Acquisition of additional shareholding in Americash Holding LLC and CreditBox.com LLC
Finbond Group Limited
(Registration number: 2001/015761/06)
Share code: FGL ISIN: ZAE000138095
("Finbond" or "the Company" or "the Group")
ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDING IN AMERICASH HOLDING LLC AND
CREDITBOX.COM LLC
1. Introduction
Finbond shareholders are advised that Finbond Group North America LLC, a 100%
subsidiary of the Group, has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of
an additional 27.78% interest in Americash Holding LLC and CreditBox.com LLC
("the Businesses") ("the Transaction").
The Businesses are engaged in the business of owning and operating a consumer
lending business that operates online (through AmeriCashLoans.net) and at
various physical locations, predominantly in the states of South Carolina,
Wisconsin and Missouri.
2. Nature of Finbond Business and Rationale for the Transaction
Finbond is a leading South-African and North American financial services
institution that specialises in the design and delivery of unique value and
solution-based credit products tailored to borrower requirements rather than
institutionalised policies and practices.
Finbond is a credit provider with both brick and mortar and online operations.
Finbond conducts its business through a total of 602 stores (418 in South
Africa, 184 in North America).
The rationale for the Transaction includes dollar-based earnings enhancing
growth and increasing Finbond's interest in its operations in various US states,
predominantly South Carolina, Wisconsin and Missouri.
The Transaction will increase Finbond's shareholding in the Businesses to 90.57%
3. The Transaction
3.1. Nature of the Businesses
The Businesses operate via their 18 branches and online offerings in South
Carolina, Wisconsin and Missouri, offering instalment loans up to $2,500.
The Businesses' key strengths inter alia include:
• Experienced directors and senior management with extensive experience
in the US alternative financial services market;
• Established market position with various state and metropolitan
licenses;
• A proven and scalable online fintech offering;
• Loyal repeat customer base;
• Focused cash generative short-term instalment loan products;
• Well-developed information technology infrastructure and proprietary
software;
• Conservative upfront credit scoring methodologies;
• Efficient collection capabilities;
• Proven ability to steer through regulatory changes; and
• Proven ability to acquire, integrate and consolidate companies in its
market.
3.2. Salient terms
The salient terms of the Transaction are as follows:
• The purchase consideration payable by Finbond Group North America LLC
will be USD1,645,313.91 (approximately ZAR29 218 472.60) for 27.78% of
the equity interest in the Businesses.
• 100% of the purchase consideration set out above will be payable in
cash within one week from the conclusion of the Transaction.
• The vendors in respect of the Transaction are the David H. Barr Trust,
Bonnie J. Schoenberg Trust and Steven Schoenberg Trust, represented by
Mr. David Barr, Ms. Bonnie Schoenberg and Mr. Steven Schoenberg.
• The beneficial owners of the vendors are Mr. David Barr, Ms. Bonnie
Schoenberg and Mr. Steven Schoenberg.
• The net asset value and net profit before taxation of the Businesses
amounted to USD28.6 million and USD4.55 million (approximately
ZAR507.90 million and ZAR80.80 million respectively, based on
unaudited annual financial statements for the financial year ended 29
February 2024 for the Businesses.
The Businesses' unaudited annual financial statements have been prepared
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.
3.3. Condition precedent
The Transaction is not subject to the any conditions precedent.
4. Funding of the acquisition
Finbond intends to fund the Transaction from surplus cash on hand.
5. Categorisation of the Transaction
The Transaction is categorised as a Category 2 transaction in terms of the JSE
Limited Listings Requirements and is therefore not subject to Finbond
shareholder approval.
(The exchange rate applied in this announcement is ZARUSD 17.7586)
Pretoria
16 September 2024
Sponsor:
African Bank Limited (Business and Commercial Banking Division)
Date: 16-09-2024 03:50:00
Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
information disseminated through SENS.