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DataPro Group and Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund Announce BEE Transaction

Mon, 15 January 2007

Press Release

15 JANUARY 2007 -The DataPro Group has announced a significant investment commitment by the Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund, a joint venture between the Lereko and Metier groups.

The transaction will leave the Fund holding around 20% of DataPro Group's issued share capital once the Group's acquisition of Orion Telecom, announced in November 2006, is complete. The Orion Telecom deal, valued at R380m, will be funded through a combination of debt and equity financing. The Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund, who will invest more than R120m in equity capital, will take up the shares at 85c, representing a premium of 1.43% to the 30-day weighted average traded share price for the DataPro Group up to the deal's approval by the Board on Friday, January 12, 2007.

Once the Orion transaction is complete, the Lereko Metier deal will see the DataPro Group's total BEE shareholding rise to over 25.1%. Subsequent to DataPro Group obtaining approval for the acquisition of Orion Telecom by the Competition Commission on January 9, 2007, the last remaining conditions precedent to the successful conslusion of the transaction are shareholder approval and the completion of debt and equity capital raising.

DataPro Group executive chairman Tony van Marken says the deal is a critical component of the Group's strategy. "Orion Telecom has a significant base of business within provincial governments, municipalities, the SANDF and the SAPS, and this transaction is in line with our strategy to make sure we meet BEE requirements in the public sector so that we can maintain and grow our base of business. In addition, a key pre-requisite for procurement in the corporate sector is to deal with companies that are BEE compliant and this forms a large part of Orion Telecom's customer base."
"We're very excited to grow our partnership with the Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund," adds van Marken. "The Principals have deep experience and an outstanding track record of delivery and we look forward to them adding real value to the Group. Their investment is a significant endorsement of our potential in the telecommunications marketplace.".

Thierry Dalais, of the Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund says the Principals have built confidence in DataPro Group, its strategy and team over the past year. "Together we have worked on several projects and been committed to an exciting strategy. The Metier Group has already made a significant investment in the DataPro Group and the opportunity for the Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund to provide further capital has been a logical next step. The Fund is ideally positioned to partner entrepreneurially driven management groups, providing them with support and skills, and this investment opportunity fits our strategy."

Contacts

DataPro Group
Main Switchboard:
+27 11 809 1500

Please direct all your Investor Relations enquiries to:

Carine Conradie
Email: mailto:ir@dataprogroup.co.za
Tel: 011 809 1500

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