Common Stock

12 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Common Stock [Abstract]

Common Stock

14. COMMON STOCK

Common stock

     Holders of shares of Net1's common stock are entitled to receive dividends and other distributions when declared by Net1's board of directors out of funds available. Payment of dividends and distributions is subject to certain restrictions under the Florida Business Corporation Act, including the requirement that after making any distribution Net1 must be able to meet its debts as they become due in the usual course of its business.

     Upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Net1, holders of common stock share ratably in the assets remaining after payments to creditors and provision for the preference of any preferred stock according to its terms. There are no pre-emptive or other subscription rights, conversion rights or redemption or scheduled installment payment provisions relating to shares of common stock. All of the outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

     Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share for the election of directors and for all other matters to be voted on by shareholders. Holders of common stock may not cumulate their votes in the election of directors, and are entitled to share equally and ratably in the dividends that may be declared by the board of directors, but only after payment of dividends required to be paid on outstanding shares of preferred stock according to its terms. The shares of Net1 common stock are not subject to redemption.

Common stock repurchases

     In February 2010 and in May 2010, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50 million of the Company's common stock, for a total of $100 million. The authorization does not have an expiration date.

     The share repurchase authorization will be used at management's discretion, subject to limitations imposed by SEC Rule 10b-18 and other legal requirements and subject to price and other internal limitations established by the Board. Repurchases will be funded from the Company's available cash. Share repurchases may be made through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, or both. There can be no assurance that the Company will purchase any shares or any particular number of shares.

     The authorization may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason, including market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, liquidity and other factors that management deems appropriate. During the year ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the Company repurchased 180,656 and 125,392 shares for approximately $1.1 million and $1.0 million. The Company did not repurchase any of its shares during the year ended June 30, 2010 under this authorization.

     On July 28, 2009, the Company repurchased an aggregate of 9,221,526 shares of its common stock from two shareholders, who originally acquired their shares in connection with the Aplitec transaction. The purchase price was $13.50 (ZAR 105.98) per share and was paid from the Company's cash reserves in ZAR for an aggregate purchase price of $124.5 million (ZAR 977.3 million).