Wrap Text
Old Mutual Annual General Meeting and Update on Trading and Managed Separation
OLD MUTUAL PLC
ISIN CODE: GB00B77J0862
JSE SHARE CODE: OML
NSX SHARE CODE: OLM
ISSUER CODE: OLOML
Old Mutual plc
Ref 392/16
28 June 2016
OLD MUTUAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND UPDATE ON TRADING AND MANAGED
SEPARATION
Old Mutual plc (“Old Mutual”) will be holding its Annual General Meeting at 11am today, 28 June
2016. It will also hold a General Meeting immediately afterwards to consider a revised Directors’
Remuneration Policy and adoption of a new long-term incentive plan. At the meeting, Chief Executive
Bruce Hemphill will give an update on trading for the year and update on the managed separation that
Old Mutual announced as its new strategy on 11 March 2016 with the 2015 Results.
Old Mutual Chief Executive Bruce Hemphill said: “We have started executing the managed separation
and I am pleased with the progress that we have made since the announcement three months ago.
We are now in a position to provide further guidance on our plans. Increased market volatility
following the referendum decision to leave the EU does not affect our strategy although it may impact
the performance of the underlying businesses.
“The expected headwinds of weaker and more volatile foreign exchange and equity markets to which
we made reference at our preliminary results have materialised. However, the average value of the
rand year-to-date 2016 has decreased by 22% as compared to the first half of 2015. We continue to
keep operational management focused on maximising returns.
“We are working intensively with the businesses to prepare them for separation. We remain confident
that the managed separation process will lead to the creation of shareholder value, and strong
businesses for our customers, staff and other stakeholders.”
Current trading
In the 2015 preliminary announcement, Old Mutual announced that it would discontinue reporting
quarterly following changes in regulatory obligations and market practice. OM Asset Management
(“OMAM”), Nedbank Group (“Nedbank”) and Old Mutual Wealth (“OMW”) have made their own public
announcements in respect of business performance for Q1 2016 and on 13 April we published the
Old Mutual plc Annual Report & Accounts which includes risk disclosures. Old Mutual as a whole
expects to report next to shareholders on 11 August 2016 with its Interim Results.
At our preliminary results, we stated that we expected 2016 to be a challenging year if the rand
remained weak for an extended period and if lower market levels continued. Following the occurrence
of both in the year to date, Old Mutual has traded broadly in line with the Board’s expectations. Gross
sales in the year to date have been strong but we have seen continued weakness of the rand, the
currency in which we generate most of our profits, volatility in other African currencies and lower
average equity markets. Additionally, in OMW we will incur one-off expenses regarding the capping of
exit fees in our Heritage book and in South Africa for the year to date we have seen larger than
expected claims experiences in both Property & Casualty and the Corporate business.
Managed separation update
At Old Mutual’s preliminary results for 2015, the company announced that the long term interests of
its shareholders and other stakeholders would best be served by a managed separation of the Group
into its four constituent businesses: Old Mutual Emerging Markets (“OMEM”), Nedbank, OMW and
OMAM.
The managed separation will be effected in a manner that maximises value to shareholders over time
and we expect it to be materially complete by the end of 2018. Implementing the managed separation
will require a balance to be struck between the key criteria of value, cost, time and risk. During this
period Old Mutual will:
- Continue to work with the businesses in delivering enhanced performance relative to their
peer groups
- Manage Group debt obligations, central cost reductions and distributions to shareholders
- Fulfil its on-going regulatory obligations.
Since the announcement, we have reinforced the senior management team by adding specialist
capacity to drive the planning and execution of the managed separation. The change in plc
responsibilities is resulting in a significant redesign of the head office to ensure its structure and
functions are aligned to discharging the objectives outlined above. These include supporting the
efficient running of the business, transitioning plc activities to the underlying businesses as
appropriate and managing the orderly and phased winding down of the London head office. We have
consulted with head office staff and reduced full time equivalent (“FTE”) headcount at plc by 15%, and
will see further phased reductions in FTEs as the managed separation progresses.
We have made it clear that there are a number of different means by which to achieve the managed
separation. We have set out below our current plans which have been formulated following extensive
engagement with our key stakeholders and technical advisors. These discussions are continuing. It
should be noted that the managed separation of a diverse multi-national group is a highly complex
matter. Thus, the initial plans outlined below remain subject to change as a result of factors such as
stakeholder consent and/or the readiness of the underlying businesses. Equally, we may receive
approaches for some or all of our businesses. We will evaluate these carefully and rigorously,
balancing the criteria of value, cost, time and risk relative to our broad stakeholder interests.
Subject to the above considerations we intend to pursue one or more transactions in the context of
the managed separation which will ultimately deliver two separate entities, listed on both the London
and Johannesburg stock exchanges, into the hands of Old Mutual’s shareholders. One will consist
principally of the Group’s Wealth operations and the primary means of achieving this outcome is likely
to be through a demerger. The other will consist principally of the Emerging Markets operations
through the creation of a new South African holding company. There are various means to achieve
this outcome and we will update the market on the precise steps we intend to follow in due course.
In the meantime, we intend to continue the phased reduction of our 65.8% holding in OMAM in an
orderly manner while supporting the development of its strategy, as evidenced by its recently-
announced acquisition of a majority stake in Landmark Partners.
Through Old Mutual plc’s asset disposals and use of its surplus cash, we intend to materially reduce
Old Mutual’s holding company debt.
Following the creation of the new South African holding company referred to above, we intend to
distribute, in an orderly manner, a significant proportion of the Group’s shareholding in Nedbank to the
shareholders on the register of the new South African holding company at that time, leaving OMEM
as the principal business within that group. Through its ownership of Old Mutual Life Assurance
Company South Africa, the new South African group will retain an appropriate strategic minority stake
in Nedbank, with the exact level still to be determined together with Nedbank based on OMEM’s
commercial relationship with Nedbank and influenced by the implications of the incoming Twin Peaks
regulation. The boards of directors and management teams of Old Mutual and Nedbank continue to
work closely together on these matters.
Old Mutual remains well capitalised, resilient to stress scenarios including taking into account the
managed separation process. As indicated previously, we plan to hold an update on the businesses in
early Q4 2016.
New developments and other corporate activity
Trevor Manuel will join the Board of Old Mutual Group Holdings Limited (“OMGH”), which is the
existing SA parent company of OMEM and owns 54% of Nedbank, and become non-executive
Chairman on 1 July 2016. This follows the previously announced departure of the Chairman of
OMGH, Paul Hanratty. Bruce Hemphill and Ingrid Johnson are also on the Board of OMGH.
On 1 June 2016, we announced the completion of the sale of Rogge Global Partners to Allianz Global
Investors. On 14 June 2016, OMAM announced that it would acquire a 60% equity interest in
Landmark Partners, a leading global secondary private equity, real estate and real asset investment
firm. Separately, in order to advance the on-going separation of OMAM and Old Mutual, an
acceleration and subsequent termination of the Deferred Tax Asset Deed and Seed Capital
Management Agreement has been agreed. This will result in OMAM’s on-going liabilities to Old
Mutual under both agreements being satisfied earlier than disclosed in OMAM’s initial public offering
prospectus.
Outlook
When we announced our preliminary results in 2015, we indicated that an extended period of a
weaker rand would have an impact on our reported sterling results and lower equity market levels
may put pressure on revenues. It is our expectation that the outcome of the EU Referendum on 23
June 2016 may add increased levels of market volatility which may impact the performance of the
underlying businesses.
Ends
Cautionary statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to certain of Old Mutual plc’s plans and its
current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition, performance and results. By their nature,
all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and
circumstances that are beyond Old Mutual plc’s control, including, among other things, global, and UK and South
African, domestic, economic and business conditions, market-related risks such as fluctuations in interest rates
and exchange rates, policies and actions of regulatory authorities, the impact of competition, inflation, deflation,
the timing and impact of other uncertainties, future acquisitions or combinations within relevant industries, as well
as the impact of tax and other legislation and regulations in territories where Old Mutual plc or its affiliates
operate. As a result, Old Mutual plc’s actual future financial condition, performance and results may differ
materially from the plans, goals and expectations set out in its forward-looking statements. Old Mutual plc
undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement or any other
forward-looking statements that it may make.
Enquiries
External communications
Patrick Bowes UK +44 20 7002 7440
Investor relations
Dominic Lagan UK +44 20 7002 7190
Sizwe Ndlovu SA +27 11 217 1163
Media
William Baldwin-Charles +44 20 7002 7133
+44 7834 524833
Sponsor
Merrill Lynch South Africa (Pty) Limited
Joint Sponsor
Nedbank Capital
Notes to Editors
Old Mutual provides investment, savings, insurance and banking services to 18.9 million customers in Africa, the
Americas, Asia and Europe. Originating in South Africa in 1845, Old Mutual has been listed on the London and
Johannesburg Stock Exchanges, among others, since 1999.
In the year ended 31 December 2015, the Group reported adjusted operating profit before tax of £1.7 billion and
had £304 billion of funds under management from core operations (excluding Rogge).
For further information on Old Mutual plc, please visit the corporate website at www.oldmutual.com
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