Leading technology communications company in Europe and Africa, Vodafone plans to sell M-Pesa to Safaricom for $1 as it plans to simplify its management.
After Vodafone announced its first quarter (Q1) results for the year ended in March, the company entered into an agreement in April with Safaricom to sell MPHCL. MPHCL holds M-Pesa customer funds on trust for the benefit of M-Pesa customers in Kenya. Any profit generated by MPHCL, after defraying direct costs, is donated for use for public charitable purposes only.
Notably, Vodafone stated that no material gain or loss is expected to arise on disposal, as completion of the transaction is subject to various approvals, which are expected to be obtained before or during July 2023.
Vodafone wrote,
“Balances included in the Group’s consolidated financial statements for MPHCL on 31 March 2023 include short-term investments of €1,247 million and €1,226 million, due to M-Pesa customers, recorded within other investments and other creditors, respectively.
“These sums are shown in the group’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS, but MPHCL acts as the independent trustee for M-Pesa customers, independently administering the trust and holding all funds from the M-Pesa customers on trust for the benefit of M-Pesa customers.
It is worth noting that Vodafone has a controlling stake of 65.1% in M-pesa and a 5% indirect equity in Safaricom, and the transfer of the assets to Safaricom came as the company looks set to simplify its management.
An amendment to the trust deed creating M-Pesa Holding, which was published by Safaricom, however, shows that Vodafone was unconstrained in the use of interest income derived from the mobile money cash pool
Investors King understands that the deal will see Safaricom have full control of the platform that started in Kenya. Reports reveal that the move will boost Safaricom’s cash flows in addition to providing interest income if Safaricom invests M-Pesa user deposits in short-term securities.
