Shareholders in South Africa’s Aveng approved the sale of a 51% stake in the Grinaker-LTA business to Kutana Construction, the company said on Wednesday, bringing in a partner owned by black women.
The deal helps Aveng, a 125-year-old company, to align the business with the government’s economic agenda and policies aimed at transforming the South African construction industry and giving black people a more prominent ownership role.
In October, the construction firm announced plans to dispose of a 51% beneficial interest and a 45% economic interest to Kutana construction, a black women-owned entity, for R756-million ($57-million) to help the business become profitable again and introduce a black partner.
The 51% interest represents the legal voting position of the shares held by Kutana, while the 45% economic interest represents the benefit attributable to the firm.Aveng said in a statement majority of shareholders approved the disposal at its general meeting. Shares in Aveng were up 1.29% to R7.04 at 1046 GMT.With rising unemployment, the African National Congress is under increasing pressure to address gaping inequality that persists 23 years after the end of apartheid.
Aveng was one of seven construction companies which agreed in October to contribute a total of R1.5-billion over the next 12 years towards a fund to develop skills in the sector and give black workers a bigger role.
