Pick n Pay to acquire Zim TM Supermarkets shares

Sources at the country's biggest retailer by outlets said the transaction was now only awaiting the demerger of Kingdom Financial Holdings from Kingdom Meikles after a shareholder agreement last year.

Maintain branding

Details made available this week indicate that Pick n Pay could gain an additional 26% shareholding in TM Supermarkets, bringing its entire shareholding to 49%. It would also assume management control of the operation, but would maintain the branding of the supermarket chain.

Former Meikles chairman and majority shareholder, John Moxon, currently based in South Africa pending resolution of outstanding disputes that led to the proposed demerger of the group, has confirmed plans by Pick n Pay to increase its shareholding in TM Supermarkets, which has 54 outlets countrywide.

Moxon had said Pick n Pay wanted to rejuvenate the stores.

Disclosure in due course

Farai Rwodzi, the Kingdom Meikles chairman, said in a statement issued 26 April 2010 that the group would “disclose in due course” steps it had taken to turn around operation.

He added: “Since the introduction of Foliwars licences in October 2008, with effect from December 2008, Pick n Pay has supported TM Supermarkets with stock.”

Understandably, part of the shares could come from an equity conversion of the cash lent to the Zimbabwean supermarket chain for its restocking process.