The other investment principle pertained to Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE). In September 2019, at the inaugural Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) Retirement Funds conference, the Divisional Executive for Retirement Fund Supervision, Olano Makhubela, announced that in 2020 the FSCA will be issuing a guidance note relating to Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) in retirement funds.
This guidance note, like the one on Sustainability Investing issued in June last year, is prepared for Principal Officers and Trustees of Retirement Funds on how to implement a principle of pension fund legislation, with a focus on section 2c(iii) of Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act that states:
“A fund and its board….must at all times in contracting services to the fund or its board, consider the need to promote broad-based black economic empowerment of those providing services”. The principle’s objective was to deepen and quicken the pace of transformation in the industry, including amongst asset management companies such as ourselves.
This development follows the inclusion of retirement funds in the BBBEE Codes and the Financial Sector Charter in 2017 in a voluntary dispensation that supports the requirement “by Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria and B-BBEE as part of their supplier selection processes”. Funds that haven’t done so yet will, therefore, need to engage more deeply on BBBEE policy developments and how they should respond in 2020.
As a responsible business and a long-term steward of South Africa’s savings, Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIG) has an important role to play in addressing the systemic challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment in South Africa. In addressing these challenges, there are critical elements that require focus and attention. Namely, inclusive economic growth, societal transformation and building a sustainable future in which our stakeholders and communities live and operate. There is a direct correlation between the prosperity of South Africa and that of our clients. So, for us, transformation is not just a moral requirement but a business imperative.
OMIG is certified as a BBBEE Level 2 contributor. Although this rating is important, we believe transformation goes beyond ratings and is also about changes in mindset and the true integration of diversity in business. Our pursuit of investment excellence, and commitment to a future that matters, compel us to drive transformation wherever and whenever we have influence as an enabler of economic activity, a custodian of the nation’s savings, and as a progressive employer.
With that as background, we view transformation for a South African investment management business, like ourselves, as primarily being about four elements:
- Diversity and demographic representation amongst business leaders and investment decision makers in the organization. This is because of the importance of a diverse and inclusive leadership in transforming the organisational psyche to that of authentic inclusivity in the way investment excellence is achieved.
- Black and Women Shareholding, which speaks to equitable and inclusive participation in the economics of an industry responsible for managing the country’s savings.
- Active Stewardship with respect to Transformation in investee and portfolio companies. For example, at OMIG our team of ESG specialists actively engage companies we hold in client portfolios on their diversity and inclusion policies and black economic empowerment strategy, with a view to creating a broader impact on the economy with respect to transformation. As an industry, we have a responsibility and opportunity to ensure that sustainable business practices, of which embracing transformation is critical, are embedded in the assets we invest in on behalf of our clients.
- Targeted investments in assets and portfolios that are aimed at producing transformative outcomes in society, alongside investment return. For example, portfolios that invest in schools that provide affordable quality education, or portfolios that provide affordable housing for communities. Such investments, whilst providing decent inflation-beating returns for investors, have a very meaningful, measurable and truly broad-based social and transformative impact on our society.
As OMIG, we take our role and responsibilities in society very seriously when it comes to transformation. We acknowledge that we still have some way to go on a number of the elements discussed above, but we also do celebrate a number of significant strides and targets we have achieved to date.
As retirement funds deal with how to implement the BBBEE related regulations coming their way, they must consider transformation and BBBEE from a holistic point of view given an asset manager’s role and responsibilities in society. It is as critical to transform and promote greater inclusion and diversity in our broader economy and in communities, as it is to transform and promote diversity and inclusion internally in our organisations. BM
This article was written by Tebogo Naledi, Director of Institutional Business, Old Mutual Investment Group
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