AFGRI acquires stake in bank and broadens financial offering

AFGRI Holdings Proprietary Limited (“AFGRI”), the leading agricultural services and food processing company is pleased to announce the potential acquisition of the National Bank of Greece Group’s stake in the South African Bank of Athens Limited (“SABA”), corresponding to 99.81% of the issued share capital (the ‘’Transaction”) of SABA .

The Transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including, regulatory approvals from the South African Reserve Bank (“SARB”), the South African Minister of Finance as well as the South-African Competition Authorities. AFGRI is liaising with SARB in this regard and is in the process of preparing the prescribed applications for the regulatory approvals under the guidance of appointed advisors.

“AFGRI values the support of clients, depositors and banking partners of the SABA and commits to continue to provide the service excellence they are accustomed to,” said AFGRI CEO, Chris Venter. He went on to say that acquisition would be a further enabler to both AFGRI and SABA customers.

Fairfax Africa Holdings Corporation, the indirect controlling shareholder of AFGRI, has provided its support for the proposed transaction.

SABA was established and has been operational in South Africa since 1947. It offers comprehensive traditional business banking such as lending, transaction banking, treasury and foreign exchange. It is further known for its focus on the development of market leading niche transactional banking offerings in partnership with businesses.

“We are impressed with the strides SABA has made in specialised banking offerings especially as these pertain to the application of technology and innovative solutions,” indicated Venter.

Venter concluded by indicating that the acquisition provides an additional retail and alliance banking platform to current and prospective AFGRI customers where deposit taking and lending is possible and in this way enables AFGRI to continue with its focus of innovation and an enabler to food security.