South Africa fund raises KenGen stake with 85.1 million more shares

What you need to know:

  • PIC has been buying KenGen shares in batches; it first it purchased 72.9 million units and followed it up with 12.2 million units earlier this month.
  • The South African fund will rise to become the second largest shareholder of KenGen after the National Treasury
  • The transaction will see Kengen hit the target of raising a total of Sh28.7 billion.

South Africa’s pension fund Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has raised its stake in KenGen to 6.62 per cent following the purchase of an additional 85.1 million shares, signalling its confidence in the power producer’s prospects.

The fund, which is set to be allotted 351.2 million KenGen shares equivalent to 5.33 per cent equity, recently purchased the 85.1 million shares amounting to a 1.29 per cent stake in the open market.

PIC has been buying KenGen shares in batches; it first it purchased 72.9 million units and followed it up with 12.2 million units earlier this month.

“With the additional shares bought from the market, PIC’s total holding on allotment, assuming all else equal would be 436.3 million shares equivalent to 6.62 per cent shareholding,” the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firm said in a statement.

Second largest shareholder

The South African fund will rise to become the second largest shareholder of KenGen after the National Treasury whose stake will stand at 70 per cent after being diluted 5.3 per cent alongside other investors in the recent rights issue.

The government’s ownership rose to 73.92 per cent after a section of shareholders declined to take up 351.2 million shares in the cash call, with a decision subsequently made to sell the shares to PIC for Sh2.3 billion.

The transaction will see the company hit the target of raising a total of Sh28.7 billion, having netted Sh26.4 billion in the cash call.

KenGen is raising cash to boost its financial position at a time when it has lined up more capital-intensive power projects.

The company says the projects will cost nearly $1 billion (Sh103 billion) in aggregate, with various funding options including debt and joint ventures being considered to raise the large sum.

The investment in KenGen underlines PIC’s strategy of diversifying outside South Africa where it is one of the biggest investors in publicly traded firms.