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Sekunjalo Investments Limited Acquires 30% Stake In Sharenet Group

Release Date: 08/07/2005 07:46
Code(s): SKJ
Wrap Text

Sekunjalo Investments Limited Acquires 30% Stake In Sharenet Group Sekunjalo Investments Limited (Incorporated In The Republic Of South Africa) (Registration Number 1996/006093/06) SHARE CODE: SKJ ISIN: ZAE000017893 ("SEKUNJALO" OR "THE COMPANY") 08 JULY 2005 SEKUNJALO INVESTMENTS LIMITED ACQUIRES 30% STAKE IN SHARENET GROUP Sekunjalo Investments Limited has acquired a 30% stake in the Sharenet Group of companies as part of a strategic thrust into financial services. Mr Norman Noland, The Executive Deputy Chairman of SEKUNJALO CAPITAL (PTY) LTD, the fast growing Financial Services Division of SEKUNJALO INVESTMENTS LIMITED says that he is extremely excited and proud of this transaction as Sharenet is one of the leading online providers of financial information to the consumer market in South Africa. The acquisition provides Sekunjalo with access to 40000 Sharenet clients, as well as an established brand and market - leading IT infrastructure. Sharenet (Pty) Ltd was incorporated in 1988 as Network Information Systems cc. The company initially used the Beltel system introduced by Telkom to convey real time share prices to the public before moving its systems online in 1995 and becoming the first vendor of JSE prices via the Internet. In 1998 Sharenet introduced online trading services. The company prides itself on the provision of fast and reliable services, backed by unsurpassed customer support, to the financial markets. The Sekunjalo shareholding was acquired from the Dale Group, a private equity partnership investing in the financial services, leisure and IT sectors of the South African economy. Since acquiring a minority stake in Sharenet, Dale, together with Sekunjalo Capital, has been involved in helping the company to diversify away from a pure JSE-focus. The Sharenet group now incorporates an electronic personal finance newsletter, Shareviews, and a product sourcing and engineering platform, Sharenet Financial Solutions. This platform provides Sharenet users with information on a broader range of financial products and services. Sekunjalo will add considerable value to the Sharenet Group. As a black owned and managed, JSE-listed and long-term investor Sekunjalo is able to offer corporate expertise, innovation and best practice to the companies in which it is invested. Importantly Sekunjalo also provides the Sharenet group with access to the growing black middle class. A recently released report by stockbroking firm Merrill Lynch stated that black consumers were becoming increasingly important in the marketplace and South Africa"s growing black middle class was having a significant effect on the economy. According to the report, the proportion of black South Africans in the top income bracket, those earning R12 000 and more, had increased from 16.5 percent to 19 percent in the past three years. Following on from the purchases of Life Assurance Company Bonlife and medical aid administrator Benmed, this acquisition further bolsters Sekunjalo"s presence in financial services, via it"s financial services subsidiary, Sekunjalo Capital. Sekunjalo Capital"s aim is to grow a niche financial services group, which is able to develop and distribute low margin Insurance, Medical Aid Schemes and Administration and Asset Finance to the poor and the emerging classes in South Africa. The division will also focus on providing world-class Asset Management, Private Equity and Corporate Finance advisory services. The Sharenet group fits in with this strategy as its mature and impressive IT infrastructure will be used to support traditional financial services activities, but can also be adapted to provide innovative solutions for low-income earners. Contact Details: Melody Mjila Group Communications Manager Sekunjalo Investments Limited Tel: 021 658 2700 Date: 08/07/2005 07:46:22 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department

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