SASFIN HOLDINGS LIMITED - South African Revenue Services summons on Sasfin Bank Limited

South African Revenue Services summons on Sasfin Bank Limited

Sasfin Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1987/002097/06)
Share code: SFN
ISIN: ZAE000006565
("Sasfin Holdings")

South African Revenue Services ("SARS") summons on Sasfin Bank Limited ("Sasfin Bank" or "the
Bank")

Shareholders of Sasfin Holdings are advised that Sasfin Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sasfin Holdings,
was served a civil summons for a total amount of R4,872,327,649.27 plus interest and costs in the form of a
damages claim, instituted by SARS. This summons, which was received on 9 January 2024, arises from SARS'
purported inability to collect income tax, Value Added Tax and penalties allegedly owed by former foreign
exchange clients of the Bank.


Former foreign exchange clients of the Bank operated as a syndicate that ran an unlawful scheme to facilitate
the expatriation of money out of South Africa and colluded with former employees of the Bank who operated
outside the scope of their employment. The details hereof are disclosed in the 2023 Integrated Annual Report
of Sasfin Holdings (available on Sasfin Holdings' website). The Bank took decisive action when it became
aware of this unlawful scheme, including instituting an expanded investigation led by an independent forensic
consultancy. This resulted in the termination of relationships with the implicated clients and employees and
the opening of criminal cases against them.


Subsequent to receiving the summons, Sasfin Bank engaged transparently with the relevant regulators on the
matter and obtained a legal opinion from ENS, authored by Professor Dale Hutchinson, Professor Michael
Katz and Aslam Moosajee and endorsed by Adv. Wim Trengove S.C ("Legal Opinion"). The Legal Opinion is
unequivocal that the claim falls outside of the recognised parameters of applicable law and has a very remote
likelihood of success. On the basis of this strong Legal Opinion, Sasfin Holdings concluded that the claim will
not result in the recognition of any liability. Sasfin Holdings continues to engage with its regulators in this
regard.


It has become appropriate to announce this matter on SENS, however the board of directors of Sasfin Holdings
remains of the view that SARS' claim has no merit and has little chance of success. The Bank will therefore
defend the claim, and given that this involves a defended trial action, the matter is only likely to come to trial
in several years' time.


Johannesburg
27 February 2024

Sponsor
Questco Corporate Advisory Proprietary Limited

Date: 27-02-2024 01:00:00
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