The Emple Group has acquired all of Old Mutual Nigeria’s shares in the General Insurance and Life businesses.
In a statement obtained by Nairametrics, the firm stated that the decision was made in response to a strategic evaluation of the operations, which evaluated the near- and long-term prospects for the in-country asset as well as the larger Old Mutual Group.
Samuel Ogbu, CEO of Old Mutual West Africa Group, commented on the development and stated that the company’s goal has been to expand and grow the business since establishing a presence in Nigeria in 2013 in order to position Old Mutual as a top supplier of financial services in the industry.
“Along the way, Old Mutual made strategic investments to ensure that the Nigeria businesses remained on the right footing and were able to successfully compete.
However, Old Mutual has taken the decision to sell the Nigeria General Insurance and Life businesses, with the key consideration for this transaction being the optimisation of capital management,” he said.
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He noted that part of the agreement is an undertaking by the new investors to present a clear transition plan, which includes immediate and medium-term plans for growth, together with the existing team. This means that the transition will proceed with the existing team in place.
Ogbu. Said Old Mutual does not foresee any impacts on the policies and relationships with its customers and stakeholders in Nigeria and will be working with the Emple Group to ensure a smooth transition.
“We are in the process of communicating with our customers and key stakeholders, and the reassurance we are giving is that they can expect continued excellent service,” he said.
Ogbu confirmed that the company would not be leaving Nigeria completely but would maintain a presence in the country through its investment arm, Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM).
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“We see great potential in the infrastructure investments space. AIIM has had great success in the country to date, pursuing opportunities in the sub-region and beyond, through the team in Lagos. Old Mutual currently has significant investment interests in renewable energy, midstream gas, and the digital infrastructure sector in Nigeria through our various AIIM funds. Our view is long-term, and we continue to explore opportunities for growth,” added Ogbu.
He noted that the Group’s commitment to growing on the African continent remains firm.
“We returned our operations to the African continent in 2018 because of the opportunity for growth that we saw then, and which we still see today. However, this growth needs to be sustainable, in the best interests of our stakeholders, and pursued responsibly. We continually assess our efforts in every market to ensure we create value for all stakeholders,” he said.
According to him, the transaction is still subject to regulatory approval. He said that the company would be working closely with the Emple Group to ensure a smooth transition of the plan.
“We would like to thank the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the people of Nigeria for embracing the Old Mutual brand so warmly over the years. We are incredibly proud of the business we have been able to build in the country with the commitment of our local teams, and we remain confident that this legacy will continue to grow under the custodianship of the Emple Group,” Ogbu said.
