Tag: stewardship

South Africa stands at a critical crossroads in its water journey. Ranked the 33rd driest country in the world, it receives just half the global average rainfall. Amidst this, Gauteng, South Africa’s economic hub, relies on strategic water source areas for 67% of its supply.

The role of corporate finance advisory and investment services has shifted in recent years. These services no longer simply provide transactional support. They now focus on strategic stewardship. Firms that combine technical expertise with local context are increasingly in demand. A select group of South African boutique advisory firms has positioned itself as long-term growth partners.

A crop that can protect itself against pests and herbicides sounds like a winning recipe. And it is. However, it only remains a winning solution when the technology behind it is managed with care and caution. Agriculture depends on limited and shared resources. This means that farmers, by definition, are stewards who must always consider the needs of the next generation and those after them.

ISO 14001, an internationally recognised Environmental Management System (EMS), provides businesses with a structured framework to manage environmental impact. It helps organisations pursue sustainability and operational excellence effectively.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has marginally improved refund payment time frames, but it needs to prioritise improving service delivery and building trust with taxpayers. In his recently delivered Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced a tax revenue shortfall of R22.3 billion.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives have grown exponentially in recent years, driven by a heightened awareness of sustainability and ethical considerations among stakeholders and investors. However, integrating ESG into financial analysis presents unique challenges, particularly when attempting to measure their impact and outcomes using traditional financial metrics.

The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the manufacturing sector is undergoing a significant transformation. Traditionally seen as the gatekeepers of financial integrity and corporate compliance, CFOs in manufacturing are now finding themselves leading digital transformation initiatives.

For too long, private banking has been stuck in an outdated transactional mindset, focused solely on expediting daily banking needs for wealthy clients. True private banking needs go far beyond mere transactional prioritisation and convenience; it requires an understanding of the powerful emotions tied to an individual's finances and life goals and a fundamental shift towards a model that provides comprehensive value-adding advisory solutions.

Climate change poses risks to economies, companies, and investments. It is an important focus for us as active owners of assets on behalf of our clients. Many companies are carefully considering their exposure to climate risk and outlining their decarbonisation ambitions. What role can active ownership play in this, while also protecting and enhancing the value of investments?

Globally, asset managers can play a decisive role in redirecting institutional and retail investors’ capital towards achieving the decarbonisation goals set by the recent COP26 Climate Change Conference. This is our message following the conference held in Glasgow, Scotland this November, which has singled out capital, or the impactful application of capital, as a vital cog in the world’s climate response machinery.