Ascendis concludes R50m transaction with WDBIH

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The share issue was encouraged and facilitated by Ascendis due to WDBIH's further intent to increase its shareholding in Ascendis through the imminent conclusion of a transaction with Coast2Coast Investments Proprietary Limited (C2C), the majority shareholder of Ascendis.

Details of this subsequent investment will be finalised in the next six months. The rationale for concluding the investment directly with C2C, as in the case of the recent R200m transaction with Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), is to allow Ascendis to benefit from increased BEE ownership, whilst not diluting the positions of the current Ascendis shareholders.

"This exciting development will allow WDBIH to increase its shareholding in Ascendis over a three year period through the transfer of Ascendis shares held by C2C," Ascendis CEO, Dr. Karsten Wellner, said.

Immaterial effect

"The initial investment will have an immaterial financial effect on the earnings, headline earnings, adjusted headline earnings or net asset value per share attributable to Ascendis shareholders as only 1.5% of the Ascendis shares in issue as at 12 September 2014 represent additional shares, as a result of the investment. And it is a solid foundation to increase our BEE shareholding with another strategic partner."

The initial investment will see WDBIH acquire 3,628,710 Ascendis shares, as stipulated within the JSE listing requirements. WDBIH is a private enterprise which was formed in 1996 with its major beneficiary and shareholder being the WDB Trust, whose beneficiaries are a broad-base of rural women and communities.

To date, over R150m has been repatriated to the WDB Trust to fund various development programmes focusing on the social and economic upliftment of rural women and households. WDBIH's investment mandate is to invest in high growth sectors in South Africa and Africa, where it can generate capital growth as well as access to dividends.

"WDBIH is a well-established and a highly respected BEE partner and is committed, along with the MIC, to contributing notably to the continued success and transformation of Ascendis," Dr. Wellner said. "We clearly view direct BEE ownership as a prerequisite for responsible and sustainable growth in South Africa, especially for a listed company and our responsibility as a corporate citizen, and as a result we believe that this WDBIH transaction will be beneficial to all Ascendis shareholders."