Old Mutual continues to unbundle

Published Mar 27, 2017

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Johannesburg – Financial services firm Old Mutual said it has sold a 25 percent stake in its US fund management arm to China’s HNA for $446 million (R5.54 billion), as part of its plan to split itself into four companies.

Old Mutual, which says regulatory change has made its business too complex to run in its current form, is aiming to break into four parts by the end of next year.

It has said it plans to dual-list its UK asset management and African emerging markets businesses in London and Joburg, and reduce stakes in US firm Old Mutual Asset Management (Omam) and Nedbank.

It had already started cutting its stake in Omam.

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The sale to HNA Capital US, part of conglomerate HNA’s financial services unit, cuts Old Mutual’s remaining stake in Omam to 26 percent, the firm said in a statement late on Saturday.

HNA has been building up stakes in a series of companies across Europe and the US.

It is now the third biggest shareholder in Deutsche Bank, raising its stake last week to 4.76 percent.

The two-stage Omam deal involves the sale to HNA of a 10 percent tranche at $15.30 per share and 15 percent tranche at $15.75 per share, at about $1 premium to Friday’s closing price.

REUTERS

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