South Africa’s Sanlam To Buy 60% Of MultiChoice’s Insurance Business

South African insurer, Sanlam, will buy a 60% stake in MultiChoice’s insurance business for an upfront cash amount of 1.2 billion rand ($66 million) and a potential performance based cash earn-out of up to 1.5 billion rand.

“Through the strategic relationship with Sanlam, MultiChoice gains access to unparalleled insurance expertise, comprehensive financial services resources and access to Sanlam’s financial services operations across Africa to address MultiChoice client needs,” the companies said on Tuesday in a joint statement.

MultiChoice, Africa’s biggest pay-TV company, said that while its insurance business has demonstrated substantial growth in South Africa, its ambition to expand locally and across Africa “requires a step-up in resources, expertise and technology”.

“Sanlam’s extensive presence and expertise across the African continent, coupled with its track record of success in insurance ventures with non-insurers, positions it strongly for a strategic venture with MultiChoice,” the companies said in a joint statement.

“The potential cash earn-out payment is contingent upon the total gross written premium generated by the insurance business for the year ending Dec. 31, 2026,” they added.

A pre-acquisition dividend of 59 million rand will also be declared by MultiChoice’s insurance business.

According to reuters.com, by 0747 GMT, shares in Sanlam were up nearly 5%, while MultiChoice inched up 0.36%.

“MultiChoice will retain a 40% interest in the insurance business and 40% in the broader commercial venture with Sanlam.

“The deal gives Sanlam an opportunity to further expand its insurance and financial services business across Africa,” the companies said, adding that “Opportunities outside South Africa will be facilitated through its SanlamAllianz business.”

Sanlam has recently released its operational updates for the three-months period ending 31 March 2024, maintaining a strong performance across the group.

Performance highlights included: Net result from financial services and cash net result from financial services increased by 14%; Net operational earnings increased by 16%, benefiting from improved investment return; Life insurance new business volumes were 15% higher; Life insurance net value of new business increased by 10% on a constant economic basis; Group net client cash inflows improved by 14% to R8,8 billion; Solvency position of the group remained strong and within target ranges; and The group’s discretionary capital balance increased to R3,7 billion.

Sanlam group CEO, Mr Paul Hanratty said: “We are pleased with the positive performance across our business, despite a challenging backdrop. The performance is underpinned by the commitment of our people and the diversity of our operations by product, market segment and geography, coupled with excellent cash generation and the group’s solid capital base.”

The group progressed further on its strategy in the first quarter of 2024. In February, Sanlam announced an offer to acquire all the issued ordinary shares in Assupol for R6,5 billion, subject to requisite approvals, one of which was the Assupol shareholders’ approval, which has been granted. The transaction will strengthen the Sanlam’s position in the South African entry-level market segment in the long term.

The final step in integrating the Absa asset management business into Sanlam’s investment operations took place with the merger of the Absa Fund Managers platform into the Sanlam Collective Investments platform in March 2024.

In line with the group’s strategy to strengthen its position in the fast-growing Indian insurance sector, in April, Sanlam announced the proposed transaction to increase its effective shareholding to more than 50% in the Shriram life and general insurance entities, subject to requisite approvals.

Life and health net result from financial services benefited from mortality profits earned off a larger book of business, higher asset-based fee income because of overall book growth and improved credit spread earnings due to the contraction of credit spreads in international bond portfolios.

Life insurance new business volumes recorded satisfactory growth, boosted by strong sales in South Africa and Asia. South Africa recorded good growth in retail mass sales as well as strong single premium sales in the retail affluent and corporate businesses, with Asia benefiting from robust sales in India and Malaysia.

On a comparable basis, Pan Africa showed good growth driven by improved performance in Namibia, Tanzania, and Egypt.

General insurance reported a decline in net result from financial services as strong performance from the South Africa and Asia operations was offset by slightly weaker Pan-Africa performance, due to a change in accounting policy for the general insurance business in Pan-Africa.

On a comparable basis, general insurance profits were strongly up, benefiting from good underwriting results and growth in premiums. General insurance gross written premiums increased by 5%.

Santam recorded a 7% increase in net earned premium for the conventional insurance business and Asia recorded very strong growth of 37%.

In Pan-Africa, SanlamAllianz Re and most other markets recorded good growth, though dampened by underperformance in Côte d’Ivoire.

Santam further recorded an underwriting margin within its target range of 5% to 10%. Asia recorded strong growth in net result from financial services from improved claims experience and strong book growth in India.

The Pan-Africa operations recorded a net insurance margin at the lower end of the 10% to 15% target range, with the underwriting margin at 6,6%.

Investment management net result from financial services increased by 4% as satisfactory growth in the South African operations was dampened by lower earnings in the international operations due to lower assets under management from significant net outflows in previous periods.

Credit and structuring net result from financial services increased by 12% with India recording good growth on the back of increased advances, coupled with improved collections.

South Africa recorded higher earnings, benefiting from improved collections in addition to the increased ownership in Sanlam Personal Loans from 70% to 100% in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Outlook
Concluding, Mr Hanratty said: “Globally, inflation and interest rates remain stubbornly high but we remain insulated from the effect of this and will benefit from the eventual normalisation of these macro variables.

“While we remain concerned about the risks posed by global geopolitics, our balance sheet is resilient against macro shocks and our people show the greatest commitment to deliver results.

“Our group earnings, however, remain sensitive to significant moves in global investment market levels.”

Sanlam is a diversified financial services company headquartered in South Africa, with a strong presence in more than 30 countries on the African continent, India, Malaysia and selected developed markets.