ABSP     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Finalisation announcement in respect of the scheme of arrangement and preference share dividend declaration

ABSA BANK LIMITED
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
(Registration Number: 1986/004794/06)
ISIN: ZAE000079810
JSE Share Code: ABSP
("Absa Bank" or the "Company")

FINALISATION ANNOUNCEMENT IN RESPECT OF THE OFFER BY ABSA BANK TO
REPURCHASE THE PREFERENCE SHARES IN ABSA BANK BY WAY OF A SCHEME OF
ARRANGEMENT AND PREFERENCE SHARE DIVIDEND DECLARATION

Unless otherwise defined in this announcement, words and expressions contained herein shall have
the same meanings as assigned to them in the circular distributed to preference shareholders dated 2
May 2025 ("Circular").

1.    INTRODUCTION

      Preference Shareholders are referred to the firm intention announcement released on the Stock
      Exchange News Service ("SENS") on Thursday, 17 April 2025, the Circular incorporating a notice
      convening a meeting of Preference Shareholders and the results of the Scheme Meeting
      released on the SENS on Tuesday, 3 June 2025 wherein it was confirmed that the Scheme was
      duly approved by the Preference Shareholders.

2.    FULFILMENT OF SCHEME CONDITIONS

      Preference Shareholders are advised that all of the remaining Scheme Conditions have now
      been fulfilled and/or waived, as applicable, and that the Scheme has accordingly become
      unconditional. Preference Shareholders are further advised that the TRP has issued a
      compliance certificate in respect of the Scheme in accordance with section 119(4)(b) of the
      Companies Act. Consequently, the Scheme has become operative, and Absa Bank will proceed
      with the implementation of the Scheme.

      The effect of the Scheme will be:

      •     Absa Bank will repurchase all of the Scheme Shares for the Scheme Consideration with
            effect from the Scheme Operative Date;

      •     Scheme Shares shall be Delisted from the Main Board of the JSE (once approved by the
            JSE) and shall thereafter be cancelled and revert to the authorised but unissued share
            capital of the Company.

      Scheme Participants will therefore receive the Scheme Consideration on the Scheme
      Consideration Settlement Date as indicated in the timetable below.

      As a result of the Scheme becoming unconditional and operative, the Standby Offer will not be
      implemented.

3.    REMAINING SALIENT DATES AND TIMES

      The Scheme will be implemented in accordance with the following salient dates and times:

                                                                                                 2025
      Scheme Finalisation Announcement published in the South African                Monday, 7 July
      press on
      Scheme last day to trade Preference Shares in order for Preference           Tuesday, 15 July
      Shareholders to be recorded in the Register on the Scheme Record
      Date to receive the Scheme Consideration on
      Suspension of listing of Preference Shares from the Main Board of         Wednesday, 16 July
      the JSE at commencement of trading on
     Last day to deliver Form of Surrender (pink) in respect of the                       Friday, 18 July
     Scheme and Documents of Title (in order to receive the Scheme
     Consideration on the Scheme Operative Date) to be received by the
     Transfer Secretaries, by 12h00 on
     Scheme Record Date, being the date and time on which Preference                      Friday, 18 July
     Shareholders must be recorded in the Register to receive the
     Scheme Consideration, by 17h00 on
     Scheme Operative Date on                                                           Monday, 21 July
     Dematerialised Scheme Participants to have their accounts (held at                 Monday, 21 July
     their CSDP or Broker) debited with the Scheme Shares and credited
     with the Scheme Consideration on


     Date of settlement of the Scheme Consideration to be paid                          Monday, 21 July
     electronically to Certificated Scheme Participants (if the Form of
     Surrender (pink) in respect of the Scheme and Documents of Title
     are received by the Transfer Secretaries by 12h00 on the Scheme
     Record Date) on
     Termination of listing of the Preference Shares on the Main Board of              Tuesday, 22 July
     the JSE at the commencement of trade on

     Notes:
     1.      All dates and times above are South African dates and times, unless otherwise stated.

4.   DECLARATION OF THE PRO-RATA PREFERENCE DIVIDEND

     As the Scheme has become unconditional and operative, Preference Shareholders are hereby
     advised that a Pro Rata Preference Dividend of 2,970.68493 cents has been approved and
     declared by the Board in respect of the period from 1 March 2025 up to but excluding the Scheme
     Operative Date, and payable to Eligible Preference Shareholders who remain Preference
     Shareholders on the Scheme Record Date. The Board confirms that Absa Bank will satisfy the
     solvency and liquidity test immediately after completing the payment of the Pro Rata Preference
     Dividend and for twelve months thereafter.

     For shareholders who are subject to dividend withholding tax (DWT), tax will be calculated at
     20% (or such lower rate as is applicable if a double taxation agreement applies for foreign
     shareholders). In accordance with paragraphs 11.17 (a) (i) to (ix) and 11.17 (c) of the JSE Listings
     Requirements, the following additional information is disclosed:

     •       The Pro Rata Preference Dividend has been declared out of income reserves;
     •       The local Pro Rata Preference Dividend tax rate is twenty percent (20%;)
     •       The gross local Pro Rata Preference Dividend amount is 2,970.68493 cents per
             Preference Share for Preference Shareholders exempt from DWT;
     •       The net local Pro Rata Preference Dividend amount is 2,376.54795 cents per Preference
             Share for Preference Shareholders liable to pay the DWT;
     •       Absa Bank currently has 4,944,839 Preference Shares in issue
     •       Absa Bank's income tax reference number is 9575117719

     In compliance with the requirements of Strate, the electronic settlement and custody system used
     by the JSE, the following salient dates for the payment of the Pro Rata Preference Dividend are
     applicable:


         Event                                                                                   2025
         Finalisation date                                                            Tuesday, 8 July


                                                                                                        2
       Last day to trade cum dividend                                               Tuesday, 15 July
       Shares commence trading ex-dividend                                      Wednesday, 16 July
       Record date                                                                    Friday, 18 July

       Payment date                                                                 Monday, 21 July

      Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised from Wednesday, 16 July 2025.

      On the Scheme Operative Date (which date is anticipated to take place Monday, 21 July 2025),
      the Pro Rata Preference Dividend will be electronically transferred to the bank accounts of
      certificated Eligible Preference Shareholders. The accounts of those Eligible Preference
      Shareholders who have dematerialised their shares (which are held at their participant or broker)
      will also be credited on the Scheme Operative Date (anticipated to take place on Monday, 21
      July 2025).

5.    RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

      The Independent Board and the Board, individually and collectively, accept full responsibility for
      the accuracy of the information contained in this announcement which relates to Absa Bank and
      the Scheme, and certify that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, such information is true,
      and that this announcement does not omit any facts that would make any of the information false
      or misleading or would be likely to affect the importance of any information contained in this
      announcement. The Independent Board and the Board have made all reasonable enquiries to
      ascertain that no facts have been omitted, and that this announcement contains all information
      required by law.

Johannesburg
4 July 2025

INVESTMENT BANK, CORPORATE ADVISOR AND SPONSOR
Absa Bank Limited
INDEPENDENT TRANSACTION SPONSOR
J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited
LEGAL ADVISOR
White and Case Inc.
INDEPENDENT EXPERT
BDO Corporate Finance Proprietary Limited
TRANSFER SECRETARY
Computershare Investor Services Proprietary Limited




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Date: 04-07-2025 11:48:00
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