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Nampak Limited - Nampak Concludes R1 Billion Broad-Based Bee Deal

Release Date: 18/08/2005 17:09
Code(s): NPK
Wrap Text

Nampak Limited - Nampak Concludes R1 Billion Broad-Based Bee Deal Nampak Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number 1968/008070/06) JSE code: NPK ISIN number: ZAE000004933 ("Nampak" or "the Company") PRESS RELEASE NAMPAK CONCLUDES R1 BILLION BROAD-BASED BEE DEAL A black economic empowerment (BEE) transaction, valued at nearly R1 billion and benefiting employees and broad-based groups, has been concluded by Africa"s largest packaging company, Nampak. Unveiled by Nampak"s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Bortolan, the transaction, which is a landmark for the manufacturing sector, involves 10% of the company"s equity, distributed between Nampak"s 10,200 permanent South African employees and a broad-based BEE consortium that includes two trade unions, a women"s group, as well as a leading black empowerment company. The deal comprises three separate components, namely: Nampak Employee Share Trust The Nampak Employee Share Trust (NEST) will benefit every one of Nampak"s 10,200 South African employees, who are not beneficiaries of the company"s existing share incentive scheme and who will not benefit elsewhere as beneficiaries of the BEE transaction. These employees will receive approximately 550 ordinary shares each, with a current market value of R8,321. As shareholders, voting rights will vest immediately, although they will not be able to dispose of their shares until 31 December 2010. The shares have a market value of approximately R85 million. Black Management Trust The Black Management Trust (BMT) will benefit Nampak"s black South African management. Initially the trust will benefit approximately 480 employees; this number will increase over time. Nampak will fund the shares provided to the BMT by means of a capital contribution of R413 million. Employees will be required to retain their shares for 10-years. Together, the NEST and the BMT represent 5% of Nampak. Broad-based BEE consortium This newly created entity will hold 5% of Nampak"s shares and consists of: 1. Aka Capital (Pty) Ltd, a black private equity and investment holding group headed by Reuel Khoza (chairman), Sam Nematswerani (CEO) and Gary Morolo (executive director). The company will hold 56% of the above shares. 2. Two trade unions, closely associated with Nampak, will acquire a further 28%. They are the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood & Allied Workers Union (CEPPWAWU) and the South African Typographical Union (SATU). 3. Women are represented through the National African Women"s Alliance (NAWA), which will have a 10% stake in the consortium. 4. Nampak has invited its two incumbent black non-executive directors, namely Keith Mokoape and Lot Ndlovu to participate in their personal capacities. Each will hold 2%. The balance of shares will be retained for future use. Reuel Khoza has accepted an invitation from Nampak to join the company"s Board of Directors, subject to shareholders approval. While this deal is the largest BEE transaction facilitated by Nampak to date, it is not the company"s first. Nampak has long recognised the importance of economic upliftment and opportunity creation for the majority of South Africans, who were denied access to participate fully in the formal sector. To this end, the company has concluded a number of BEE deals since the beginning of the 1990"s, among them NamITech, Peters Papers, Disaki and other smaller deals. Nampak was also one of the first listed companies to adopt and publish its own BEE Charter in May 2004. For John Bortolan this transaction represents a pivotal point in Nampak"s history. "We have spent considerable time and effort consulting with various interest groups to develop the best broad-based deal. When we set out to define the composition of the company"s BEE equity profile, we were guided by the need for transformation that placed meaningful participation in the hands of our employees and broad-based groups that represent the millions of consumers who use our products every day. NEST and the BMT make our employees real partners in the business. Everyone will derive the benefits of their hard work and commitment to this great company of ours. At the same time, our new partners bring a fresh perspective to Nampak. The partners we have in Aka Capital specifically are well-known businessmen, who are widely respected for their abilities to drive growth and achieve tangible results. Equally important is the fact that Nampak is now more aligned to the national interest." The deal is expected to enhance Nampak"s competitive edge as increasing numbers of customers demand first-class BEE suppliers. Johannesburg Thursday 18 August 2005 Date: 18/08/2005 05:10:08 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department

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