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AFROCENTRIC INVESTMENT CORPORATION LIMITED - Distribution of circular, notice of general meeting and withdrawal of cautionary announcement

Release Date: 08/12/2022 16:35
Code(s): ACT SLM     PDF:  
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Distribution of circular, notice of general meeting and withdrawal of cautionary announcement

AfroCentric Investment Corporation Limited                Sanlam Limited
(Incorporated in South Africa)                            (Incorporated in South Africa)
(Registration number 1988/000570/06)                      (Registration number 1959/001562/06)
JSE share code: ACT                                       JSE share code: SLM
ISIN: ZAE000078416                                        A2X share code: SLM
("AfroCentric")                                           NSX share code: SLA
                                                          ISIN: ZAE000070660
                                                          ("Sanlam")


JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF COMBINED CIRCULAR, NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING
REGARDING THE OFFER BY SANLAM TO ACQUIRE CONTROL OF AFROCENTRIC AND WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY
ANNOUNCEMENT

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 AfroCentric Shareholders today, Thursday, 8 December
2022 and available on AfroCentric’s website (http://www.afrocentric.za.com/inv-circulars.php) and on Sanlam’s website
(www.sanlam.com/presentations).

1.   INTRODUCTION

     1.1. AfroCentric Shareholders are referred to the Firm Intention Announcement released on SENS by Sanlam
          and AfroCentric on Tuesday, 11 October 2022. AfroCentric Shareholders were advised that the AfroCentric
          Board had received a letter from Sanlam, expressing Sanlam's firm intention to acquire AfroCentric Shares
          from AfroCentric Shareholders constituting no less than the Minimum Shares Percentage and up to the
          Maximum Shares Percentage, subject to Sanlam's right, in its discretion, to (i) waive the Minimum Shares
          Requirement (provided Sanlam shall not acquire less than the Absolute Floor) or (ii) acquire more than the
          Maximum Shares Percentage (provided Sanlam shall not acquire more than the Absolute Ceiling), as
          applicable.
     1.2. AfroCentric Shareholders will note that the percentage given for the Absolute Ceiling in the definition of
          'Absolute Ceiling' disclosed in the Circular (namely 64.45%) differs from the percentage given for the Absolute
          Ceiling in the Firm Intention Announcement (namely 64.8%). The reduction from 64.8% in the Firm Intention
          Announcement to 64.45% in the Circular is necessitated by the fact that in November 2022, subsequent to
          the release of the Firm Intention Announcement, 3 089 995 AfroCentric Shares were issued to participants
          of the 2017 Incentive Scheme. This has the consequence that the number of AfroCentric Shares available to
          participate in the Partial Offer has increased. The guarantee provided by Sanlam to the TRP, as required by
          the Takeover Regulations, provides for a maximum cash consideration of R2 234 413 136; however, if
          Sanlam were to acquire 64.8% of the increased available number of AfroCentric Shares for cash in terms of
          the Partial Offer, the cash consideration payable by Sanlam would exceed this amount by approximately R12
          000 000. In the circumstances and in order to ensure that the guarantee provided by Sanlam to the TRP is
          not exceeded in implementing the Partial Offer, the threshold for the Absolute Ceiling has been reduced from
          64.8% to 64.45%. TRP approval for this minor amendment to the Partial Offer has been obtained.
     1.3. In terms of section 125(3)(b)(ii) of the Companies Act, the Partial Offer Approval Resolution is required to be
          adopted by AfroCentric Shareholders in order for the Partial Offer to proceed. 
     1.4. The Offer Consideration is R6.00 per Partial Offer Share and will be implemented by way of a Partial Offer
          as contemplated in section 125(3) of the Companies Act. The Offer Consideration is payable in cash or in
          Sanlam Shares or a combination thereof, at the election of each Offer Participant.
     1.5. The Partial Offer is subject to the Partial Offer Conditions Precedent, which include the adoption of the Partial
          Offer Approval Resolution and the Asset for Share Resolution, respectively, by the requisite voting thresholds
          of AfroCentric Shareholders. To the extent that the A4S Conditions Precedent (which include that the Partial
          Offer is implemented) are fulfilled or, if permitted, waived, AfroCentric will issue the A4S Consideration Shares
          to Sanlam Life immediately after the Partial Offer is implemented in exchange and as consideration for the
          disposal by Sanlam Life to AfroCentric of all the shares held by Sanlam Life in AHA. Sanlam Life currently
          holds 28.7% of AHA. The Asset for Share Transaction constitutes a category 1 transaction for AfroCentric in
          terms of the Listings Requirements.
     1.6. The Proposed Transaction is constituted by both the Partial Offer and the Asset for Share Transaction.
     1.7. Once the Proposed Transaction has been implemented:
          1.7.1. the Sanlam Group will hold no less than 55.0% of the AfroCentric Shares (subject to Sanlam's right to
                 waive the Minimum Shares Requirement), made up of the Partial Offer Shares (being Sanlam's direct
                 36.9% holding in AfroCentric following implementation of the Partial Offer) and the A4S Consideration
                 Shares (being Sanlam Life's direct 28.7% holding in AfroCentric following implementation of the Asset
                 for Share Transaction); and
          1.7.2. AHA will be a wholly owned subsidiary of AfroCentric.
     1.8. Sanlam has undertaken in favour of AfroCentric that, once the Proposed Transaction has been implemented,
          it will not increase its shareholding in AfroCentric to 75% or more without making an offer to AfroCentric
          Shareholders to acquire all their AfroCentric Shares (other than AfroCentric Shares held within the Sanlam
          Group, and Treasury Shares) in terms of section 117(1)(c)(v) of the Companies Act.
     1.9. The implementation of the Proposed Transaction is subject to the fulfilment or, if permitted, waiver of the
          Partial Offer Conditions Precedent set out in the Circular and the A4S Conditions Precedent set out in the
          Circular.
     1.10.For a full understanding of the Proposed Transaction, the General Meeting Resolutions which are required
          to be adopted and the various elections available to AfroCentric Shareholders, the Circular should be read in
          its entirety.

2.   DISTRIBUTION OF THE CIRCULAR AND NOTICE CONVENING THE GENERAL MEETING

     2.1. The Circular, providing full details of the Partial Offer and the Asset for Share Transaction and containing,
          inter alia, the Notice of the General Meeting of AfroCentric Shareholders, the Independent Expert Report, the
          recommendations of the Independent Board, the salient dates and times relating to the Partial Offer, and the
          necessary forms in order to effect the Partial Offer, was distributed to AfroCentric Shareholders today,
          Thursday, 8 December 2022.
     2.2. Shareholders are advised that a copy of the Circular relating to the Proposed Transaction is available on
          AfroCentric’s website (http://www.afrocentric.za.com/inv-circulars.php) and on Sanlam’s website
          (www.sanlam.com/presentations).
     2.3. The General Meeting convened in terms of the Notice of General Meeting will be held at AfroCentric
          Distribution Services Offices, The Greens Office Park, Building L, 26 Charles de Gaulle Crescent, Highveld
          Ext12 Centurion at 10:00 on Thursday, 12 January 2023, for the purpose of considering and, if deemed fit,
          passing, with or without modification, the resolutions required to be approved by AfroCentric Shareholders in
          order to approve the Proposed Transaction.
     2.4. AfroCentric Shareholders will also be able to follow the meeting remotely via a live audio webcast available
          on our website https://www.corpcam.com/AfroCentricGM2022. AfroCentric Shareholders are advised that
          they will not be able to vote at or participate in the General Meeting through the live audio webcast.

3.     DISTRIBUTION OF THE CIRCULAR AND NOTICE CONVENING THE GENERAL MEETING

The salient dates and times relating to the Circular and the General Meeting are set out below:

     Item                                                                                                                   2022
     Offer Opening Date, at 09:00 on                                                                          Friday, 9 December
                                                                                                                            2023
     Last day to trade in AfroCentric Shares in order to be eligible to attend and vote at the                Tuesday, 3 January
     General Meeting
     Voting Record Date                                                                                        Friday, 6 January
     Last day to lodge Forms of Proxy (blue) for administrative purposes, by 10:00 on                        Tuesday, 10 January
     General Meeting to be held at AfroCentric Distribution Services Offices, The Greens                    Thursday, 12 January
     Office Park, Building L.26 Charles de Gaulle Crescent, Highveld Ext12 Centurion at 10:00
     on
     Results of General Meeting published on SENS on                                                        Thursday, 12 January
     Partial Offer either declared unconditional as to acceptances or declared to have                         Tuesday, 14 March
     terminated, as applicable, by no later than
     Finalisation announcement, in which Partial Offer declared wholly unconditional, and any                  Tuesday, 14 March
     extension of the Offer Closing Date specified, published on SENS by 11h00, expected to
     be on
     The following entries assume that all Partial Offer Conditions Precedent are fulfilled or, if             Tuesday, 14 March
     permitted, waived by no later than
     Finalisation announcement published in the press on                                                     Wednesday, 15 March
     Last day to trade in AfroCentric Shares in order to be eligible to participate in the Partial             Tuesday, 28 March
     Offer, expected to be on
     AfroCentric Shares trade ex the entitlement to participate in the Partial Offer, expected to            Wednesday, 29 March
     be on
     Announcement published on SENS in respect of the cash payment for Fractional                             Thursday, 30 March
     Entitlements, based on the VWAP of a Sanlam Share traded on the JSE on Wednesday,
     29 March 2023, discounted by 10%, expected to be on
     Offer Closing Date, expected to be at 12:00 on                                                             Friday, 31 March
                                                                                                     (unless extended by Sanlam)
     AfroCentric Shareholders who wish to participate in the Partial Offer must tender the
     AfroCentric Shares they wish to sell by this date and time and also elect the Settlement
     Option. If AfroCentric Shareholders do not tender their AfroCentric Shares by this date
     and time, such AfroCentric Shareholders will be deemed to have rejected the Partial Offer
     and will retain their AfroCentric Shares

     Offer Record Date, expected to be on                                                                       Friday, 31 March
     AfroCentric and Sanlam release a joint announcement on SENS, advising (i) whether                          Friday, 31 March
     Sanlam will acquire more than the Maximum Shares Percentage and (ii) what the Partial
     Offer Percentage is, expected to be on
     Results of the Partial Offer announced on SENS, expected to be on                                          Friday, 31 March
     Results of the Partial Offer announced in the press, expected to be on                                      Monday, 3 April
     AfroCentric and Sanlam release a joint announcement on SENS, advising (i) the 30-day                        Monday, 3 April
     VWAP of Sanlam Shares as at close of market on the Offer Record Date and (ii) the
     number of Sanlam Shares which will be delivered in respect of the Consideration Share
     Election for every 1 Partial Offer Share acquired in terms of the Partial Offer, as
     contemplated in paragraph 4.3 of Section B of the Circular, expected to be on
     Offer Operative Date, expected to be on                                                                     Monday, 3 April
     All Partial Offer Shares credited to Sanlam’s account with its CSDP or Broker, expected                     Monday, 3 April
     to be on
     Settlement date in respect of Offer Participants who are Certificated Shareholders and                      Monday, 3 April
     who have lodged their Form of Election and Surrender (pink) and Documents of Title with
     the Transfer Secretaries on or prior to the Offer Closing Date, on which date the Offer
     Consideration and, if applicable, Fractional Entitlements (if any) due to such Offer
     Participant will be settled as follows: (i) if elected to be settled wholly in cash, will be paid
     to the Offer Participant by EFT, or (ii) if elected to be settled wholly or partly in Sanlam
     Shares, will be credited to the Offer Participant’s CSDP or Broker account (with the
     number of Sanlam Shares delivered calculated in accordance with the Share
     Consideration Ratio), expected to be on
     Settlement date in respect of Offer Participants who are Dematerialised Shareholders, on                    Monday, 3 April
     which date the Offer Consideration and, if applicable, Fractional Entitlements (if any) due
     to such Offer Participant will be credited to the Offer Participant’s CSDP or Broker account
     (with the number of Sanlam Shares delivered, if any, calculated in accordance with the
     Share Consideration Ratio), expected to be on
     Effective Date, being the date on which Sanlam disposes of the A4S Shares to AfroCentric                    Monday, 3 April
     in consideration for the issue by AfroCentric of the A4S Consideration Shares, expected
     to be on

Please note: the entitlement in the form of Sanlam Shares will be different for each AfroCentric Shareholder, depending
on the ratio of Sanlam Shares to the Partial Offer Shares of an Offer Participant, who has elected the Consideration
Share Election, calculated in accordance with the formula set out in paragraph 4.2 of Section B of the Circular.

Notes
    1.   All times indicated in this announcement are SAST.
    2.   The dates and times indicated in the table above are based on certain assumptions regarding the date by when the Partial
         Offer Conditions Precedent and A4S Conditions Precedent, respectively, will be fulfilled or, if permitted, waived and are
         therefore subject to change, subject to the approval of the JSE and/or TRP (in circumstances where such approvals are
         required). If the relevant dates are required to change, such changes will be announced on SENS.
    3.   Share certificates in respect of AfroCentric Shares may not be Dematerialised or Rematerialised between the last day to
         trade in AfroCentric Shares in order to be eligible to participate in the Partial Offer, expected to be on Tuesday, 28 March
         2023, and the Offer Record and Offer Closing Date, expected to be on Friday, 31 March 2023, both days inclusive, during
         which period the certificated securities sub-register of AfroCentric’s Register will be closed.
    4.   AfroCentric Shareholders should note that, as transactions in AfroCentric Shares are settled in the electronic settlement
         system used by Strate, settlement of trades takes place 3 Business Days after such trade. Therefore, persons who
         acquire AfroCentric Shares after the last day to trade in order to be eligible to attend and vote at the General Meeting will
         not be eligible to vote at the General Meeting, but may, nevertheless, participate in the Partial Offer provided that (i) the
         Partial Offer becomes unconditional, (ii) such person acquires AfroCentric Shares on or prior to the last day to trade in
         AfroCentric Shares in order to be eligible to participate in the Partial Offer (expected to be on Tuesday, 28 March 2023),
         and (iii) holds such AfroCentric Shares on the Offer Record Date.
    5.   Offer Participants should note that acceptances in respect of the Partial Offer are irrevocable except in circumstances
         contemplated in regulation 105(2) of the Takeover Regulations, namely if the Partial Offer (i) has not been declared wholly
         unconditional by midnight on the 65th Business Day after the Offer Opening Date (i.e. Tuesday, 14 March 2023), (ii) has
         not been declared unconditional as to acceptances, and (iii) still remains subject to other conditions. Therefore, once a
         Partial Offer Participant has accepted the Partial Offer, they will not be able to trade their AfroCentric Shares until the
         Partial Offer is implemented or, if applicable, their acceptance is withdrawn in circumstances contemplated in regulation
         105(2) of the Takeover Regulations. Offer Participants who have withdrawn an acceptance of the Partial Offer in
         circumstances contemplated in regulation 105(2) of the Takeover Regulations may subsequently again accept the Partial
         Offer at any time on or prior to the last day to trade in order to be eligible to participate in the Partial Offer, expected to be
         on Tuesday, 28 March 2023, but should note that, in accordance with regulation 105(4) of the Takeover Regulations, they
         may withdraw such acceptance and re-accept the Partial Offer only once.
     6.  In terms of the Takeover Regulations, the Partial Offer must remain open for at least 10 Business Days after the date that
         it is announced that the Partial Offer is wholly unconditional.
     7.  Sanlam reserves the right to extend the Offer Closing Date to a later Business Day than Friday, 31 March 2023, which
         extension shall be announced by AfroCentric and Sanlam and which extended Offer Closing Date shall (i) be a Friday and
         (ii) not be earlier than 10 Business Days after the date of the announcement that the Partial Offer is unconditional. Any
         extension to the Offer Closing Date will affect other dates applicable to the Proposed Transaction, including the Offer
         Record Date, Offer Closing Date, Offer Operative Date and Effective Date. In circumstances where the Offer Closing
         Date is extended, an announcement will be released on SENS and published in the press with the relevant updates to the
         salient dates and times.

4.   FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS

     4.1. The Proposed Transaction, including the Partial Offer and the Consideration Share Election, is governed by
          and will be implemented in accordance with the laws of South Africa and is subject to applicable South African
          laws and regulations, including the Exchange Control Regulations. These South African laws may be
          different from the laws applicable in other jurisdictions. Certain AfroCentric Shareholders who have a
          registered address in and/or who are nationals, citizens or residents of foreign jurisdictions (Foreign
          Shareholders) may be prohibited from electing the Consideration Share Election, whereby they elect to
          receive Sanlam Shares pursuant to the Partial Offer.
     4.2. No action has been taken by AfroCentric or Sanlam to obtain any approval, authorisation or exemption to
          permit the settlement of the Offer Consideration in Sanlam Shares, or the possession or distribution of this
          Circular (or any other publicly available documents relating to the Proposed Transaction), in any jurisdiction
          other than South Africa.
     4.3. All AfroCentric Shareholders who have a registered address in and/or who are nationals, citizens or residents
          of any country other than in the Common Monetary Area will be deemed to be Foreign Shareholders. If a
          Foreign Shareholder elects the Consideration Share Election, thereby electing to receive Sanlam Shares in
          respect of all or a portion of the Offer Consideration, such Foreign Shareholder thereby irrevocably and
          unconditionally warrants to and in favour of AfroCentric and Sanlam that the laws applicable in the jurisdiction
          in which such Foreign Shareholder has a registered address and/or of which such Foreign Shareholder is a
          national, citizen or resident permit such Foreign Shareholder to elect, accept and receive Sanlam Shares in
          respect of all or a portion of the Offer Consideration.
     4.4. All Foreign Shareholders should consult and obtain advice from a professional advisor in the relevant
          jurisdiction without delay.

5.   WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT

     5.1. As the final terms of the Proposed Transaction are disclosed in the Circular distributed today, AfroCentric
          Shareholders are no longer required to exercise caution when trading in AfroCentric Shares and the
          cautionary announcement is hereby withdrawn.

6.   RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

     6.1. The Independent Board, individually and collectively, accepts responsibility for the information contained in
          this announcement insofar as it relates to AfroCentric. In addition, the Independent Board confirms that, to
          the best of its knowledge and belief, the information contained in this announcement, as it relates to
          Afrocentric, is true and correct and, where appropriate, does not omit anything that is likely to affect the
          importance of the information contained herein pertaining to AfroCentric and that all reasonable enquiries to
          ascertain such information have been made.
     6.2. The AfroCentric Board, individually and collectively, accepts responsibility for the information contained in
          this announcement insofar as it relates to AfroCentric. In addition, the AfroCentric Board confirms that, to the
          best of its knowledge and belief, the information contained in this announcement, as it relates to AfroCentric,
          is true and correct and, where appropriate, does not omit anything that is likely to affect the importance of the
          information contained herein pertaining to AfroCentric and that all reasonable enquiries to ascertain such
          information have been made.
     6.3. The Sanlam Board, individually and collectively, accepts responsibility for information contained in this
          announcement insofar as it relates to Sanlam. In addition, the Sanlam Board certifies that to the best of its
          knowledge and belief, the information contained in this announcement as it relates to Sanlam, is true and
          correct and, where appropriate, does not omit anything that is likely to affect the importance of the information
          contained herein pertaining to Sanlam and that all reasonable enquiries to ascertain such information have
          been made.

By order of the AfroCentric Board
Johannesburg
8 December 2022

Financial Advisor and Transaction Sponsor to AfroCentric
Investec Bank Limited

Legal Advisor to AfroCentric
Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa

Independent Expert to AfroCentric Independent Board
BDO Corporate Finance Proprietary Limited

By order of the Sanlam Board
Johannesburg
8 December 2022

Exclusive Financial Advisor to Sanlam
Rand Merchant Bank, a division of FirstRand Bank Limited

Legal advisor to Sanlam
ENSafrica

Transaction Sponsor to Sanlam
Rand Merchant Bank, a division of FirstRand Bank Limited

Date: 08-12-2022 04:35:00
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 information disseminated through SENS.