Sanlam Emerging Markets well positioned to expand Sanlam footprint

Currently, Sanlam Emerging Markets is doing business in 10 countries in Africa, excluding South Africa and Namibia

By Sanlam Group Communications
Sanlam Emerging Markets well positioned to expand Sanlam footprint
Sanlam Emerging Markets well positioned to expand Sanlam footprint

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, April 2, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Sanlam Emerging Markets (SEM), the division within the Sanlam Group (http://www.sanlam.co.za) tasked with international expansion, says it is well on track to deliver on its mandate of supporting the Sanlam Group objective of becoming a leading financial services player in selected emerging markets.


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This is in line with the Sanlam Group strategy which defines emerging markets as one of the key areas to be exploited for potential growth in the business.


Sanlam Group Chief Executive Dr Johan van Zyl has stated that: “In 2011 Sanlam's international business contributed around 15% of operating profit (pre-minorities). Our view is that this contribution can be doubled over the next five years as these markets are seen as key growth engines. Considerable work continues to be done to identify core markets for expansion.”


Earlier this month Sanlam Group announced financial results for the year ended December 2012 and reported that SEM delivered gross operating profit of R850 million, up 30% from R656 million in 2011. SEM is expected to deliver a compounded annual growth rate of (CAGR) 17% between 2011 and 2015.


SEM CEO Mr Heinie Werth says the company is pleased with the progress made by the business cluster responsible for Sanlam's expansion in emerging markets outside South Africa.


Currently, SEM is doing business in 10 countries in Africa, excluding South Africa and Namibia, as well as India and Malaysia.


In 2012 SEM concluded transactions to the value of roughly R3 billion. In the first quarter of 2013 a further transaction worth approximately R1 billion with Shriram Transport Finance Company was concluded.


For the 2012 financial year, SEM managed to increase gross operating profit from its Indian operation (Shriram) by 750% from R4 million to R34 million. With the Shriram transactions completed in 2012, a contribution of approximately R400m in profit is expected in 2013.


Gross operating profit for Namibia increased 10% to R225 million and 20% for Botswana to R499 million. For the rest of Africa, the businesses managed to increase gross operating profit by 134% to R117 million.


Among the highlights was the Nigeria operation which has managed to break even within two years of its launch, testimony to SEM's low cost expansion model in Africa.


Says Werth: “We are making steady progress towards our objectives and we are satisfied that the cluster is well positioned to increase its contribution to the Group over the next five years as the markets we operate in are seen as key growth engines.”


In addition, Werth says strong local partnerships play an important role in the company's performance: “We rely on strong local partners and management to drive business growth within each country and this has been mutually beneficial in India and in our operations in Africa.”


Sanlam has been in partnership with the Indian Shriram Group in respect of life insurance (Shriram Life) since 2005 and short term insurance (Shriram General) since 2008.


SEM was established in 2011 as a separate cluster within Sanlam to focus exclusively on emerging markets. As part of the restructuring, operations outside of South Africa formerly managed within SPF, Sanlam Developing Markets, Santam and Sanlam Investments were transferred to SEM. The integration of these businesses within SEM was successfully completed during the first half of 2012, without losing operational focus.


“We take a number of factors into account when investing. These include potential market size, growth potential, market accessibility, general business environment, specific information around financial services in life insurance, asset management and retail credit in the countries in which we operate as well as those in which we seek opportunities.


“A key focus area for SEM is South East Asia. To this end, we have already taken the first steps with the transaction in December to acquire a 49% stake in Malaysian short term insurer Pacific & Orient Insurance Co. Berhad (POI). Earlier this month their shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of the transaction.”


SEM continues to focus on growing the Group's stake in existing operations. In 2012, SEM concluded some major transactions and the Group redeployed a total of R3, 3 billion of its discretionary capital during the year. The bulk of this was invested in SEM initiatives.


Some highlights of 2012 include:


- A further R2 billion investment in the leading Indian financial services group Shriram Capital Limited;


- The acquisition of a 49% stake in the Malaysian short term insurer Pacific & Orient Insurancce Co. Berhad (POI); and


- Sanlam has been granted approval from the relevant Kenyan authorities and the South African Reserve Bank to increase its shareholding in Pan Africa Insurance Holdings (PAIH) from 50% to 60% in the open market.


Looking ahead, Werth says SEM will continue to explore further opportunities in Africa, India and South East Asia, in line with the Group's strategy and to create value for shareholders.


“We are actively working with our partners to identify appropriate opportunities. In 2013 we will focus on extracting more value from our existing partnerships in Africa.


“We have finalised our Malaysian acquisition and continue to identify other opportunities in South East Asia, which we believe offers tremendous growth opportunities,” concludes Werth.


Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of Sanlam Group Communications.

ABOUT THE SANLAM GROUP

Sanlam (http://www.sanlam.co.za) is a leading financial services group listed on the JSE Limited and the Namibian Stock Exchange. The South African based Sanlam Group conducts its business through Sanlam Limited, the corporate head office and four business clusters – Sanlam Personal Finance, Sanlam Emerging Markets, Sanlam Investments and Santam. The Group operates in South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia, India, Malaysia and the United Kingdom. It also has business interests in the USA and Australia. Sanlam provides financial solutions to individuals and institutional clients across all market segments. These solutions include personal financial services such as individual, group and short-term insurance, estate planning, trusts, wills, personal loans, savings and linked products, business fitness assessment and insurance investment management, investment management, stock-broking, risk management and capital market activities. Established in 1918 as a life insurance company, Sanlam has grown into a diversified one-stop financial services group. http://www.sanlam.co.za

Enquiries:

Ainsley Moos, Head of Group Communications

+27 21 947 5967 or +27 83 296 4697

[email protected]


OR


Pearl Majola, Sanlam Group External Communications

+27 11 778 6305 or +27 83 286 7476

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