UNITS of Barclays Plc and Standard Chartered Plc are among Zimbabwean banks that will need to submit final proposals of how they plan to meet local ownership laws by mid-March, a government agency said. Report by Bloomberg
Barclays, Standard Chartered and local units of South Africa’s Standard Bank Group Ltd and Nedbank Group Ltd held talks with the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board in the last week of February chief executive officer Wilson Gwatiringa said in an interview yesterday.
Under the law, foreign-owned companies must sell or cede 51% of their operations to black Zimbabweans or the government.
“Local management are consulting with their foreign shareholders with a view to get compliant indigenisation plans which meet requirements of the law,” Gwatiringa said.
Mining companies, including units of Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd and Anglo American Platinum Ltd, have already complied with the law. On March 1, President Robert Mugabe said that 51% ownership won’t be required in every case, without giving further details.
“Such variations are the prerogative of the minister,” Gwatiringa said. “If we get such plans that have such proposals, we will consult with the minister.”
Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Ltd has argued that it is already 32,23% locally-owned as it is listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, according to its preliminary submission. It has proposed giving shares to employees to make up the difference.
