JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner Exxaro Resources on Monday moved to ease shareholder concerns over its new replacement black economic empowerment (BEE) scheme that will ultimately hold a 30% stake in the JSE-listed firm.
Shareholders had queried the ultimate controller of K2016475450 (BEE SPV), the special purpose vehicle that would hold a 52.2% stake in K2016473215, or NewBEECo, which in turn will hold the 30% stake in Exxaro.
Exxaro has confirmed that it will hold a 24.9% stake in NewBEECo and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) 22.9%.
The BEE SPV comprises shareholders Eyesizwe Mining’s subsidiary Dreamvision Investments, which will hold an 84.2% stake, Eyabantu Capital, with 3.1%, and Basadi Ba Kopane Investments with 12.7%.
The diversified miner explained that Dynamo Investment, an Eyesizwe Mining shareholder, will be unbundled, and Eyesizwe restructured to ensure no single shareholder would control Eyesizwe Holdings.
“In addition, sufficient shares in Eyesizwe Mining will be transferred from Eyesizwe Holdings to the National Movement of Rural Women NPC, such that Eyesizwe Holdings would reduce to a 49.8% shareholding in Dreamvision Investments,” Exxaro said, adding that the end result would see Eyesizwe Holdings lose control over Dreamvision, and increase the broad-based nature of the structure.
Shareholders also queried the timing of both the introduction of an employee and community scheme, as well as the listing on an exchange restricting trading to historically disadvantaged South Africans (HDSA) parties.
“Exxaro has already noted in the circular to shareholders dated October 23, that a portion of its equity holding into NewBEECo is intended for the empowerment of communities and employees,” Exxaro pointed out.
The company aimed to finalise an appropriate structure and have executed all transaction agreements by June 30, 2018, to transfer no less than 10% of its equity holding in NewBEECo for the empowerment of relevant employees and communities.
Exxaro also planned to consult with the IDC and the Public Investment Corporation by November 2018 over the possible listing of the shares of NewBEECo on a stock exchange which restricts trading to HDSA parties.