Momentum Metropolitan Holdings today (Thursday 22 April 2021) delivered on its proposed Employee Ownership Share Plan (ESOP) empowering over 13,000 employees from an allocation of over 44.9 million shares. This follows the shareholder approval as announced in November 2020.

The inclusive employee share ownership plan benefits all permanent, South-African based employees and although weighted in favour of Black employees, (including African, Coloured and Indian (ACI) as defined in the BB-BEE Codes), it includes all race groups.

Black employees who currently constitute over 78% of the Group’s employee base, will receive at least 85% of the economic benefits from the Scheme. Black women employees will receive 55% of the economic benefits from the Scheme. Current employees will receive 80% of the share allocation with the remaining 20% being set aside for new employees joining the Group over the next five years.

The transaction further enhances the company’s BB-BEE objectives through more representative ownership and aligns with its growth strategy. The pursuit of economic transformation is an important business imperative for enabling sustainable new business opportunities and growth. This inclusive transaction will therefore contribute to value creation for all the Group’s stakeholders including shareholders, clients, financial advisers and employees.

Commenting on the transaction, Jeanette Marais, deputy CEO of Momentum Metropolitan says, “As a company committed to authentic economic transformation, this is a significant milestone in providing inclusive equity ownership for our employees, who today become shareholders and co-owners of the company. The transaction has a 10-year restricted period before employees can receive shares and is thus focused on long-term value. It is a way for employees to collectively work towards and share in the success and growth of the company over time. For many, this will be the first acquisition in their personal share portfolios.

“Named iSabelo, which means ‘gift granted’, the transaction will strengthen the Group’s BB-BEE Equity Ownership pillar and contribute towards retaining its competitive empowerment rating, which is imperative for doing business in South Africa. We are proud that the Momentum Metropolitan Group has retained its Level 1 BB-BEE status for three consecutive years.”

Employees are not required to contribute financially towards their allocation of shares; however, they will need to remain employed for seven years to retain 100% of the benefit of their allocated equity, subject to a 10-year redemption restriction. Employees resigning early will retain a percentage of their allocation, again subject to the 10-year redemption restriction. Retiring employees, or those that pass away, will retain 100% of their allocation.

To underscore the spirit of inclusivity, employees were invited to become the faces and ambassadors of the launch campaign. Professionally styled and photographed, employees were primed as models and ambassadors for the day. Unanimous in their enthusiasm and endorsement of the ESOP, reactions included: “iSabelo makes me feel valued and excited at the same time” (Hemish Kara, Metropolitan),“iSabelo makes me feel powerful and I have a say” (Michael Whitehead, Momentum Provincial Executive) and “iSabelo makes me feel ecstatic and included” (Juaneez Madumbo, Momentum Metropolitan IT Human Capital). Employees also gave input on the design of the iSabelo visual identity, logo and look and feel.

Following the requisite approval received from shareholders in November 2020, 3% of the issued ordinary share capital of Momentum Metropolitan Holdings , of approximately 44.9 million shares, has been placed in the Momentum Metropolitan iSabelo Trust, for allocation to current and future permanent South African-based employees over a period of five years. Commenting on the governance of the Momentum Metropolitan iSabelo Trust, Lulama Booi, Head of Balance Sheet Management and iSabelo Project Lead commented, "The Trust has been set up to enable effective governance through an independent Board of Trustees. Employees will have the opportunity to appoint the majority of the Trustees, of which two, will be employees. Through these governance structures employees will be able to influence how the Trust votes on MMH shareholder resolutions. We look forward to welcoming this new group of active shareholders."

Outlining the funding of the transaction Marais added, “The Group has contributed 10% towards the initial cost of the shares, with the remaining 90% funded with debt which the Group also partly funded, and which will be serviced and repaid through dividends and share price growth. Staff therefore benefit from the 10% discount, and the extent to which the total shareholder return exceeds the cost of the debt.”

In conclusion Marais says: “With owning a part of the business also comes the responsibility of doing what is right for the business and for our stakeholders. We hope that being a shareholder will encourage our employees to think like entrepreneurs and employ a strategic mindset in how they would grow and thrive their business. The success we achieve together, will be shared.”