By Reuters Staff2 Min ReadFILE PHOTO: Customers at an ATM at a branch of South Africa's Standard Bank in Cape Town, March 15, 2016.... REUTERS/ Mike Hutchings JOHANNESBURG( Reuters)-Lender Standard Bank is to take full control of insurer Liberty Holdings, the two South African companies said on Thursday, with current shareholders to receive cash and shares worth around 8.6 billion rand($ 594 million) in total. Standard Bank already owns 54% of the insurer, and wants to acquire the remaining 96

By Reuters Staff3 Min ReadJOHANNESBURG( Reuters)-Standard Bank is to buy the rest of insurer Liberty Holdings that it does not already own for 10.6 billion rand($ 728.75 million), creating a financial conglomerate that will expand across the continent. FILE PHOTO: Customers at an ATM at a branch of South Africa's Standard Bank in Cape Town, March 15, 2016.... REUTERS/ Mike Hutchings Standard Bank already has a 54% stake in insurer and asset manager Liberty, whose shares soared 25% on the news.