Category Archives: Centum

M&A Moment: June 2016

Various deals in the last few weeks and months in East Africa

Banking:

  • Barclays sold 12% of Barclays Africa for $873 million, reducing its’ stake to 50.1%. In Kenya, the Central bank said their feel like `flower girls’ in the Barclays exit for which Barclays says it has attracted ‘over 100’ offers.
  • At Chase Bank suitors are lining up to buy the bank that’s now out of receivership. KCB and QNB of Qatar are tipped as leaders, but there are a few other mid-size banks said to be interested.
  • Cooperative Bank plans to do joint ventures to expand into Ethiopia and Rwanda following in the model that was successful in South Sudan. This will be in partnerships with co-operative societies in those countries.
  • Credit Bank is seeking an additional Kshs 5.4 billion from an investment group. The bank is wooing Fountain Enterprises Programme (FEP) to buy to 70% of the bank via a private offer priced at Kshs 180 apiece and limited to members of the chama (investment club) which has a large following in the UK and US. (via Biz Daily)
  • CBK has rejected takeover bids by 7 suitors of collapsed Dubai Bank, as the proposed investors have not provided bona fides.
  • Equity Bank is completing the acquisition of 79% of Congo (DRC), the 7th largest bank – ProCredit Bank for w Africa. It has 170,000 customers and only about 4% of their 85 million citizens  have bank accounts.
  • The Mwalimu SACCO/Equatorial Commercial Bank combination is going to be called Spire Bank (via Mwirigi)
  • Fidelity Bank is set to receive an investment from Duet Private Equity who will pay Kshs 1.9 billion to buy into the bank (no shareholders are exiting).
  • I&M is set to acquire 100% of Giro bank in a deal in which the owners of Giro will get 5% of I&M. Also, CDC is set to become the fourth-largest owner of I&M after it agreed to fully buy out DEG and Proparco, who hold an 11%  stake. The Competition Authority of Kenya has authorized the acquisition of 65% of Burbidge Capital by I&M.
  • Jamii Bora is looking to raise an additional Kshs 3.8 billion, comprising 800 million of debt and Kshs 3 billion from a strategic partner/investor.
  • Kenya Government: The National Bank of Kenya (NBK), Consolidated Bank and the Development Bank of Kenya will be consolidated into one or two institutions to make them stronger in coming months,  to make them stronger, Treasury secretary Henry Rotich has said.
  • The Kenya government also plans to create Biashara Bank form merging the Youth, Women’s & Uwezo enterprise funds) to cater for start-ups
  • Tanzania’s Bank M is set to acquire Kenya’s Oriental Commercial Bank, and be listed at the NSE. Bank M, a recent winner of best corporate bank in Tanzania has set up a holding company in Kenya (via Kenyanwalstreet)

Beauty & Pharma

  • The Competition Authority authorized the acquisition of 100% of Canon Chemicals by Godrej East Africa Holdings
  • Earlier the Competition Authority cleared the acquisition of the brands of Sigoria t/a Beuty Plus East Africa by Flame Tree Africa – this was part of the acquisition of the ‘Suzie Beauty’ brand and inventories for Kshs  45 million.

Food & Beverage

  • Centum made an offer to buy shares from some minority Almasi bottling shareholders.
  • The Competition Authority authorized the acquisition of Sab Miller by Anheuser-Busch Inbev.
  • Naked Pizza Kenya has been bought out by Pizza Hut (more here)
  • Coca-Cola Company  announced a new streamlined international structure. The company will form a Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Group, consisting of the business units that currently make up the Europe and the Eurasia and Africa Groups. And, in Africa, two business units will be reconfigured to more closely align operations with bottling operations on the continent, with the formation of a new South and East Africa business unit and a West Africa business unit. (Edit)

Finance, Law, & Insurance

  • Helios did a deal for Crown Agents key units marking the first time an African-managed fund acquired a UK financial institution.
  • Ringier Africa Deals group (ex-Rupu) acquired Nigerian online shopping platform DealDey
  • The Competition Authority authorized the acquisition of an additional 16% of AON Kenya Insurance Brokers Limited by AON UK Holdings  giving it a controlling interest of 56%.
  • The Competition Authority authorized the acquisition of 63% of First Assurance Company by First Assurance Holdings  on condition that the merged entity shall retain all 120 employees of First Assurance Company
  • Resolution Insurance was set to raise Kshs 2.5 billion in a series of transactions that will see new investors join private equity firm Leapfrog Investments in the list of the company’s shareholders (via Biz. Daily)
  • Two of the oldest Kenyan law firms, Daly & Figgis (1899) and Inamdar & Inamdar (1926) will now practice as Daly & Inamdar.
  • Plum LLP plans to buy a 23% of insurer British-American Investments(Britam) that had been seized by the government of Mauritius from a disgraced businessman in 2015. (Edit)

Logistics, Engineering, & Agri-Biz

  • Google agreed to buy a 12.5% stake in Africa’s largest wind project, Kenya’s Lake Turkana, from Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems A/S. The 310-megawatt Lake Turkana wind park, controlled by Lake Turkana Wind Power, is set to produce about 15% of Kenya’s electricity needs (via Marketwatch).
  • The Competition Authority authorized the acquisition  of 100% of  Schreurs Naivasha by Kongoni River Farm.
  • The  Competition Authority authorized the acquisition of 49% of, and or 100% preference shares in, Seruji Limited by QG African Infrastructure 1L.P.
  • The Competition Authority  authorized the acquisition of assets of Lima by Panafrican Equipment – (Biwott)
  • The Competition Authority authorized the acquisition of 51% Transmara Sugar by Sucriere Des Mascareignes
  • The Competition Authority  authorized the acquisition of the assets of Afro Plastics Kenya  by Ashut Engineers.
  • Finlays Horticulture Kenya  was granted approval by the Competition Authority to buy Skytrain Limited, which provides the essential service to cargo airlines at JKIA (via Biz. Daily)
  • Swiss logistics giant Panalpina completed the buyout of a majority stake in Nairobi-based air freight forwarder Airflo for an undisclosed amount. (via Biz. Daily)
  • Craft Silicon will launch the Little Drivers service starting with 2,000 drivers — formerly of Easy Taxi, which exited the Kenyan and African markets last month after a decision by one of its investors, American firm Goldman Sachs, to direct all its investments towards Uber. (via Biz. Daily)
  • A British engineering firm that designed the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai has acquired a Kenyan company, making Nairobi its African headquarters for property, energy and infrastructure deals. Atkins will build on the strong regional market presence of Howard Humphreys East Africa to grow its consultancy business lines including design, engineering and project management. (via Biz. Daily)
  • TransCentury Group reached a settlement with its majority convertible bondholders, reducing the debt from $80M to $40M as the company has secured an equity injection of $20M from Kuramo Capital, bringing the outstanding bond debt to USD 20M. (Edit)

Real Estate & Supermarkets 

  • The Competition Authority  authorized the acquisition of 100% of Vipingo Estate  by Centum Investments.
  • The Competition Authority  authorized the  acquisition of a further 40% of Two Rivers Lifestyle Centre  by OMP Africa Investment Company (Old Mutual.) Also at Two Rivers,  Carrefour has signed a 7-year lease that  guarantees some exclusivity.
  • The  Competition Authority authorized the acquisition of  Yako Supermarket by  Nakumatt Holdings, on condition that the merged entity shall retain all 283 employees of Yako Supermarkets.
  • Suppliers adopted Uchumi’s revival plan that included convert half of the debt owed to them into equity but Uchumi’s largest shareholder,  Jamii Bora Bank, said they were duped in investing in the chain two years ago.
  • Botswana supermarket chain Choppies finally succeeded in its quest to enter Kenya’s retail space through the acquisition of Ukwala

Telecommunications, Media & Publishing

  • The Competition Authority authorized the acquisition of 70% of Telkom Kenya  by Jamhuri Holdings (Helios)
  • Times Media Group paid a lot for half of the Radio Africa Group, but it mostly went to settle their debt that was $11 million (via #JKL #thismanpike)
  • Centum increased its stake in Longhorn to 60% in a recent rights issue (it was 31% before).
  • Bamba TV and Standard Group signed a Kshs 300 million partnership that will see KTN acquire a 50%  stake in Lancia Digital Broadcasting, the trademark owner of Bamba TV. (via The Star) (Edit)
  • Trace TV acquires African VOD Service Buni.Tv which is one of the 3 largest VOD services in Africa alongside Iroko TV and Naspers Showmax (Edit)
  • Longhorn Publishers is set to acquire 74% Law Africa Publishing for an undisclosed price. (Edit)

Other

  • The Competition Authority authorized the acquisition of 30% of KEG Holdings by Africa Bovine.
  •  The Competition Authority  authorized the acquisition of 51% of Universal Corporation  by Strides Pharma (Cyprus)
  • The Competition Authority of Kenya authorized the acquisition of shares in Stellar Investment Holdings by Catalyst OCL Investment LLC , pursuant to the provisions of a convertible debt instrument.
  • Marriott International have rebranded Protea Hotels to capitalize on the travel aspirations of Africa’s growing middle class and the increased presence of international hotel brands in Africa. The brand is now officially Protea Hotels by Marriott (Edit)
  • GardaWorld acquires KK Security: The international protective service firm had added KK Security to its global network which now includes 18 African countries, up from 11 before. (Edit)

Rumours

  • Tigo to buy out of Airtel Kenya?
  • Gossip blog Ghafla Kenya gets acquired by Ringier (via Techweez)

Industry Stuff

  • An investment banker’s worst nightmare .. buyers in $ billion deals didn’t use financial advisers 26% of the time.
  • African private-equity deals shrink to lowest level in three years as funds reach record closes?!
  • Africa private equity exits reach a nine-year high?!
  • UK business aviation feels that a Britain split from the European Union would be a very bad thing.
  • The African Development Bank is putting up a fund with $5 billion, specifically to incubate ideas from young Africans.

$1 = Kshs 100

Nairobi Mall and Supermarket Moment

A research report by Knight Frank notes that Nairobi has about 470,000 square meters of shopping center space under  development underway and is one of the five largest cities in Africa (excluding South Africa) in that regard (it currently has 391,000 square meters of shop space).

Knight Frank Shop Africa Nairobi spotlight

Knight Frank Shop Africa Nairobi spotlight

Knight Frank notes that, aside from Actis (the pioneering UK investor), most of the developers and landlords of Nairobi’s shopping centres are local Kenyan property owners.

A second Buffalo Mall is to be built in Eldoret. This comes after the Pivotal Fund acquired 50% of Buffalo Mall Naivasha.

Carrefour: This week opened their first store in East Africa. a 60,000 square foot hypermarket at the Hub in Karen, one of 57 stores that have opened there. Carrefour will be the anchor tenant and are run under the franchise of Majid Al Futtaim Retail of Dubai.   EdIt – Carrefour Kenya have an app for shoppers 

(The) Game operated by Massmart. in which Walmart has a majority stake, opened at Garden City Mall as the anchor tenant. 

Khetia:  are in the midst of a Kshs 1  billion expansion in western Kenya. They plan to open up stores in Kisii, Busia and Kericho, each of which requires Kshs  200 million.

Nakumatt: Just launched their 59th branch in Kakamega – the Nakumatt Midtown Supermarket. It was remodeled after Nakumatt acquired three supermarket stores in Western Kenya (Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia) from Yako Supermarkets in a Kshs 260 million investment program. They have also added new stores like Sports Planet departmental  at the reopened Westgate mall. 

Naivas The ownership of widely admired chain is subject to an inheritance court case. 

Sarit Center: Nairobi’s first formal mall is undergoing an expansion program to add more stores.  

Society Stores: An offshoot of a Khetia family member  – Trushar Khetia, hopes to grow the store brand. He says that they had the first chance to buy out Ukwala, but it wasn’t backed by the board and the deal fell through.

Two Rivers backed by Centum and built by Avic will also house a Carrefour store at the 62,000 square meter site in Ruaka that sits on 100 acres.

Tuskys: is focusing this year on staff welfare and streamlining customer service delivery through the deployment of  digital platforms for e-commerce. Shareholders are also trying to settle issues in readiness for a listing at the NSE by 2018.

Uchumi:  Is under new management and, once again, in search of a restructuring deal that involves working with suppliers, sale of assets (such as Ngong Road and Langata branches) and a share sale to a new anchor investor for about Kshs 5 billion. This has been complicated by some suppliers who sued to wind up the company, but talks are ongoing with the government, and it  appears that majority of the  suppliers will agree to convert Kshs 1.8 billion of the debt owed to them into equity at Uchumi.

Ukwala was bought by Choppies of South Africa. The deal was completed after a tax agreement deal  was reached with the Kenya Revenue Authority who were demanding back taxes from Ukwala. Ukwala had admitted to owing the taxman Kshs 101 million but appealed the additional Kshs 845 million that KRA was demanding. 

Finally, suppliers,  have complained about delayed payments by supermarkets retail chains. This was highlighted in a letter from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) to Tuskys, Nakumatt and Naivas.

$1 = Kshs 100

March 31 Numbers

It’s that time of the year when the companies that have their year-end in March get to release their 2016 results. These include  Safaricom, Centum and Kenya Airways

  • Centum: The Two Rivers mall seems also complete, and there are the venture in banking (Sidian Bank) & fund management (GenAfrica, Nabo Capital), expansion in beverage (Carlsberg beer, Almasi – Coca Cola). They exited insurance, divested of some property, and have  other new ones to pay for (Amu Power, Vipingo estates). Are they will keen on coal energy? Plus it’s time for shareholders to get some dividends.
  • Kenya Airways: Maybe the toughest year of the company in its 39-year history. One of shrinkage after a record loss , with everything “on the table” as CEO Mbuvi Ngunze has often said. This has come to include board reshuffle, selling a Heathrow airport slot, selling/leasing off brand new aircraft  (787 Dreamliners, and 777-300’s),  and staff layoffs. What’s been the financial outcome of these moves?
  • Safaricom:  Unparalleled at the top of the corporate food chain in terms of connection with citizens (communications, security) and as a taxpayer, with no rivals except itself. Has M-Pesa peaked? What’s next?

It’s also time for banks to release their quarter one results for 2016, in an interesting  year, one not seen since the dreaded early 1990’s and mid 1980’s when political banks were in the news for the wrong reasons. Everyone is wondering, who will buy reopened  Chase Bank?

Sidian Bank is Born

Last week saw the rebranding of K-Rep bank into Sidian Bank. This followed the acquisition of acquiring a majority 66% in K-Rep bank by NSE-listed investment firm, Centum Investments (through Bakki Holdco), for about Kshs 2.3 billion, in November 2014.

As Sidian, the 32-year-old bank will take on a new direction with a focus on entrepreneurs, and with the tagline #OwnTomorrow that’s rolling out at it’s 37 branches.

Managing Director, Titus Karanja, explained that the name Sidian, was inspired by the Obsidian rock, which was one of the first commodities used in barter trade – by the Mayans in middle America.

Centum now has 16 subsidiaries.

$1 = Kshs 90 in November 2014.

Edit August 2024.

In January 2023 a deal by Access Bank to buy Sidian from Centum lapsed and was terminated.

Thereafter, in October 2023, other shareholders exercised preemptive rights and acquired 38.91% of Sidian.

In August 2024, Sidian’s six shareholders are Bakki Holdco (i.e. Centum) with 40.03%, Pioneer General Insurance (24.80%), Wizpro Enterprises (18.27%), Afram (7.91%), Telesec Africa (4.50%) and Pioneer Life Investments with 4.49%.

Centum disclosed that it has realised Kshs 3.2 billion from the partial sale of the bank.

Almasi Gets Juicy

A year after Centum took control of K-Rep Bank, Almasi Beverages and Genesis Kenya, they are now seeking more shares of Almasi.

In December, they were reported to have made an offer of Kshs 6 per share to minority shareholders of Almasi, a sum that they term as a 20% premium to when the company was formed in 2013. Payment will be within 10 days of the closing date f the offer to shareholders who accept and provide original share certificates.

This came after Centum shareholders had ratified the acquisition of an additional shareholding of  3% in Almasi (for Kshs 182 million) – resulting in Almasi Beverages becoming a subsidiary in which Centum holds an aggregate of 50.95% of the issued share capital.

$1 = Kshs 102.