Sie sind auf Seite 1von 116

JULY 2014 UNCOVERING

CONSTRUCTION
What goes on beneath?

AN INDUSTRY
REWARDED
Celebrating 16 years
of excellence

MANAGING
THE MONEY
Industry intelligence to nancial professionals www.cover.co.za What works for
the wealthy?

HOW GREEN CAN WE GO?


Renew the energy, renew the country

OFC_landscape.indd 1 2014/07/07 1:05 PM


Road to Nowhere DPS paths.indd 1 2014/06/03 9:35 PM
Road to Nowhere DPS paths.indd 2 2014/06/03 9:35 PM
25 YEARS OF INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE

CONTENTS
COVER JULY 2014

08

JULY 2014 UNCOVERING


CONSTRUCTION
What goes on beneath?

AN INDUSTRY
REWARDED
Celebrating 16 years
of excellence

MANAGING
THE MONEY
Industry intelligence to nancial professionals www.cover.co.za What works for
the wealthy?

SHORT-TERM
Are your product safety warnings up to scratch? 18
Brokers: Focus more on liability cover 19
Santam and Momentum pass the OSTI test 20
Do your clients know what theyre reading? 24
HOW GREEN CAN WE GO? Negligence versus recklessness
SAs been downgraded now what?
26
30
Renew the energy, renew the country

OFC_landscape.indd 1 2014/07/07 1:05 PM

ON THE COVER
FINANCIAL PLANNING
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY UNCOVERED 8
Construction carries various risks, from non-delivery Umbrella funds as solutions 53
challenges and public liability to crime. COVER asked #MyBigBreak 54
industry experts about the risks and challenges faced Post-application date changes 55
by the construction industry. Mandatory retirement preservation 57
Smooth bonus portfolios 60
CFA insight 61

MANAGING THE MONEY 80


Managing the wealth of individuals is a delicate and
critical task. COVER asked the industry what the latest
developments in the wealth management environment WORKING WITH WHEELS
are, and what a wealth management service actually
provides. An app for vehicle pre-inspections 62
Fleet management: what are the costs? 64
Dont get stuck in Cape Town peak traffic 66
Lessons from the Silver Mercedes gang 67
Improve your fleet fuel spend 68
RENEW THE ENERGY, RENEW THE COUNTRY 90 Soccer stars and their world-class cars 70
Renewable and sustainable energy projects are essential
to the development of South Africa, and Africa alike.
We explore projects that are underway, and risks
associated with the construction phase.

RETIREMENT
CELEBRATING THE INDUSTRY 103 Sanlam survey provides insight on pensioners 44
The 2014 Financial Intermediaries Association of Stronger reform on the retirement horizon 46
Southern Africa (FIA) Awards gala dinner celebrated The ABCs of retirement reform in SA 47
the achievements of insurers, underwriters and Liberty sheds light on the GEPF 48
investment companies. And what a night it was! Key outcomes of proposed retirement reform 50

The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of its
owners, publishers or editorial staff. Editorial contributions sent to COVER are
Subscription rate: R470 per annum in South Africa. subject to editorial change to suit the style of the magazine. All manuscripts,
Other rates on application. photographs and other similar matter are accepted on the understanding that no
loss or damage is borne by the publisher, the editor or their personnel.
2 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 2 2014/07/07 11:54 PM


Tired of Drawing Straws ?

Reduce your risk with Dynamic Salvage Managements


Streamlined Salvage Solutions
With 10 years in the industry, Dynamic Salvage Management
offers you a code of ethics that guarantees you:
A tailored solution for your motor salvage disposal
Professional expertise and personalised service to enhance efficiencies in
your claims department
Competitive salvage percentages to improve loss ratios
Prompt payment backed by financial guarantees
Bond stock comprehensively insured
A web-based stock management system for maximum efficiency
A national branch infrastructure with branches strategically positioned
Contact:
Shane Lotter
Tel: (011) 493 5101
Email: shane@dsm.co.za
mobile.dsm.co.za
www.dsm.co.za

Untitled-5 1 2014/06/19 5:33 PM


80 103

EDITOR
RISK MANAGEMENT Tony van Niekerk
tony@cover.co.za
Combating white collar crime 75
SCOR tips of trade 76 EDITORIAL
Cyber vs. PI 77 Annetjie van Wynegaard
annetjie@cover.co.za

Taryn Kerr
taryn@cover.co.za

GOVERNANCE ADVERTISING & MARKETING


Hermione Ballinger
Investing in compliance 52 hermione@cover.co.za

EDITORIAL, ADVERTISING & MARKETING


Thenjiwe Roda
thenjiwe@cover.co.za
TECHNOLOGY
ADMIN & SUBS
Enhance and evolve: new opportunities 85 Brent Munnik
brent@cover.co.za
Combating fraud through technology 86
Green geysers for sustained growth 87
LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Wesley Chipps
wesley@cover.co.za

AFRICA RISING Publisher


COVER Publications

South Africa squares off against Brazil 34 Street address


80 Devilliers Way,
Whats tripping up SAs banking industry? 36
Glencairn, Cape Town
Global investment opportunities in African equities 38
SA lags behind the global manufacturing sector 40
Postal address
South Africas economy at a glance 42 P O Box 2030
Sun Valley, 7985

Telephone (083) 567-0757


Fax (086) 642 6263
REGULAR E-mail: info@cover.co.za
Website: www.cover.co.za
Editorial 6
CSI 71 Images: 123rf.com; istockphoto.com
& shutterstock.com
Coffee with COVER 78
Associations 95 Editorial Board
Conference cover 98 Peter Atkinson, Seamus Casserly,
Events 103 Mike Duncan, Ronald Gordon, Mark Haken,
Market cover 108 Jonty Kirkman, Baravand Madhav,
Rod Pearson, Colin Travers.
Product Development 110
People on the move 112 Advisory Committee
Carel Nolte, Viviene Pearson, Kalim Rajab

The Editorial Board serves in a voluntary and


independent advisory/technical capacity. Members do
not in any way represent their employer companies.

See our Facebook page


(www.facebook.com/COVERPublications)
and follow us on Twitter @covertony & @coverchat

() 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. Any
unauthorised reproduction of this work will constitute a copyright infringement, rendering liability both under civil and criminal law.
4
ISN 1013-1507 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 4 2014/07/07 11:54 PM


Our partnership with financial advisers across South Africa enables us to consistently
provide you and your clients with the best products, service and support.
For the seventh year running, Discovery is proud to have been We are thankful for the partnerships we have forged with
recognised by the Financial Intermediaries Association of you and are inspired to further our vision and commitment
South Africa. Being awarded the best Health and Life insurer to innovation. We share these awards with South Africas
once again is a vote of confidence we dont take for granted. financial advisers.

2014
2014
2013
2012 2013
2011 2010
2010 2009
HEALTH 2009 LIFE 2008
2008

www.discovery.co.za @Discovery_SA Discovery is an authorised financial services provider.

GM_27170DCIS_13/06/2014_V1

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:00 PM


Editorial

Construction
plodding along
It is never difficult to fill 112
pages with exciting news and
fascinating editorial from the
financial services industry.
On the contrary, my struggle
every month is that I have to
leave out some of the great
material we receive.
July has been no exception to this
rule. We bring you an issue packed
with information that will assist any
stakeholder in our industry to add
value to their own business and that of
their clients.

In our construction focus Zurichs Juan-


Pierre Holmes provides an overview
of the construction sector and tells us
that there has been steady sustainable
growth in this sector since the spike
before the 2010 World Cup, while
Brian Africa, PCBS, paints a bit more
subdued picture, suggesting a few
steps to ensure sustainability from an
insurance perspective. Mike Tandy,
Firedart Engineering Underwriters, Our other features this month highlight RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE
clearly sets out the challenges facing opportunities, explore and suggest Congratulations to the actuarial
the industry as well as the impact solutions to challenges and share members of our industry. On page
they have, and Jim Connolly, Hollard comments from various people on 96 we bring you news that two
Scintilla Engineering, looks at the role how they do business in the retirement South African actuarial studies were
that the construction company plays industry, the green economy and the acknowledged internationally recently
in ensuring affordable but sustainable rapidly growing wealth management when the Scientific Committee of
insurance premiums and thereby a industry. the 2014 International Congress
sustainable construction industry. Our of Actuaries (ICA) in Washington
broker perspective this month comes If you love the idea of giving back recognised both papers as the best in
from George Davis, Principal Broker: to society you will love the various their categories. Only 16 papers out of
Construction Practice Group, Aon contributions we received on our the 225 presented received awards and
SA (Pty) Ltd Projects Division where call to the industry to tell us what two of those were from South Africa.
he breaks down the risks facing the they are busy with from a corporate
construction industry and the role social investment perspective. Check As promised in our newsletter recently,
that the insurance industry plays in out pages 72 to 74. These are but a we bring you comments from the
mitigating these. tiny number of the various ways our winners of this years FIA Awards. Have
industry adds value to society. If you a look on pages 103 to 106 for all the
To end off this in-depth feature we would like us to publish what your glamour and personal comments.

cover
also bring you an economists view company is doing to make South Africa
on the changing face of construction, a better place, please send us your
through the words of Themba Moyo, story and your photos. We would love
COO of MMQS. to share them with our readers.
Industry intelligence to financial professionals

6 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 6 2014/07/07 11:18 PM


Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:00 PM
THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY UNCOVERED
Construction carries various risks, from non-delivery
challenges and public liability to crime. COVER asked
industry experts to unpack these risks and challenges.

Laying the groundwork


weather patterns, especially excessive customers, but will also streamline
rain, make it difficult to assess flood the claims process. Scenario planning
risk. Another issue is the lack of skills and the development of technical
in the sector. A number of qualified underwriting capabilities have never
professionals are leaving the country to been more important in the sector and,
contribute to projects overseas, leaving of course, brokers will need to share
behind inexperienced workers with this expertise, and align their values
insufficient construction experience a with those of the insurers particularly
situation often compounded by a lack of when it comes to customer centricity
registered training in the industry. As a and claim payments.
result, more and more claims are being
attributed to human and technical errors. RENEWABLE ENERGY
JUAN-PIERRE HOLMES, There is also a trend towards
Portfolio Head of Engineering, Cross-border risk is becoming more embracing renewable energy on the
Zurich South Africa prevalent as mining and associated continent, with new wind and solar
infrastructure projects pick up pace powered technologies being developed
After the spike in construction across Africa. Insurance companies every day. Insurers will need specific
projects in South Africa during will need to be well-versed in the expertise in order to underwrite the
regulations of other markets and will risk associated with these newer
the Fifa World Cup in 2010,
also need to prioritise compliance with and often unexplored technologies.
there has been some steady, in-country governance; ensuring that Companies that are able to draw on
sustainable activity in the sector. customers are adequately covered a global network of experts that are
beyond SAs borders. Legislation in a familiar with these types of endeavours
With infrastructure development being number of countries aims to facilitate will certainly have an advantage.
prioritised on the national agenda, this the growth of local players in the
is set to increase. Of course, mitigating insurance industry. Service providers, Ultimately, its about providing
risk in this complex industry is like Zurich, who focus on cultivating comprehensive coverage for
becoming more and more challenging strong relationships with partners on the construction customers, especially
for short-term insurers, particularly as ground will be best placed to navigate when they embark on projects outside
projects move beyond SAs borders. legal and taxation requirements. of SA. Partnering with brokers in
Here are a number of trends we can delivering on successful multinational
expect to see: Short-term insurers should be pushing mandates will be critical to success,
for regulation that can formally guide particularly when it comes to consumer
RISK ASSESSMENT cross-border procedures as part of education at point of sale. In the
The risks involved with construction the Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) end, quality over quantity will always
are constantly evolving. Unpredictable requirements. This will not only protect prevail.

8 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 8 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Construction Feature

Local construction
sector still grappling
The build-up to the 2010 World distressed construction companies
applying for business rescue is a sign of
Cup created the perception of a
the times.
buoyant construction sector with
a record number of construction Unsurprisingly the current state of the
construction industry has left many
companies vying to capitalise financial service providers (FSPs) and
on this seemingly new vibrant reinsurers questioning its sustainability.
industry. Now more than ever, the underwriting
philosophies and risk management
Together with the growth in the principles of FSPs continue to be tested
sector came an increasing demand to the limit as liquidations, under-
for performance guarantees and pricing of contracts by construction
construction-related short-term companies grappling to secure order
BRIAN AFRICA,
insurance, with products such as books, and the abuse of demand Executive of Marketing and
contractors All Risk Insurance emerging guarantees, continue to take their toll Business Development at PCBS
high on the demand list. This demand on short-term insurers.
inevitably created an environment
conducive to new insurers, particularly
underwriting management agents
(UMAs), looking to capitalise on the Further afield, while opportunities
new opportunities. across the continent are present, they
THE CURRENT STATE come with their own set of risks and
The expectation of continued public OF THE CONSTRUCTION require in-depth risk analysis. Different
infrastructure spending by government languages, legal systems, and working
INDUSTRY IS A FAR CRY
post-2010 further served to lull the in some of these countries often
short-term insurance industry into a FROM THE POSITIVE require additional insurance cover such
false sense of security that the industry SENTIMENT LEADING UP as political risk insurance. South African
would remain sustainable. construction companies also continue
TO THE 2010 WORLD CUP.
to face stiff competition against
However, the current state of the Chinese construction firms who in most
construction industry is a far cry from cases are able to complete the project
the positive sentiment leading up to at lower prices.
the 2010 World Cup. The liquidation of
the JSE listed construction company, The shortage of skills in neighbouring
The under-pricing of contracts and
Sanyati Holdings, the demise of Cosira countries often means that the
an ongoing level of distrust between
and its holding company, First Tech underwriting of these risks are left to
contractors and employers, a problem
Group and the increasing number of the South African professionals, and
exacerbated by the collusion debacle although many opportunities exist
has resulted in project delays. In this outside our borders, very few of these
scenario time is money, these factors opportunities actually move beyond the
playing a key role in determining credit planning stages due to skills shortages
risk assessments and pricing. in engineering and project financing.
In addition, the specialist nature However on a more positive note,
of construction guarantees and governments commitment to
the complexity of the underwriting infrastructure development as per the
process limits the involvement of NDP and 2014/2015 budget makes
the intermediary as far as pricing is for a more optimistic outlook for the
concerned; this serves only to increase industry. In this regard government has
concern and uncertainty among committed to supporting SMEs not only
financial advisors. Here it is therefore as a whole but specifically those in the
advisable to refer all questions to the construction industry, making this niche
underwriter before advising clients on of the construction sector a viable
any pertinent matters. opportunity.

COVER JULY 2014 9

July 14.indd 9 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Construction Feature

Key challenges in the


looks at the insurance cover required
for such projects during construction,

construction industry
there are a number of challenges posed
and risks attached to these projects,
both locally and in other countries
in Africa, for both the construction
companies and insurers of such
in a number of countries in Africa. projects.
The IMF repeatedly points out the Looking at South Africa first, there
massive infrastructure gaps that exist are numerous challenges that the
in most African countries and the IMF construction industry faces. Insurers
is deliberately encouraging, influencing and brokers continue to play a critical
and sometimes funding some of these role in assisting their clients in the
developments in certain countries. construction space with solid financial
These developments bode well for the advice and adequate insurance cover
insurance industry. However, when one to mitigate the risks and challenges.
>

SOME OF THE KEY CHALLENGES THE CONSTRUCTION


MIKE TANDY, INDUSTRY FACES ARE DESCRIBED IN THE TABLE BELOW:
Managing Director
Firedart Engineering
Underwriting Managers KEY CHALLENGES IMPACT THEREOF

Many discussions are currently Skills shortage and Impacts on effective and
on the go with regards to lack of expertise. efficient project execution
which may result in losses for
infrastructure development in
the construction companies
South Africa as well as north of and/or the insurer.
our country. While construction
activity has slowed down
Regulations - various These regulations influence
from before the 2010 Soccer
regulations with regards to the cost of projects, the
World Cup, the South African employees, sub-contractors duration and potential
government adopted a National and environment have been liability for the contracted
Infrastructure Plan in 2012 implemented or are imminent. companies in a big way.
that intends to transform the
economic landscape, create new Tender and preferential Inferior skills and expertise
jobs, and address service delivery procurement processes coupled with procurement
challenges. for projects. and pricing pressures
can give rise to inferior
In the 2013 budget speech, Minister workmanship and materials
of Finance Pravin Gordhan said the in order to meet budget
government planned to spend R827
and procurement guidelines.
billion in the building of new and
upgrading of existing infrastructure in
the next few years. These investments
Availability of resources/ Supply challenges for materials,
in infrastructure are expected in the
materials, escalating costs labour, water and electricity
areas of healthcare, universities,
schools, water, sanitation, housing and
as well as labour unrests. tend to drive project costs up,
electrification on the public amenities may result in delays and poor
development side. On the economic workmanship. Construction
development side, construction of companies can also fall into
ports, roads, railway systems and the trap of taking short cuts or
electricity plants are on the go or in foregoing some critical quality
the pipeline. North of South Africa, assurance activities and post
natural resource discoveries and project maintenace in a bid to
international donor bonds have ignited contain costs.
massive infrastructure developments

10 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 10 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Because your world can quickly turn upside down...

New National Assurance -


providing protection against lifes little mishaps

SAs oldest black insurer |


A rating |
FSP 2603 |
www.nnac.co.za |

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:01 PM


Construction Feature

For projects in the rest of Africa are very exciting and positive for Likewise, insurance practitioners must
the key challenges for South the construction industry in many understand the risks and be able to
African companies venturing into respects. However, they pose design appropriate products at the right
these territories are inadequate different challenges and new risks that prices to cover these risks adequately.
understanding of the respective construction companies and insurers In the same vein, it is imperative that
foreign environments with regards to must be aware of. Professionals risk managers and brokers understand
regulations, availability of skills and involved in construction projects the risks inherent in each different
expertise, culture, work ethic and sub- geological surveyors, architects, construction project, and how variables
contractor behaviour. engineers and contractors must keep like nature, size and location affect the
abreast of new risks and understand expertise, extent and type of insurance
Advancements in technologies how they impact the construction cover required.
and materials used in construction processes.

TCF headache?
Get Kotive app

1 month free trial


No contract. No obligations
More information: www.kotive.com/tcf

12 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 12 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Covering Construction
Construction companies large
and small face similar problems.
They need to stay agile,
profitable and reputable. Keeping
high standards is a primary
concern.

The second requirement is a Hollard Scintilla Engineering has been


construction guarantee that the providing solutions for contactors or
contractor would provide from an developers working north of South
insurer or financial institution, to African borders for over a decade.
ensure he has the funding to comply
with his contractual obligations and One of the main considerations is
complete the project. local legislation. Generally it is a
requirement that projects are insured
In addition to the construction by a locally registered insurer in the
guarantee, developers may be required territory where the project takes place.
to account for possible delays in Hollard is well placed in sub-Saharan
completing the project on time. Africa with operations in Namibia,
Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique.
Lastly, engineers giving advice of a In other territories the company has
The insurance cover of construction risks professional nature are required to partnerships with which it shares its
is something of a marriage between purchase a Professional Indemnity (PI) expertise and capacity to write risks.
financial institutions, developers, insurance policy to ensure the integrity
contractors and professionals such as of any design elements they may pass Premiums, payments and currency are
engineers. The contract document off regarding the project. also a factor. Most territories use the
governs the relationship, binds these US dollar; therefore Hollard Scintilla
entities together and outlines the There are some changes and trends in Engineering accepts this currency and
obligations for parties to purchase the industry as construction companies also pays claims using the currency.
certain insurances. seek to boost lagging local business
by moving north into Africa. These After a decade of doing business in the
The first responsibility will rest on the opportunities require understanding of territories, Hollard Scintilla Engineering
developer/owner or the contractor other risks and legislative requirements. found that the greatest risk with
to purchase a contactors all risks/ claims is the remoteness of contract
contactors liability policy. This With a reputation for high standards sites and the experience of assessors
protects them against risks like storm, of workmanship and professionalism to assess and adjust the loss. Hollard
flooding, or theft that could affect the South African contractors seem to be Scintilla Engineering has on the ground
project. It also covers liabilities arising adapting well in taking construction knowledge, insight and expertise to
out of any damage or injury to third projects north of our borders and into give advice to clients on all of these
parties. other African countries. matters.

COVER JULY 2014 13

July 14.indd 13 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Construction Feature

Digging deep into the


construction industry

HOW DOES THE SHORT-TERM In the end, the contract serves as a


INSURANCE INDUSTRY COMBAT framework of the law between the
THESE RISKS? parties and will establish which party has
All stakeholders have their own fears assumed or negated a particular risk in
of facing risks in the conduct of connection with the project.
business. The magnitude of the risks is
indeterminate at times. What needs to Insurance provide products to negate
be determined is: the risks and is available to cover the
risks for all parties complying with the
The proportion of real terms and conditions of such insurance.
versus perceived risks; It is cost effective in saving resources
like time, assets, income, and people.
The monetary quantification Insurance should be practical, proactive,
of risks; and systematic, and be an integrated part
the entire risk management activities of
GEORGE DAVIS, The real import and the
construction projects.
Principal Broker: impact of a type of risk.
Construction Practice Group, WHAT ISSUES AFFECT THE
Aon South Africa (Pty) Ltd Effective risk management results in
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND
Projects Division protecting assets, improving stability,
WHAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS HAVE
improving long term profitability,
WE SEEN LATELY?
safeguarding business reputations,
Labour unrest have caused many
reducing insurance claims (and
headaches for construction companies
reducing premiums), and guarding
in South Africa and SASRIA in
In 2013 the construction industry future opportunities.
particular does not cover loss of income
made headlines for all the Mitigation of risks is the all without physical loss or damage to
encompassing requirement. Broadly the construction project. Such delays
wrong reasons, most notable are deemed to be a contractual force
speaking, construction projects face the
the infamous Competition majeure event with no alternative for
following type of risks:
Commission enquiries. The relief from any other party including
South African construction and Business Risks SASRIA and the insurance market for
the construction company. Recently
infrastructure industry, unlike Financial Risks project developers onerously transfer
other emerging markets, has labour unrest risks to construction
Technology Risk companies without considering labour
struggled post 2010 FIFA World
laws or insurance solutions.
Cup with depressed growth Project Risk
with a slight recovery in recent Political Risk
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF
months. CONSTRUCTION NORTH OF OUR
Contractual risk management provides BORDERS?
WHAT TYPE OF RISKS DOES THE a clear structured approach in Contracting into Africa has huge
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FACE? addressing responsibilities to insure opportunities for growth provided the
Construction companies face risks of construction projects. Risk transfer laws and regulations are followed.
transformation, health, safety and using contractual liability is one of Positive results can be realised through
environmental sustainability, followed the most important risk management careful planning, and aligning strategy
by growth and expansion, and tools available to risk managers, but with local knowledge and participation.
compliance with laws and regulations. can be complicated and complex to
Placing insurance in Africa must
understand. The concern in particular
Construction sites are hazardous and be followed with strict discipline in
rests within the insurance provisions.
accident-prone. Construction work is partnership with local markets and
exposed to damage caused by natural Ideally, the parties, in their contract, will compliance with laws and regulations.
perils like storm, floods and landslip. assign the risks and liabilities to the party Local penalties and withholding taxes
Workers face man-made perils in the best suited to manage and minimise could cost the contractor dearly.
construction operations. The risks of the risks. The risks and responsibilities In such circumstances, have the
fire, impact, instability and collapse are associated with specific projects must contractor been advised properly by
intrinsic to the process. be clearly allocated within the contract. the insurance advisor?

14 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 14 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


ANAGER
GM OF
IN
IT

TH
RW

EY
UNDE

EAR
3 TIME AWARD
WINNER
20
10 14
2011 20

at the top of our game

CM

MY

CY

CMY

As a property owner, your buildings are essentially your most valuable assets. So why would you
insure with anyone other than the company at the top of its game? Building insurance specialists
since 1999, CIA has the right blend of personal service, knowledge and expertise to offer you
Broadform Assets All Risks cover for buildings of all descriptions, occupations and legal entities.

The ultimate in building insurance. Visit www.cia.co.za BUILDING INSURANCE SPECIALISTS


JOHANNESBURG DURBAN CAPE TOWN BLOEMFONTEIN PORT ELIZABETH PRETORIA
Commercial & Industrial Acceptances (Pty) Ltd is an authorised Financial Services Provider No: 13890 acting as an
Underwriting Managing Agent for Compass Insurance Company Limited Financial Services Provider No: 12148

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:01 PM


Construction Feature

The changing face of South


Africas Construction
Despite prolonged economic Traditionally, there has been limited
Quantity Surveying (QS) involvement in
uncertainty and challenges,
infrastructure projects. These projects
companies in the global were left mainly to the engineers.
engineering and construction However, due to the changing industry
sector have fresh confidence in complexities and larger budgets, the
role of the QS is starting to be seen as
the growth prospects for the an integral part of any infrastructure
industry. Coupled with data development right from the planning
pointing to an upward trend, the phase of the project.
industry itself is also changing, Companies are no longer just building a
according to Cost Engineering single-use structure; they are focused
and Construction Economist on more large scale infrastructure
Consultancy Firm, MMQS. projects.

We are moving away from being the


This change means that we need to one that typically only manages budgets
think differently about the industry and spreadsheets, to being able to
as a whole and the role that both
provide invaluable consultation and THEMBA MOYO,
the public and private sector need to
cost management services to clients COO of MMQS
play to ensure we continue to gain
and contractors. The emerging cost
momentum, roll out infrastructure
manager is intrinsically involved in
plans and contribute to the growth of
defining, managing and cementing all
SAs GDP.
four pillars scope, quality, time and
cost towards the overall success of significant impact on the project team
To unlock investment opportunities in being able to deliver within budget.
South Africa and on the continent a any project.
sound investment climate is needed, A cost manager should also assess the
together with a focus on local and location-project risks and be proactive
regional synergies that address the in pre-empting such risks with the
challenges of infrastructure. project manager or client. In certain
THE OVERARCHING ROLE cases such risks may make or break a
Risk management is important project.
to create a stable yet enabling OF COST MANAGEMENT,
environment labour stability and HOWEVER, IS TO KEEP The role of the QS has changed
productivity is a prerequisite all based COST DOWN OR AT LEAST substantially from about 30 years
on sound governance. ago when all we did was provide the
WITHIN THE BUDGET
quantities and costs of materials that
The insurance industry provides various would be needed for projects. Now,
types of insurances and bonds for we have to play a more strategic role
the construction industry. All players, one of cost and contract advisor as
including consultants (Professional technology has made the traditional
Indemnity insurance), contractors The overarching role of cost role of the QS redundant.
and employers require insurance as management, however, is to keep cost
dictated by the different agreements down or at least within the budget On larger or more complex projects,
between the parties. Therefore, besides and protect the return on investment for instance, having a cost engineering
regulating risk and how it is shared though this role is more complicated specialist within the consortium who
between the construction parties, the than merely being able to provide can assist in optimising processes
pricing level of the insurance industry the project manager and the client and putting efficient financial control
affects the costs in the construction with a holistic view of budgets. A measures in place will be beneficial
industry. The pricing of risk away from cost manager should also be able to overall and help ensure specific project
the construction industry enables the undertake forecasting cost analysis, objectives are met. Going forward
parties therein to carry out business taking micro- and macroeconomic construction/engineering consortiums
with a lesser likelihood of going out influences including things like cost will need to complement each other
of business in the event of negative of labour, inflation and exchange rates from a skills strength point of view in
events materialising. into consideration. These can have a order to be effective.

16 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 16 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Emeritus Reinsurance Company
SA Limited embraces a Pan African
business model as we join the competitive
South African insurance industry.

Tel: +27 11 783 8517 / +27 11 783 6549


Fax: +27 11 783 5440
info@emeritusre.co.za
www.emeritusre.co.za Enterprising Reliable Solutions
Enterprising Reliable Solutions

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:20 PM


Short-term

Product Liability:
Are your product safety warnings up to standard?
Broadly speaking, there are two essential information components.
recognised forms of risk communication Specifically, a warning should identify
associated with products. These are the hazard and specify what actions
instructions and warnings. must be taken to avoid it.

Instructions are a set of directions, Warnings have a distinctive


often provided in supporting manuals, appearance and their design is guided
which aim to promote the effective by supporting product safety standards
use of the product. In this form, risk such as ANSI Z535 and ISO 3864. Key
communication comprises part of elements of warnings are the words,
a wider set of messages (and may colour (usually employing yellow or
form only a small component of red), layout, size and positioning.
the messaging), but it remains an In some instances, pictograms are
important element of providing safety included.
information.
METHODS OF DELIVERY
ERIC DOM, Safety information can and should be
Underwriting Manager Liabilities, Global conveyed in many ways, including:
Casualty, AIG South Africa Limited
WARNINGS HAVE A Advertising and sales materials;
DISTINCTIVE GRAPHICAL Presentations given by sales staff;
Do your products carry LAYOUT THAT SETS THEM
Information provided in
appropriate safety warnings? APART FROM INSTRUCTIONS
external packaging;
If not, you could be open to a AND REMINDERS AND HAVE
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION In supporting manuals; and
product liability claim. When
introducing new products to COMPONENTS. On signs or labels affixed
to the product itself.
market, manufacturers and
distributors must take reasonable Customer support lines and websites
care to ensure that the products are also important communications
Warnings, on the other hand, tend tools that manufacturers can use
are suitable for purpose and to comprise of dedicated safety to inform and warn consumers, and
generally safe for their intended statements and they are generally through which they can recall products
use. provided on labels or signs placed on if unanticipated safety issues occur
the actual product; for example, some after sale.
A central component in avoiding these toys are specifically dangerous and
claims is a complete assessment of the consumers should be warned of small In the next article in this series, we
product, analysis of any risks the use parts that may be swallowed (such as look at Product Liability legislation and
of that product might incur and the marbles). standards.
provision of appropriate information to
guide consumers. That information is AIGs web-based Product Liability
generally conveyed through a variety Service is a training system which
of means, including as part of product helps manage product liability risks.
labelling. Courses cover a variety of topics
including management, safety
It is a universally accepted principle warnings, risk communication,
that safety warnings cannot legislation and standards, to promote
compensate for products that are good risk management. The service
inherently unsafe. An unsafe product is supported by tools including a
will always be so, regardless of what model corporate product safety policy
warnings are provided. Though a statement, a self assessment audit and
product liability policy will cater for this a risk assessment tool.
it should not replace the necessity for
manufacturers to conduct the rigorous Warnings have a distinctive graphical Eric Dom can be contacted at
Product Safety Risk Assessment layout that sets them apart from eric.dom@aig.com
discussed in an earlier article. instructions and reminders and have

18 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 18 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Brokers urged to focus
more on liability cover
Financial services products are while the homeowner was conducting
business it no longer falls under
complex. Its important that
personal liability but public liability.
brokers constantly educate
themselves around the increasing Current personal liability insurance
policies normally exclude liability arising
exposure that liability claims out of conducting business or ones
present. Insurers need to play occupation. People who work from
their part in providing brokers home could face massive legal claims
for damages should they not have a
access to quality, tailor-made
commercial policy with public liability
solutions to ensure that their cover in place, or at least a specialist
mutual clients are sufficiently personal policy that does extend to
covered in the event of a liability cover this.
claim. THERE ARE TWO MAIN
CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO
The basic principle of providing LIABILITY CASES: WARWICK SCOTT-RODGER,
insurance is underwriting risk by They cannot be ignored even Head of Brokers
looking at two factors frequency if the claim is bogus, legal fees MUA Insurance Acceptances
and severity. Liability claims are not will be required for defence.
frequent, but they can be severe.

Within the short-term insurance market of flats or sectional title and hold
(barring specialist risks) we generally a position as a trustee, member
deal with two main types of liability IF THE CLIENT IS of a body corporate, homeowners
cover that impact the personal lines association, or even when they are
UNDERINSURED IN LIABILITY
and commercial insurance client: directors or officers of a non-profit
personal liability cover and public COVER, THE COURT WILL organisation, charity or educational
liability cover. The exposure often BEGIN ATTACHING THE body. These organisations or
overlaps. Where a gap may exist ASSETS TO COVER LEGAL associations should have their own
within a personal insurance policy, an Trustees Liability or Directors and
FEES OR PAY-OUTS. Officers Liability Insurance in place,
extension to include an element of
public liability cover is imperative. but its not always the case. This cover
will protect insureds if they get sued
EXAMPLE: directly in their personal capacity for
A golf player hits his ball onto the Its difficult to determine how an insured event that has occurred,
highway which causes an accident. He much cover is enough. Liability or through their wrongful act (error or
could be held liable for the damages insurance is a limit of indemnity, omission) in their duties, and damages
caused to vehicle(s) and bodily harm not a sum insured, so its not to a third party have been caused.
to their occupants, not to mention the so easy to define the ultimate
legal fees. Following the trend of the US and
exposure of the risk being insured.
Australia, South African consumers
ANOTHER EXAMPLE: If the client is underinsured in liability are becoming more litigious a
A child pushes a trolley through the cover, the court will begin attaching result of traditional and social media
car park and accidentally bumps into a the assets to cover legal fees or pay- empowering society about its legal
Ferrari. The child (or parent/guardian) outs. Ensure the liability cover in place rights. Liability cover is generally
is responsible for the damages to the is at least equal to the value of your affordable. While personal liability
car. clients assets. If the clients net asset insurance is hardly tested, should the
value adds up to R20 million, they need arise it can be life-changing.
Public liability is required for people should have at least R20 million in We strongly advise you to ensure that
who work from home temporarily or liability cover. your clients are adequately covered
permanently. Should a client come to by selling them a specialist personal
see the homeowner and their dog bites Trustees Liability or Directors and policy designed specifically to meet
the client; the homeowner is liable Officers Liability Insurance is for the specific exposures that each profile
for medical bills. The liability arose homeowners who reside in a block type client presents.

COVER JULY 2014 19

July 14.indd 19 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Short-term

Santam settled claims of


R13 billion in 2013
The recently published received by the OSTI fell from 9,53% in
2012 to 8,36% in 2013. Santams claims
Ombudsman for Short-Term
registered increased by nearly 4%.
Insurance (OSTI) statistics are
in realisation that of the 1% Santam has invested R287 million in
the 2013 financial year in strategic
claims that Santam does not projects in its commercial and personal
pay out, only two in every businesses to update and reconfigure
thousand are contested and, legacy systems in order to improve
efficiencies and create automation. A
even on independent third further R240 million has been allocated
party reassessment by the in 2014.
Ombudsman; only 29% of these
Currently 97% of all claims that come
contested claims are overturned. through Santams 24/7 emergency call-
centre are digitised, indexed and then
This means that by far the majority subjected to a predictive analytics test
of contested claims (over 70%), are that differentiates between complex
upheld by the Ombudsman in favour and standard claims, allowing for IAN KIRK,
of Santam. The industry standard almost half of all claims to be settled Chief Executive Officer of Santam
is 32,91%. The overturn rate is for within 24 hours.
personal lines claims only.
Santam settled claims to the value of
The latest report shows that Santams R13 billion during the previous financial
share of the total number of complaints year.

Latest short-term
claim stats on the rise
According to the Ombudsman the market conduct of insurers going
for Short-Term Insurances forward.

(OSTI) latest annual report, The number of complaints received


9368 complaints were received and overturned by the Ombudsman
last year. Ombudsman Dennis is a good indicator of how an insurer
finalises and deals with disputes.
Jooste said that this rise is According to the Ombudsmans latest
largely attributed to the growing report, a constant three out of 1 000
awareness among the consumers claims filed with insurers ended up as
of their contractual rights. complaints to the Ombudsman. The
average turnover rate for the year was
Momentum Short-term Insurance 33%, which means that only one out
(MSTI) achieved an overturned ratio of three decisions made by the insurer
of 10,26% in 2013 versus the 27,91% was overturned.
published in 2012. In 2013 the number
of personal lines claims received by the With that in mind, MSTI is very pleased
company in 2013 increased. to see that they are not only living VICKEY SWANEVELDER,
up to their own standards of treating Head of Claims and Claims Support,
The 2013 statistics will be used by the customers fairly, but also to the Momentum Short-term Insurance
Financial Services Board in monitoring standards of the Ombudsman.

20 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 20 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


JHB 45778
Together we can
grab Worry by
the scruff of its neck,
poke it in the eye
and give it
a good old wedgie.
Oh, and we can also sell insurance together.

Were super proud of the lasting partnerships were building with


each and every one of you, our brokers. When we work with
people like you, forehead veins dont throb, swear words arent hurled,
and everyones lives become a lot less worrisome.

personal commercial corporate investments Hollard Short-term, Hollard Life and Hollard Investments are Authorised Financial Services Providers.

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:02 PM


22 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 22 2014/07/07 11:03 PM


COVER JULY 2014 23

July 14.indd 23 2014/07/07 11:03 PM


Short-term

Understanding an
insurance policy is the
key to successful claims
Each month, Santam unpacks an interesting
insurance topic with research derived from exclusive
Santam client surveys. This month the insurer
EDWARD GIBBENS,
focuses on claims processing and repudiation. Santams Executive Head of
Commercial and Personal Insurance

POLICYHOLDERS UNDERSTAND According to Santam the following


THE NEED TO BE IN THE KNOW are the most common reasons for
According to the latest consumer claims to be repudiated:
insight survey conducted by Santam, 46% of
policyholders (93%) indicate that The item is not on the
respondents did existing insurance policy.
having an understanding of their
insurance policy plays a key role in the not attempt to
The right policy option
claims process. use their policy
is not selected.
document to
Policyholders comprehend the link
between the claims process and the lodge a claim. Its not an insured risk due to
uncertainty, for example, wear
terms and conditions applied in their
and tear on machinery.
policy contrary to a survey run
last year which showed that 46% of The cover for a newly acquired
respondents did not attempt to use when having to claim. Although item is not activated.
their policy document to lodge a policyholders understanding of their
claim. The latest results indicate that cover is improving, we have noted The policy conditions are not met.
policyholders have improved their that there is still a need for more
awareness and are taking a more THE INTERMEDIARY REMAINS
consumer-friendly documentation and
proactive role in handling their claims. INDISPENSABLE
processes.
Moreover, and despite many
It is important for policyholders to Between 2013 and 2014 Santam has respondents indicating that they have a
understand the insurance cover they invested significantly into updating and better understanding of their insurance
have purchased and the steps involved reconfiguring systems in its Commercial policies, an overwhelming majority
and Personal businesses in order admits that they still rely heavily on
their intermediary to decipher the finer
to improve efficiencies and create
details of their policies and to help
automation. Santam launched the client
them through the claims process.
information and education portal: www.
insurancegoodandproper.co.za An intermediarys role is invaluable.
Close to 90% Although we encourage policyholders
REJECTION OF CLAIMS
of the survey Close to 90% of the survey
to take more responsibility and educate
themselves about their insurance
respondents have respondents have never had any of
policy, the intermediary still proves to
never had any their claims rejected. Policyholders
be the safest and most reliable option,
have an important role to play in
of their claims providing convenience and unrivalled
enabling Santam to continue paying as
expertise prior, during and after the
rejected. many claims as possible. Policyholders claims process.
need to understand their policy and
ensure that all crucial details are
updated in order to avoid repudiation.

24 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 24 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Zurich Insurance.
For those who
truly love their
business.
Zurichs specialist expertise in Engineering Insurance enables us to deliver
simple insurance solutions designed to cover all types of engineering risk,
including machinery, computer and electronic risks, construction risk and
contract work.

Our complete insurance offering is underpinned by industry technical


standards. We offer:

Qualified engineers who underwrite and understand the risks associated


with our customers business requirements.
Access to specialist teams of claims professionals with the authority to
make decisions, no matter the complexity of the risk.
Access to a global network of engineers, risk managers and surveyors
who analyse risk and provide comprehensive assistance to our customers.

Speak to your broker or visit www.zurich.co.za to


find out more about our bespoke insurance solutions.

Telephone No: +27 11 370 9111 www.zurich.co.za


15 Marshall Street, Ferreirasdorp, Johannesburg, 2001
Authorised Financial Services Provider No.17703

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:04 PM


Short-term

Playing with fire


WPS VAN WYK, insurance to interpret the policy previous decisions of our courts as
Director, and condition of reasonable precautions well as reasoning and precedents from
PHILENE SPARGO, as an exclusion of liability for the English decisions on the subject. The
Associate Designate, Dispute insureds negligence. As such, our judgement was given by a full bench
Resolution, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr courts favour a restrictive interpretation and has widely been accepted as
of reasonable precautions clauses correct.
(including use of the contra
A common clause in insurance proferentem rule). So what is the difference between
agreements stipulates that negligent and reckless conduct, and
An insurer must show that an insured what must an insured do to render his
the insured is obliged to take acted recklessly and not merely insurer able to repudiate a claim on
all reasonable precautions to negligently to be justified in its the basis that he indeed played with
prevent or minimise loss or repudiation of a claim arising from fire (so to speak) and courted danger
damages caused by the insureds own deliberately?
damage, bodily injury, death, actions.
liability and accidents. In It is interesting to note that our
view of an interesting factual Importantly, as regards the scope courts frequently equate reckless
and interpretation of reasonable conduct with grossly negligent
scenario which has presented precautions clauses, the evidentiary conduct. However, these concepts
itself to us, let us examine the burden lies with the insurer, to make are noted as differing (albeit by
implications of such a reasonable clear what particular risks it wished very little) in Neethling, Potgieter &
to exclude in a contract of insurance. Vissers Law of Delict 6th ed. at 127
precautions clause, and whether
a court will be inclined to rule in
favour of an insurer in the case
of a repudiation based on such a AN INSURER MUST SHOW THAT
policy condition.
AN INSURED ACTED RECKLESSLY
THE SCENARIO AND NOT MERELY NEGLIGENTLY
We represent an insurer in a claim
wherein a motor vehicle accident
occurred in which the insureds
representative (who was the driver at
the time) drove at more than 100km/h This is a difficult onus to discharge (see also 134). Here, recklessness is
above the speed limit of 120km/h and and the wording of the particular referred to as a serious degree of
lost control of the luxury vehicle. exclusion against the backdrop of the negligence, for which the question
contract of insurance as a whole will is whether the wrongdoer actually
The vehicle left the road and rolled, be decisive. Insurers should therefore subjectively foresaw the possibility
resulting in the vehicle being written err on the side of caution and take care of consequences and either did not
off and one of the passengers in the to be specific in detailing the possible care what the result might be or was
vehicle was killed. exclusions of liability for loss under a indifferent to the possible result and
The insurer repudiated the claim in policy of insurance, rather than simply nevertheless persisted in his conduct
respect of the vehicle relying on the relying on a general condition for the In contrast, gross negligence, whilst
policys reasonable precautions clause, right to repudiate in circumstances falling short of dolus eventualis,
and the insured subsequently laid a where it may be shown that an insured involves a departure from the
complaint with the Ombudsman for acted recklessly. standard of the reasonable person to
Short-Term Insurance (OSTI). After such an extent that it may properly
DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN be categorised as extreme; it must
investigation into the factual matrix, NEGLIGENCE AND RECKLESSNESS
the OSTI ruled in favour of the insurer demonstrate, where there is found to
In the 1999 case of Santam Ltd v CC be a conscious risk-taking, a complete
and the insured has since instituted an Designing CC in the Cape High Court,
action for damages against its insurer. obtuseness of mind
Judge Comrie addressed the impact
THE SOUTH AFRICAN LEGAL and scope of a reasonable precautions There may, however, be an overlap
POSITION clause in detail, together with the between grossly negligent and
Despite conflicting historic decisions, question of the interplay between reckless conduct in respect of the
the most recent jurisprudence negligence and recklessness. actions of an insured. This of course
demonstrates that it would undermine complicates matters further, creating
The learned judges exposition of difficulty for classification of conduct as
the very purpose of a policy of this topic took into consideration being either negligent or reckless.

26 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 26 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Untitled-1
Untitled-1 11 6/27/14 11:04
2014/07/07 9:39 PM
AM
Short-term

SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE


BETWEEN NEGLIGENT AND
RECKLESS CONDUCT?

had experienced radiator damage was recklessness of an insureds conduct


considered by the OSTI in 2011 to include previous deliberation and
have rendered the insured deliberately preparation coupled with failure to
courting danger, and the insured was render assistance, absence of surprise
declared to be responsible for all at the outcome of an action or
serious engine damage suffered as a omission, regret or sympathy and, most
result of such conduct. What, on the importantly, the grave consequences
other hand, of an insured driving well which have flown or may still flow
over the speed limit? from such conduct.

From the description of recklessness It remains to be seen whether our


above it is clear that subjective factors courts will deem driving in excess of
Whether an insureds conduct has play a large role in determining the 100km/h above the speed limit of
crossed the line into recklessness recklessness of an insured. Such 120km/h to be reckless in view of the
will obviously have to be determined subjective factors may be inferred prevailing case law and to reverse the
with reference to the particular from the facts and surrounding OSTIs decision in favour of the insurer.
circumstances of the claim and to the circumstances of the claim. In fact,
specific policy (and wording thereof) in Judge Comrie noted in his judgment Watch this space for more
question. On the one hand, continuing in CC Designing that the question [of developments as the case unfolds in
to drive a vehicle which has been in recklessness] is predominantly one regard to this pertinent question of SA
an accident and which the driver knew of fact. Considerations in regard to insurance law.

28 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 28 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


Were evolving.
Making things better,

for you.

We are proud to announce our brand new logo, which


has been redesigned to represent the latest updates in
our technology, and to visually convey what Genasys
Technologies is all about. Your Partner in Insurance Software

Developing and supporting world class software


www.genasys.co.za Genasystech @genasystech for the Insurance Industry.

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:04 PM


Short-term

What does the sovereign debt


downgrade mean to SA (Re)Insurers?
The downgrading of South Africa sovereign debt by the worlds
major rating agencies has been the subject of a plethora of learned
comment, but the impact it may have in our industry has hardly
been considered. The reasons for the downgrades have also been
comprehensively analysed, so that requires no further investigation
we need only concern ourselves with the fact that we are now
rated effectively just one notch above junk status and what
impact that may have on our businesses. Out of interest, our
rating is similar to those of our BRICS associates, other than China.
For comparison purposes, these are as follows:

COUNTRY S&P RATING MOODYS RATING FITCH RATING


Brazil BBB- Stable Baa2 Stable BBB Stable MARK HAKEN
China AA- Stable Aa3 Stable A+ Stable Consulting Reinsurance Manager
Renasa Insurance Company Limited
India BBB- Negative Baa3 Stable BBB- Stable
Russia BBB- Negative Baa1 RUR- BBB Negative
South Africa BBB- Stable Baa1 Negative BBB Negative as a proxy for completing their own
due diligence exercises. Downgrades
can have the effect of forcing them to
Thus we find ourselves in a similar THE KNOCK ON EFFECTS OF THIS move large swathes of business from
position to those countries with ARE: their now insecure underwriters, the
which we like to be associated 1. In many reinsurance treaty wordings implications of which are massive.
however, ideally we should strive to be there is a downgrade clause. This
competing with them from a position may allow (or in some wordings, 3. In terms of the proposed solvency
of strength, rather than weakness. It is require) the insurer to cancel mid- assessments under SAM, the efficacy
also interesting to note that Nigerias term in the event of a downgrade. of reinsurance coverage as well as
ratings are now at a level below ours, If some reinsurers and insurers are investments will likewise be impaired,
so they already have slumped into the downgraded and cancellation clauses forcing insurers and reinsurers to retain
junk bond basement. are automatically invoked, the financial still higher reserves as a result of the
security of those organisations being downgrades.
From an insurance perspective, this
downgrade impacts on the credit
ratings of all insurers and reinsurers
locally domiciled (and for the purposes THIS POLICY IMPLIES THAT
of this discussion, domiciled should
THE SOVEREIGN RATING IS THE
be understood to mean locally
capitalised, locally registered and MAXIMUM ATTAINABLE RATING
locally regulated). These insurers and FOR A CORPORATE BOND.
reinsurers have until now enjoyed
ratings equivalent to the sovereign
rating and will now be downgraded in
terms of the ceiling policy followed protected is likely to be negatively All of this negatively impacts our local
by ratings agencies. This policy impacted, and they too may suffer insurers, reinsurers and insuring public,
implies that the sovereign rating is downgrades. A domino effect or as a result of a sovereign rating over
the maximum attainable rating for a market spiral could follow which would which the affected parties have neither
corporate bond. As a consequence of impact the security of the market as a influence nor control, and irrespective
this policy, companies which are at whole. of their own financial stability. The
the ceiling will be downgraded after a insistence of pursuing the ceiling
sovereign downgrade and through no 2. Most insurance and reinsurance policy by the agencies should surely
fault of their own even if their own brokers vet the security of their be reviewed as it is illogical and could
financial situation has improved. This of markets, and they generally rely on the have an exceedingly negative impact
course defies logic. ratings provided by the major agencies within our industry.

30 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 30 2014/07/07 8:30 PM


VOLCANO 30373
WE TRUST YOU,
OUR BROKER,
TO PROTECT
OUR MUTUAL
CUSTOMERS...
...by offering the right kind
of insurance advice & solutions.
Together we can turn our customers
setbacks into comebacks, be they
Personal, Agri, Business, Corporate,
Marine or Engineering.

To know more about our range of short-term


insurance solutions, contact us
on brokers@mf.co.za

30373 MF_ 1Broker Integrated_Cover Mag.indd 1


Untitled-1 2014/03/20 11:05
2014/07/07 11:50 PM
AM
Home & Family Automotive H
Proactive Concierge Take Me Home Ex

Llewllyn Simmons wanted to surprise his wife with a special Amita Bharat was looking forward to a book club gathering. It La
dinner and tickets to a theater show to celebrate their 20th was always good to catch up with her friends over a few up
wedding anniversary. The problem was finding the time to glasses of wine while they discussed the best read of the of
organise it. Fortunately, Llewllyn could utilise a concierge month. To ensure she enjoyed herself responsibly she took by
service, a benefit from one of his retail accounts managed by advantage of the designated driver service available as part of La
Europ Assistance SA. One call and the perfect restaurant was her insurance package, managed by Europ Assistance SA. With co
sourced and booked, with a bouquet of flowers ready and Take Me Home, Amita was assured of a safe drive home in the pr
awaiting their arrival. convenience of her own car. to

Home & Family Well take care of it! Automotive Well take care of it! He

Professional assistance with planning special occasions, Peace of mind from a designated driver service that ensures Ac
booking venues, sourcing gifts and much more at the best you always arrive home safely with the added convenience ac
rates through a contact centre, web and mobile environment. of having your vehicle driven home for you. w

Untitled-2 1 2014/07/07 11:06 PM


Welcome to Our World of Care Services
For more information visit our website www.europassistance.co.za or email info@europassistance.co.za

Health, Medical & Travel Professional & Outsourcing


Executive Wellbeing Progamme Credit Assist

Lara Jacobs was determined to lose weight for her daughters Bongani Mthembu was keen to buy a flat screen television
upcoming wedding. She was so pleased to have the support on credit. As he was already paying off a few other debts,
of her companys Employee Wellness Programme, managed Bongani was worried about whether he would be able to
by Europ Assistance SA. A health care professional offered afford the purchase. His bank offered the added value of
Lara advice and a personalised health plan with scheduled Credit Assist, managed by Europ Assistance SA. With access
consultations to review and monitor her achievements. The to view his current credit status as well as receive guidance
process completely inspired her to adjust her lifestyle in order to better manage his debt, Bongani was confident he could
to achieve her goal. afford to make the purchase.

Health, Medical & Travel Well take care of it! Professional & Outsourcing Well take care of it!

Access to professional wellbeing advice, helping employees Improve your credit score and enjoy access to tools that will
achieve a balance of productivity, health and wellbeing that help build your credit status as well as receive telephonic
will ensure efficiency in all areas of their lives. legal assistance on any credit related matter.

Untitled-2 2 2014/07/07 11:07 PM


Africa Rising

This ones for Africa


The Brazilian Soccer World Cup sends us back to 2010, when South
Africans united to host the world in our backyard. South Africa has all
the potential imaginable, with world-class corporates and resources,
all we need is a little wisdom and introspection. In the following
pages we see South Africa in light of Africa, the BRICS, and the world.

What can SA and Brazil


learn from each other?*
As attention turns to the
Brazilian Soccer World Cup,
Geoff Blount, CEO of Cannon
Asset Managers and a South
African married to a Brazilian,
compares SA and Brazil and
looks for the best of each.

South Africa seems to be increasingly federation in which each state has


Parallels are often drawn between and I believe erroneously looking a unique identity. Brazil is larger
South Africa and Brazil. Both have to the Brazilian social and economic than the continental USA, and any
high income inequality, high crime model for solutions. While we have generalisations will, no doubt, be
rates, sophisticated first world sectors much to learn from Brazil, South countered by many exceptions.
that run in parallel with very under- Africa is fundamentally different Although not as expansive, South
developed third world sectors, a history to that country and I think it is Africa is equally complex. The
of dictatorial regimes, similar social worth discussing some of these soft generalisations below are based on my
issues and vast natural resources. differences. experiences as a South African who
Both suffer from a general level of has married into a wonderful Brazilian
social discontent and negativity about I am making simplified generalisations: family and travelled frequently to Brazil
management and their prospects. Brazil is vast and diverse. It is a for business and pleasure.

34 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 34 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


BRAZIL HAS BUILT A COMMON we take that as a sign to emigrate and by similar increasing government
NATIONAL IDENTITY as evidence that the country is going intervention and micro-management
Irrespective of race and class, there is backwards. Brazilians arent surprised by with often misguided, inconsistent and
a common community in language, failure or ineptitude and have learned to poor policy. Our level of intervention
custom, music, and social symbols. live with it. We expect our government still pales in comparison to that of
South Africans remain severely divided to meet our ideals, and take it hard Brazils.
by all of these, although we came close when it doesnt.
to feeling unified during the Soccer We should learn from their policies
World Cup and, to a lesser extent, the BRAZIL HAS WORKED HARD to bring about social and economic
Rugby World Cup. THROUGH STRONG SOCIAL upliftment, and how to improve
POLICIES education. If we get the right
SOUTH AFRICANS HOST A Theyve tackled and seen effective combination of Brazilian social policies
PERMANENT INFERIORITY implementation of the countrys and education, coupled with a dynamic
COMPLEX inequalities and the poor level of private sector, we will move a long
We believe everything foreign is education. We have not, and in fact way to solving our problems.
better and we are oh so third world. continue to condemn our children,
Ironically, this means we sometimes especially rural, to another generation South Africa and Brazil are great
overcompensate and deliver better of poverty through poor management countries which face both amazing
than first worlds. Brazilians are almost of the education system. opportunities and frightful challenges.
the opposite. While aware of their We have much to learn from one
shortcomings, the Brazilian attitude is SOUTH AFRICANS TEND TO PUSH another but, rather than blindly
that things are sort of okay. While OURSELVES emulating the Brazilian model,
Brazilians like being Brazilian, in spite If we run, we dont just jog, we do South Africa should cherry pick their
of their issues, South Africans suffer the Comrades marathon. Brazilians jog successes.
a roller coaster of emotions towards along the beach at a relaxed pace and
their country, regularly swinging from enjoy the view. THINGS SOUTH AFRICA SHOULD
extreme despondence to exuberance. LEARN FROM BRAZIL:
I dont believe that either Brazil or How to build a national identity;
BRAZILIANS ARE SETTLED IN THEIR South Africa currently has the ability
COUNTRY to become a fast growth economy Integration;
We are not. But Brazilians are far more like China or India. The structural
inward looking, possibly due to the size problems we face are not being Joie de vivre, music and Carnival;
of their country, while South Africans adequately addressed by our respective
are more outward focussed. Brazil has Like who and what we are;
governments and we will remain
a dynamic and assertive foreign policy, low-growth emerging economies. Improving education and
unlike the shy and sometimes morally Brazils recent economic successes social upliftment;
weak policy of South Africa. were cyclical, rather than structural, as
was ours up to 2008. It is a mistake Use the ballot to change unpopular
BRAZILIANS ARE MUCH MORE to confuse their cyclical growth with governments rather than withdraw
ENTREPRENEURIAL THAN SOUTH
structural growth. South Africa leads politically or resort to violence;
AFRICANS
Brazil in economics by five years. Our
However, our large corporates are Avoid Brazilian bureaucracy
property and economic bubble burst
world class, excelling on the global and tax system;
in 2008; theirs will follow suit. In
stage. Despite issues with maintenance
that sense, Brazil could learn from us
and development, South African Small business development
on how to avoid five years of tepid
infrastructure is superb relative to Brazil. and entrepreneurship; and
growth.
Brazils poor infrastructure is often
referred to as risco Brasil, the Brazil Brazils recent growth had the tail The Samba.
risk. wind of President Fernando Henrique THINGS BRAZIL SHOULD LEARN
Cardosos conservative and market- FROM SOUTH AFRICA:
BRAZIL HAS ONLY EVER
PARTICIPATED IN TWO WARS friendly economic policies. His Infrastructure, airports, roads etc;
These wars werent on their own soil. successor, Luis Incio Lula da Silva,
Their dictatorship was relatively benign continued somewhat on that path, Be less fatalistic;
compared to South Africas experiences but current incumbent Dilma Rousseff
or their neighbours Chile and Argentina. has stepped up intervention and Be more outward looking;
Although Brazil has a high crime rate, interference in the economy, with
the already big hand of the state The size of the state in the economy;
it is not accompanied by the same
levels of violence as here. Our history getting bigger, accelerating Brazils
World class corporates; and
is one of internal and external wars, present slump. South African policy
confrontation and violence, which is makers risk emulating Rouseff, having Banking and capital markets.
reflected strongly in our society today. attributed Brazils recent successes
to current Brazilian policy. In reality, *A variation of this article will appear in
SOUTH AFRICANS TEND TO BE the drivers predated it and I fear Halfway There, by Chris Hart and Glenn
HYPER-CRITICAL OF GOVERNMENT Rousseff is dismantling these drivers. Silverman, to be published in October
When there is failure or ineptitude in The slump we currently face under 2014.
government or a parastatal at any level, Zumas administration has been driven

COVER JULY 2014 35

July 14.indd 35 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Africa Rising

Whats tripping up
SAs banking industry?
Political intervention, technology risk and banking system have begun to ease. Tom Winterboer,
PwC Financial Services Leader for Africa concludes: Over
regulation rank high on the risk agenda of South
the past few years, banks have improved the quality of
Africas banking executives, according to the recent their risk management and how they manage their capital.
Banking Banana Skins survey by PwC. Coupled with reduced concerns over the macro-economic
environment, anxiety levels in the banking industry appear
Every two years the Centre for the Study of Financial to be declining after rising for seven consecutive years.
Innovation (CSFI) produces the survey in association with
PwC, which ranks 28 risks based on participants responses. With regulation and political interference continuing to
The study is based on responses from 656 bankers, risk impact the industry, banks will need to manage these
managers and close observers of the banking industry in 59 risks carefully while ensuring they are forward looking and
countries, including 14 from South Africa. focused on positioning themselves for growth in the longer
term.
Johannes Grosskopf, Banking and Capital Markets Leader
for PwC Africa, says: While banks in the rest of the world
cite the scale of banking regulation following the global
Banking Banana Skins 2014 (Ranking from first to 28th)
financial crisis and the accompanying political backlash
as their prime concerns, the risk agenda of South Africas
banking industry shares these themes, but with some
specific nuances.

The survey shows that as banks move towards greater


digitisation and increasingly embrace technology to manage
heightening regulatory requirements, they are focusing on
how to manage technology risk and criminality as a result of
concerns about the vulnerability of legacy systems to cyber
crime and outages. The banking industry appears to be hit
harder than others by the prevalence and exposure to cyber
crime and fraud, says Grosskopf.

For the first time this year a question was included in the
survey about risks associated with the rapid growth of social
media, such as platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and
their potential to amplify and accelerate reputational risk
exposure to banks. South African banks who have embraced
social media arguably more than international banks, ranked
this risk higher than their global counterparts (Global: 19;
South Africa: eight).

Although confidence about the macro-economic environment


has strengthened (Global: three; South Africa: four), the
survey suggests strong ongoing concern about the macro-
economic outlook, and specifically the stability of the
Eurozone, the impact of tapering of quantitative easing in
advanced economies and rising worries about what these
mean for emerging market prospects (Global: 17; South
Africa: seven).

Concerns about the banks themselves ranked lower in


South Africa than elsewhere. A number of institutional
risks such as profitability (Global: five; South Africa: 20),
the quality of risk management (Global: 11; South Africa:
26) and corporate governance (Global: eight; South Africa:
23) were ranked lower than in other regions. The survey
also shows that concerns expressed in earlier studies about
capital availability, liquidity risk and exotic products in the

36 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 36 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:07 PM
Africa Rising

Proving the attractiveness


of listed markets in Africa
It is becoming increasingly size and variety of transactional costs, further indicating the niche role they
spreads on cross-currency transactions, play in this regard.
clear that African listed equity
and regulatory road blocks.
may serve as a compelling Therefore, one can conclude that
complement to any general DIVERSIFICATION IS THE KEY diversification may be achieved by
RisCura Analytics looked at monthly looking to African markets. However,
investors portfolio. With USD returns of the various MSCI TRI is this the right kind of diversification,
sufficient analysis to determine (total return indices) over the period or are you paying a premium in the
where the real risks lie, 2004 to present. By using the MSCI form of adding additional risk to the
index series as a proxy for market portfolio?
the growth potential and
diversification benefits of African
markets are significant motives
for capital allocation, for those LISTED MARKETS IN AFRICA HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO
with a long-term view.
THE GLOBAL INVESTMENT COMMUNITY PRIMARILY ON
With the quality and availability
of information having increased
THE BASIS OF PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION BENEFITS
significantly over the past five years,
it has become easier to prove the
attractiveness of listed markets in All the African orientated indices
Africa. This trend serves as a further performance, it becomes clear that
(with the exception of South Africa)
reason for investors to look beyond the diversification can be achieved
outperformed the developed world
poor liquidity and political instability by investing in African markets,
at a risk threshold lower than that
that characterise some African markets particularly Nigeria, Tunisia and
of emerging markets, indicating that
and benefit from what has been Morocco, which show low correlations
one does not necessarily achieve
labelled the final investment frontier. with developed markets, emerging
diversification at the cost of additional
Listed markets in Africa have been markets and the BRIC nations, with
volatility.
promoted to the global investment Kenya and Egypt following suit. In a
community primarily on the basis risk on environment, Africa should
of portfolio diversification benefits, be seen as an appropriate safe haven.
by virtue of their low correlation to However, contrarily, capital flight occurs
developed markets, and their attractive back to the developed markets and
valuations with seemingly endless shorter term correlations tend to one.
growth potential associated with a The net result is somewhat of a lagged
burgeoning consumer base. period of negative volatility, allowing
correlations to stay low. Investors
It is vital that investors on the lookout miss out on the expected benefits
for attractive returns are able to associated with these low correlations.
measure the accurateness of these
endorsements. The 24-month rolling correlations to
the MSCI World Index tell a story of the
The participation of exchanges in
diversification pros of country-specific
organisational structures such as
allocations. Two years on from the
ASEA (African Securities Exchanges
crisis of 2008, RisCura Analytics has
Association), the promotion of regional
integration and the general focus on seen diversification benefits originating
and drive for increased governance from low correlations as a result of the
and transparency are slowly increasing return differentials of African countries
the efficiency of African listed markets to their more developed counterparts
resulting in deepening liquidity and during the 2008/09 period of negative
lower concentration. volatility. In comparison to the frontier
markets correlation to the MSCI World
However, there is still much to be Index from mid-2008, African countries DEON SMITH,
done to mitigate logistical inefficiencies Product Specialist
(excluding South Africa) consistently
RisCura Analytics
inherent in these markets such as the show lower correlations over time,

38 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 38 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


4172 Wetpaint Advertising

4172 Chuck Norris_297x210_CoverMag.indd 1 2014/03/25 9:14 AM


Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:08 PM
Africa Rising

Local manufacturing
still disappointing
partly due to the weak rand. However,
South Africas performance has also
lagged its emerging market peers. The
HSBC Emerging Markets PMI is slightly
above 50, but the trend over the past
three years has been weak. Chinas
official manufacturing PMI inched up
to 50,4 in April but the HSBC PMI,
which focuses on smaller private firms,
remained below 50 in April.

Among the developed nations, the UK


posted the best performance, with its
manufacturing PMI rising to an eight-
month high of 57,3 in April from 55,3
in March. The US ISM Index rose to a
four-month high of 54,9 in April from
53,7. The Eurozones manufacturing
PMI also rose to a three month high
of 53,5 in April from 53,0 in March.
Significantly, all of the Eurozone
economies had PMIs above 50 for
the first time since 2007.

This indicates that a broad-based


According to the latest StatsSA The BER/Kagiso Purchasing Managers recovery is finally gaining traction in
Index (PMI), also released last week, the troubled Eurozone, but growth is
data, local manufacturing is a more current indicator of the still very slow and held back by high
production increased by 0,7% local manufacturing sectors health. unemployment, contracting bank
year-on-year in March. The The PMI dipped below the 50 point lending and fiscal austerity. However,
level that separates contraction from any improvement is welcome as the
best performing sectors were expansion in April, moving to 47,4 Eurozone remains an important export
basic iron and steel, and wood from 50,3 in March. This suggests that destination for us, as well as a major
output in the local factory sector is source of our tourists.
and paper products, rising by
likely to underperform in the near term
4,6% and 9,8% year-on-year following the subdued performance
respectively. In the first quarter, over the past two months. All of the
PMI sub-indices declined in April,
manufacturing declined by 1,6% except for suppliers performance. The
compared to the final quarter forward-looking component, the ratio
of new sales to inventories, fell further
of 2013, manufacturing will
below 1, also indicating that firms
therefore detract from gross have enough stock to match sales
domestic product growth in the and therefore no incentive to increase
output.
first quarter.
SA LAGS THE GLOBAL
NO INCENTIVE TO EXPAND MANUFACTURING SECTOR
CAPACITY The weak performance of the local
In a different report, StatsSA manufacturing sector once again is in
revealed that capacity utilisation in contrast to other economies. However,
manufacturing slipped back in the first there is some good news in this as
quarter to 81% from 84%, and that stronger global economies should
under-utilisation increased from 16% to eventually pull South Africa along with DAVE MOHR,
19%. Firms listed insufficient demand it. There is already evidence of local Chief Investment Strategist
as the main reason. manufacturing exports picking up, Old Mutual Wealth

40 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 40 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Our Corporate and
Business Insurance sets
the standard when
it comes to:
Property
Commercial
Vehicle and Asset Finance
Marine
Guarantees
Agriculture
Corporate
Call us on 0860 999 334

Standard Bank Insurance Brokers (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider (FSP224).
A member of the Standard Bank Group. Moving Forward is a trademark of The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited.
Products are underwritten by Standard Insurance Limited. SBSA 3513-9/13

3513-A4-B-insurance.indd
Untitled-1 1 1 2013/10/15 11:08
2014/07/07 10:00PM
AM
The South African
economy at a glance
The South African market plays activity and the strengthening of the industries that may otherwise be
foundations for a sustained, albeit difficult to access.
an invaluable role in pan-
uneven normalisation.
African investments by providing This trend has become especially
liquidity to a number of direct World GDP growth slowed slightly apparent in businesses supplying
to an estimated 2,6% in 2013; it the mining industry. Those
investments. SA provides is expected to accelerate this year providing services and products, like
indirect exposure to otherwise towards the 3,1% mark. China equipment hire, are now seeking new
inaccessible African markets. has already prompted a revival in opportunities throughout Africa.
commodity markets and will likely
The South African economy has not benefit mining company earnings. Other opportunities exist in servicing
lived up to its potential in the past the growing demand for consumer
12 months. The economy recorded a SAs labour unrest in the mining products in Africa as economic growth
substantial deceleration in growth to industry has been drawn out. across the continent puts disposable
1,9% in 2013 from 3,8% in 2012. This Settlements are likely to run at little income into the pockets of consumers.
was underpinned by a relatively weak more than the rate of inflation.
global demand for SAs export products,
unfavourable commodity prices, and a The rands depreciation has had
difficult local economic climate. positive and negative effects,
creating pressure on domestic
Supply-side disruptions, due mainly businesses but benefiting exports.
but not exclusively to prolonged labour Manufacturing activity has shown signs
unrest in the mining and manufacturing of improvement from this new-found
sectors, aggravated an operating competitiveness, with recent economic
environment characterised by more statistics showing signs of an increased
subdued household spending. activity.

South Africas currency weakness South African businesses also


required foreign investment inflows benefitting from the weaker rand
to offset a persistent current account have attributes beyond their domestic
deficit. The adverse impact on operations, including brewing, furniture
consumer income, already affected retail and mining, all with a global
by high levels of unemployment, has reach.
made conditions worse for domestic
businesses. Potential growth lies with South
African businesses and investors
But these adverse factors are short- who have used their management SAIJIL SINGH,
term in nature. We can see signs and technological expertise to build Lead Analyst, Coface
of improvement in global economic positions in African markets and

42 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 42 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


ADDING GWK

TO LIFE

IUM Assist

CommRisk VIP

BetterBond

CIG Assist

VIP Insure

Global Assist

Already successfully integrated with the following systems:

For your own branded Smartphone App and Assistance Services


Programme, please contact:
clientservice@globalchoices.co.za
0860 300 303
www.globalchoices.co.za

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:09 PM


Focus on Retirement
The retirement fund industry has been placed under the microscope in the
following annual surveys, focusing on the core strategies for sustainable life cover.

Sanlams Pensioner
Benchmark Survey 2014
In light of National Treasurys The percentage of pensioners who
This year marks the fourth retirement reform imperatives and believe that they have not saved
annual Retirement Benchmark the possible introduction of a default enough capital to last them during
Survey conducted by Sanlam. pension product, pensioners were retirement remained fairly consistent
asked what retirement options they at 52,4% in 2014 slightly down from
The results of this years would have preferred at retirement 53,4% in 2013 but still relatively high
survey once again provide the age. 63,3% of respondents in the core when compared with 2011 which,
market with valuable insights group indicated that they would have at that stage represented 31,0% of
into the trends and behaviour preferred complete freedom of choice, respondents. Evidently, only 24% of
the affluent group reported not having
of individual members and saved enough, with 66% believing
pensioners. they have enough capital saved to
AN AFFLUENT RETIRED last them through retirement. What is
Focusing on the pension space, a core INDIVIDUAL IS DEFINED a growing concern is the percentage
group of 250 participants took part in of average pensioners with a shortfall
AS HAVING INCOME IN
this years survey. An additional booster between their monthly income and
sample of 50 pensioners, representing RETIREMENT IN EXCESS expenses that continues to rise (59,2%
the affluent sector of the market, was OF R25 000 PER MONTH. in 2014, 51% in 2013 and 33,3% in
also interviewed. An affluent retired 2011). When asked how this shortfall
individual is defined as having income was dealt with, the pensioners in
in retirement in excess of R25 000 per the core sample mentioned reducing
month. This enabled, for the first time, with no restrictions from trustees, and non-essential expenses and cancelling
a thorough analysis of the retirement the rest indicated they would have their private medical aid to rely on
needs of affluent individuals. preferred some level of interaction the state healthcare. On the other
with, or recommendations from, hand, affluent individuals seemed less
When comparing this years results trustees. The opposite can be seen inclined to cut back on expenditure
to the 2013 results, the consensus in the booster sample, with 38% of and opted to continue working to
feedback remains that members affluent pensioners preferring freedom supplement their income, with a few
should start planning and investing for of choice and 62% showing confidence dipping into additional savings or
retirement from an earlier age. in considering input from trustees. investments.

44 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 44 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Retirement

of general pensioners who did receive


financial advice from their companys
HR office continues to rise.

If we look at the source of financial


advice, we see that 72% of affluent
retirees seek financial advice from
professional financial advisors as
opposed to only 34% of the general
pensioners who look mainly towards
human resources departments, fund
trustees or fund administrators for
guidance.

Pensioners, who opt for a lump sum


at retirement, are encouraged to
stay within the tax-free limit and
the lump sum should ideally be used
to repay debt. Based on the survey
results, the proportion of general
pensioners spending the lump sum on
living expenses is still relatively high.
There is a bit of concern as it was
The survey results also show that the their retirement savings at resignation noted that the proportion of general
core groups retirement age increased or retrenchment. From those that pensioners who reported they had not
slightly from 59 in 2013 to 60 in withdrew, 50% preserved part of their yet depleted their lump sums reduced
2014, whereas the average period benefit or purchased a retirement to 58% in 2014 from 65,7% in 2013.
of contribution lasted 29,8 years in annuity and the other 50% opted to However, savings is top of pensioners
the 2014 survey compared to 28,5 withdraw their full benefit in cash. minds as indicated by the results which
years in the 2013 survey. This positive Only 20% of these individuals used show an increase in savings accounts
trend shows that individuals had the cash to pay for living expenses and annuities purchased. When
saved longer towards retirement but with 80% either saving or investing compared with the booster sample,
clearly not enough when compared in investment instruments or business 72% of respondents have not depleted
with the booster sample which shows ventures or settling/reducing their their lump sum at all.
approximately 33,2 years of long-term mortgage bonds.
contributions. However, based on the As far as post-retirement vehicles
survey results formal employment are concerned, the market appears
begins at age 22 for the core group to have shifted away from level
of pensioners. This leaves a period of guaranteed life annuities (23,9% in
eight years contributions unaccounted 2013 as opposed to 20,4% in 2014)
for, which is consistent with last years THERE IS A BIT OF towards guaranteed life annuities
results. The same trend is seen in the CONCERN AS IT WAS NOTED escalating at a specified rate, with the
booster sample as formal employment percentage of pensioners purchasing
THAT THE PROPORTION OF
began at an earlier age of 20,8 years, these annuities increasing from 19,1%
leaving approximately 6,96 years of GENERAL PENSIONERS WHO in 2013 to 29,2% in 2014.
contributions unaccounted for. REPORTED THEY HAD NOT
The 2014 Pensioner Benchmark Survey
There is evidence during formal YET DEPLETED THEIR LUMP has once again demonstrated the
working employment that some SUMS REDUCED TO 58% IN tough financial circumstances faced
individuals stopped their retirement 2014 FROM 65,7% IN 2013. by South African retirees today. The
contributions through withdrawal at introduction of an affluent pensioner
either resignation or retrenchment with booster sample allowed for very
20,8% of respondents in 2014 replying insightful conclusions to be drawn that
yes to this question as compared to are applicable specifically to affluent
17,1% in 2013. Of the individuals who pensioners. The results highlighted
made a withdrawal, 63,5%withdrew Keeping in mind the importance of the importance of obtaining quality
their full benefit in cash as opposed financial advice, the prevalence of financial advice and the benefits
to 48,8% taking the benefit in cash in general pensioners receiving financial of starting to save early for your
2013. The cash was used to pay for advice before retirement has dropped retirement years. With these two
the rising living expenses for 52,4% slightly from 60% in 2013 to 57,6% in building blocks in place, retirees are
of respondents in 2014 compared to 2014. On average, these pensioners able to look forward to making their
29,4% in 2013. received financial advice 11 years retirement years the best years of their
before retirement, whereas, ideally, life.
This trend is different among affluent active members should receive
retirees as only 12% of respondents financial advice from much earlier on
indicated that they withdrew from in their working career. The proportion

COVER JULY 2014 45

July 14.indd 45 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Retirement

Retirement fund industry faces


stronger regulation and governance
South Africas retirement Kapp said: It is not surprising that survey It is not surprising to note that most
fund industry has undergone participants feel that regulatory cost and funds (63%) have a chairperson
significant change but there is complexity is becoming excessive. of the main board who also sits
still a long road ahead, with on a subcommittee or two. This
Furthermore, participants think that the is advantageous for the fund in
much stronger reform, regulation pace of change is too slow and that the that the chairperson is perfectly
and supervision expected in the proposed reform should be implemented placed to convey outcomes from
near future, according to PwCs without undue delay. the subcommittee to the rest of the
2014 Retirement Fund Strategic board.
Matters and Remuneration The three top areas of regulatory
changes expected to have the most Kapp added: Survey participants
Survey.
additional cost for members of funds feel the sooner it becomes law that
69% of trustees believe that the South were compliance with Regulation 28; funds have to employ professional and
African retirement fund is appropriately retirement reform and legislative changes independent trustees the better. In
regulated from the perspective of regarding taxation and preservation; addition, trustee remuneration should
protecting members, while 28% disagree. and recent revised financial statements be based on skill level, contribution
format. and be benchmarked to industry norms
Gert Kapp, Retirement Fund Leader taking into account the complexity of
for PwC Southern Africa, said: Much The majority of participants (72%) felt
the fund and volume of business.
change has taken place in the South that there was scope for simplification or
African retirement fund industry, but a reduction in costs in the operation of EDUCATION OF TRUSTEES
there is still plenty more to come. their funds. Johannes Grov, PwC Partner in the
The National Treasury has undertaken Retirement Division, said: The sheer
TRUSTEES ACTIVITIES AND
to release a set of draft regulations on scale of pension fund investments,
REMUNERATION
default strategies by May 2014. coupled with the relevant economic,
In the 2010 and 2012 PwC retirement
political and administrative risks,
The Registrar of Pension Funds is surveys, the proportion of funds that
places an enormous responsibility on
preparing a number of draft regulatory remunerated some or all trustees
boards of trustees to govern these
instruments intended to implement remained static at 45%, but in 2014 this
arrangements wisely.
new provisions in the Pension Funds increased to 50% overall.
Act relating to the training of trustees, Not only do trustees have almost
For specialist funds, the median
fit-and-proper requirements for trustees unlimited fiduciary responsibilities
remuneration band for chairpersons,
and improving fund governance. placed upon them by law, but they also
trustees and professional trustees is the
have a moral obligation to act in the
The PwC 2014 Retirement Fund same, namely R10 001 to R50 000.
best interest of fund members.
Strategic Matters and Remuneration In contrast, the median is between
Survey collates the responses of 183 R50 001 and R100 000 for standalone The number of funds with a formal
participants representing a total asset funds for all types of trustees. Kapp policy on trustee education has
base of R592 billion across a wide range said: It is interesting to note that the improved from 43% in 2012 to 63%
of funds. It offers a benchmark against fees paid to trustees are relatively low in 2014. This improvement is largely
which trustees can compare aspects of compared to medium-cap financial due to an increase from 60% to 73%
their funds working and strategies with services organisations and even those among standalone funds, explained
those of their peers. paid to trustees of medical schemes. The Grov.
high level of regulation and supervision
The aim of the survey is to identify as well as the risks associated with the Across all funds, trustees spend an
trends in roles and remuneration of assets under management within the average of 17 hours annually on
trustees and principal officers, and shed retirement fund sector surely warrants a training and attending industry events,
light on the stance retirement funds take higher level of pay. compared to 27 hours in the 2012
on trustee education. survey. This decline may be due to
The main board appears to determine factors such as less major industry
The survey covers four broad the level of trustee remuneration for changes (such as Regulation 28) and
focus areas: trustees activities and standalone funds, according to 58% increases in the costs of industry
remuneration; trustees education; of the respondents, with the level of events that make them less affordable.
principal officers and their remuneration; remuneration reviewed on an annual
and regulatory matters and retirement basis. Trustees remuneration is As expected, professional trustees
reform. New areas investigated include largely determined by the fund (72%). are the most experienced and highly
questions about chairpersons and While most funds do cater for trustee educated, with 94% having more than
subcommittees as well as regulatory remuneration (55%), a fairly high five years and 53% having more than
matters and retirement reform. proportion still does not (43%). 10 years experience, said Grov.

46 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 46 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND THEIR R1 000 0000. For large funds, 29% were retirement fund industry is undergoing
REMUNERATION remunerated more than R1 000 000. profound changes. Trustees will need
A significant percentage of principal to assess and review their governance
officers (72%) have 10 or more years The role of the principal officer is strategies and manage them in
experience and it appears they are underestimated and underpaid, according accordance with the new regulations and
staying on until they retire. The majority to survey participants. Participants legislation.
of principal officers (84%) have a degree said the role is equivalent to running a
or postgraduate degree. company with R2bn assets with no staff Although many of the changes are
but all the responsibilities. positive, they tend to come at a cost
The median remuneration band across all in terms of additional complexity and
funds was R350 000 to R600 000, but Tom Winterboer, PwC Financial Services record keeping and reporting for fund
for large funds this was R600 000 to Leader for Africa, concluded: The members, said Winterboer.

Simplifying retirement reform in SA


Employers with a handful of employees GERHARD KLINGER,
For the average investor, it can find it expensive to join a retirement Employee Benefits Specialist
be difficult to understand the fund, or do not want to be burdened by 10X Investments
proposed reforms and the impact the responsibilities.
that these will have. The reforms taking effect, Treasury suggests that
are currently being championed It will be difficult for the government to
the retirement and savings industry
by National Treasury, with a force all employers, especially in the
in South Africa be more regulated,
SME and informal markets, to provide
number of key objectives. These to protect members and to improve
retirement benefits. This is especially market practices. The industry is
objectives can be summarised in the case if the minimum entry levels are
the following eight key points: concerned that increased regulation
high and products are not geared for will increase administrative costs. This
companies with only a few employees can, however, be offset if the industry
1. IMPROVING PRESERVATION:
or low contributions. moves to simpler standardised products
Too many individuals take the cash
option when they resign, rather than and practices.
4. GETTING DEFAULTS RIGHT:
preserving their existing savings and Treasury would like to see that 7. CONSOLIDATING FUNDS:
benefitting from the compound interest employees who do not, or who are Consolidating and standardising funds,
in later years. The aim is not to force unable to, make their own retirement in terms of investments and benefit
members to preserve their assets, but fund decisions follow the most structures, should improve efficiencies
rather to make it more attractive to appropriate and cost effective path. and economies of scale. We are already
do so. This will be a tough task. For This would include a risk-appropriate, seeing some of the larger insurers
many employees, their retirement low fee investment mandate according amalgamating retirement funds, in an
savings are their only cash reserve in an to the members investment time effort to achieve this.
environment where the unemployment horizon. This would extend to automatic
rate hovers around 25%. preservation and appropriate post 8. MORE EFFECTIVE
retirement products. INTERMEDIATION:
2. IMPROVING FUND DISCLOSURE: Treasury would like intermediaries
For many years, investors never fully 5. SIMPLIFYING RETIREMENT who sell life assurance products,
understood their benefits, and the SAVINGS AND IMPROVING such as retirement annuities, to be
retirement industry (administrators, PORTABILITY AMONG PROVIDERS: remunerated fairly without conflicts of
asset managers, consultants and Standardised products are easier to interest. Some of the more effective
life assurers) disclosed the bare transfer between administrators, practices which have already been
minimum, in terms of fees and whereas complex products tie the implemented include the Client Contact
charges. Retirement reform aims to members to a specific administrator, as Disclosures requirements and the
improve disclosure and the long-term members believe that they may lose a Conflict of Interests legislation, which
impact of fees. As a result, funds will benefit. Simple and portable products financial advisors must adhere to.
be encouraged to communicate this will increase market competition National Treasury has consulted with
information to their members in a between providers that will reduce the industry for a number of years and
simple easy-to-understand manner. costs, according to National Treasury. we have started to see the effect of
the implementation of certain reform
3. MAKING RETIREMENT SAVINGS 6. PROVIDING TOUGHER MARKET aspects. From March 2015, contributions
COMPULSORY: CONDUCT AND MORE EFFECTIVE towards provident funds will be treated
Theres no legislation that forces an SUPERVISION: as contributions to a pension fund,
employer to provide retirement benefits Following the 2008 global financial with the aim of providing a regular
to staff. This voluntary nature has a crisis the government has realised the income in retirement, rather than a
huge impact on our retirement system need for tougher and more effective lump sum. Existing benefits will be
a large percentage of the population will regulation. As international reforms in preserved and only new contributions
never have access to a retirement fund. the global banking and insurance start will be affected.

COVER JULY 2014 47

July 14.indd 47 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Life

Understanding the GEPF


Recent reports have noted that
the Government Employees
Pension Fund (GEPF) is
underfunded by more than
R400 billion. The fact that
it remains a defined benefit
pension scheme, not a defined
contribution scheme, as has
been the trend with pension
funds within the private sector,
means this liability lies squarely
at the foot of the government.
Nick Hibbit, Head of Liberty
Corporate Intelligent
Insurance, spoke to COVER
about defined benefit pension
schemes and the GEPF.

based on the accumulated value of Over the last five years we have seen
your contributions plus investment a large number of DB funds alter their
growth. Under DC schemes the investment strategies to take into
member assumes the investments/ account the impact of their liabilities.
inflation and longevity risks. These new strategies are known as
Liability Driven Investments (LDIs).

WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO


THE PRIMARY CONCERN FOR FUNDS THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT
FUNDING LIABILITIES?
ANY DB FUND IS TO ENSURE THAT The primary concern for any DB fund
THEY ARE ABLE TO PAY PENSIONS is to ensure that they are able to
AND PROVIDE INCREASES IN LINE pay pensions and provide increases
in line with their mandates, which
WITH THEIR MANDATES, WHICH
are often linked to CPI. This means
ARE OFTEN LINKED TO CPI. that primarily the fund should look to
protect and then improve their funding
level, in essence ensuring that their
assets exceed their liabilities. The
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE DB and DC schemes are fundamentally major risks that drive movements in
BETWEEN DEFINED BENEFIT AND different in terms of performance the liability are inflation and interest
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION FUNDS? due, to some extent, to the fact rate risk and longevity risk. If a fund
WHAT EFFECT HAS THIS HAD that the investment and inflation can manage one or both of these risks
ON FUND PERFORMANCE AND risk lies with different parties under it will go a long way to achieving its
RETIREMENT READINESS OVER THE each scheme being the fund and the objective.
PAST DECADE? member respectively. Under a DC fund
Under a defined benefit (DB) pension members often have the ability to There are a range of options available
fund the quantum of your pension is select the scope of their investment, so to funds which we can broadly group
predetermined based on your earnings; members within a single scheme are into three categories:
the fund sponsor (usually the employer) likely to have differing performance
assumes the investment, inflation and due to the choices they made. With a 1. LIABILITY DRIVEN INVESTMENT
longevity risk under these schemes. DB fund, investment risk lies with the (LDI) STRATEGY
On the other hand, with a defined fund and not the member, meaning This is where the fund aims to hedge
contribution (DC) scheme, the pension that the trustees take responsibility for out the interest and inflation risk by
one can purchase at retirement is determining the investment strategy. investing in assets that move in line

48 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 48 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


with a change in the liability due to cannot make good this deficit it could WILL INVESTORS POTENTIALLY
movements in the yield curve caused well result in lower than expected BE GOING INTO A FUND WITH
by fluctuations in interest rates. increases. R400BN DEFICIT? HOW DOES THIS
CHALLENGE FACING THE GEPF
2. CASH FLOW MATCH Members of a DC fund face significantly POTENTIALLY INFLUENCE THE
Here an insurer or bank guarantees more risks than those in DB funds. The NATIONAL SAVINGS SCHEME?
to pay the fund a pre-determined set nature of DC funds implies that these As mentioned earlier the risk of
of cash flows over a period of time. members take on all risk with regard underfunding does not lie with the
As the payments are guaranteed this to investments, inflation and how long member of the scheme, it ultimately
solution transfers more risk away from they live. My view is that the greatest lies with the fund sponsor, in this case
the fund than an LDI strategy. risk faced by these members is that government. You could argue that as
they do not contribute sufficiently to government is seen as a good credit
3. TRANSFERRING OF BOTH RISKS risk and that the underfunding is
provide for any meaningful pension in
TO A THIRD PARTY LIKE AN therefore immaterial to new members
their retirement.
INSURER BY MEANS OF A GROUPED of the GEPF. My view is that this
ANNUITY POLICY WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON underfunding challenge does not really
This solution provides the greatest level DEFINED BENEFIT FUNDS IN THE impact the National Savings Scheme in
of certainty of payments for pensioners SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT? any way.
but generally does require more assets From the employees perspective, I
than the other two solutions. HOW DOES THE GEPF GET OUT OF
think those whove remained in DB
THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION?
funds are smiling, because they know
HOW WOULD TRANSFERRING A The recent reports with regard to the
exactly what pension they will get and
LIABILITY AFFECT THE FUND? underfunding of the GEPF are as a
that the pension is payable for life, as
Transferring the liability or portion of result of the fund holding insufficient
the liability allows the fund to manage the investment, inflation and longevity additional reserves. These are
its risks better. This effectively means risk sits with the fund and its sponsor. effectively reserves suggested by the
that the fund is more likely to be able Theyre generally on a good wicket. actuarial valuators of the fund to make
to pay pensions and grant increases allowance for actual experience versus
From the fund sponsors (employer)
without having to call on the fund the assumptions they have made.
perspective, its a different story;
sponsor, being the government in the While the GEPF does follow an LDI
a large number of funds are
case of the GEPF, to provide additional strategy to some extent, being the
underfunded, including the GEPF. largest holder of government bonds,
capital.
There are some significant liabilities there should be an even greater focus
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL RISKS that have been raised by employers on this. However where there is such
CURRENTLY FACING EMPLOYEES and as a result we have seen a trend in a significant shortfall the only real
RETIREMENT SAVINGS? the market to transfer these liabilities solution in the long run is for the fund
With regard to a DB fund the primary that tells you that employers are sponsor being government (ultimately
risk is whether or not the fund concerned about the ever increasing the tax payer) to make good this deficit
(effectively the employer) will be able costs of the these funds. Very few over time. The private sector has
to meet their obligations in the future. employers outside of government still moved away from DB funds due to the
Should the fund have a significant have open DB funds. In the private ever increasing costs of these schemes,
funding deficit (liabilities are greater sector most employers now only offer possibly government should consider
than the assets) and the employer DC funds. the same.

COVER JULY 2014 49

July 14.indd 49 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Retirement

Retirement reform in SA:


An update
LISA GRIFFITHS, relating to retirement funds. Standards Treasury believes that these products
Associate Director in Wealth Advisory of disclosure vary greatly. Collective are a driver of higher costs. They
at BDO South Africa Investment Schemes (unit trusts) envisage an industry based on simpler
use the Total Expense Ratio (TER) products, which are portable between
which is retrospective. Insurance employers. Portability between
National Treasury issued a policies use the Reduction in Yield different product providers is essential
media release on the 14th of (RiY) which is forward-looking. in well-functioning market. Situations
Government is concerned that costs where consumers are locked into
March 2014 that summarised within a retirement fund such as long term products and unable to
and developed the principles trustee remuneration, conferencing move to more efficient products
and ideas contained in and workshops need to be scrutinised, are problematic. Treasury believe
regulated and perhaps banned outright. that simpler products will increase
previous papers and discussion Treasury sincerely believes that competition to the benefit of the
documents, particularly the disclosure of charges in the retirement consumer.
paper of the 11th July 2013. industry has to be improved.
ENSURING EFFECTIVE
Importantly, this document tabulated a GETTING DEFAULTS RIGHT INTERMEDIATION
time line of the various phases of the Based on international experience, That old chestnut intermediary
reform process in short, the draft it has been suggested that a major remuneration. Treasury considers that
regulations are to be in place by the improvement in retirement incomes the manner in which intermediaries
end of 2015. will result if the default options are are remunerated for the sale of
improved. The default option is that insurance policy type products, is an
The key developmental areas are as result which occurs when an individual important factor in product design.
follows: fails to exercise choice. This could be High upfront costs, which are then
on retirement, on leaving employment recovered over the life of the policy
MANDATION OR AUTO- or even whilst an active member of a leading to disappointing outcomes is
ENROLEMENT retirement fund for example portfolio of concern to government. Treasury is
The voluntary nature of our retirement choice. Many funds do not have pursuing a model where intermediary
funding industry has been identified default options and where they do, remuneration does not create a
as one of the single biggest factors outcomes are questionable. conflict between their own interests
affecting inefficiencies in the and their obligation to their customers.
retirement system. In a voluntary CONSOLIDATING FUNDS Rebates paid by investment
system such as our own, employers There are currently over 3000 management companies to investment
and individuals have to be persuaded retirement funds registered in platforms are considered offensive as
to make retirement provision for South Africa. Many of these are they complicate and obfuscate true
themselves or for their employees. small, inefficient and lack corporate costs.
Treasury is hopeful that mandating governance. This diversity of
retirement provision, provided that the product also increases the need PROVIDING TOUGHER MARKET
process is efficient and well regulated, for financial advice and attendant CONDUCT REGULATION AND MORE
will resolve many of the problems. cost. Consolidation of funds and EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION
They do mention that special provision standardisation of products is expected Government is talking tough here.
will have to be made for low-income reduce costs which should enhance the Lessons have been learnt from
and vulnerable workers. financial position of the member. the Global Economic Crisis of
2008/2009. The last few years have
IMPROVING PRESERVATION SIMPLIFYING RETIREMENT seen a number of high profile cases
We all know about this one even SAVINGS PRODUCTS AND MAKING concerning retirement funds where
where workers participate in the THEM PORTABLE BETWEEN value has been lost or destroyed to
retirement system, too often benefits PROVIDERS the detriment of their members. New
are withdrawn prior to retirement. Too many product providers regulation will be tougher and more
Lack of pre-retirement preservation and competition on the basis of intrusive to be effective. Globally, we
increases financial vulnerability and complexities of product, rather than have seen increased regulation of the
costs at and during retirement. value-for-money are perceived by banking and insurance sectors and this
Treasury to be problematic. Although is to be extended to the savings and
IMPROVING FUND DISCLOSURE certain products may well enhance retirement sectors in order to protect
There is currently no prescribed the position of certain customers by members and improve market conduct
disclosure methodology for charges meeting their needs more effectively, practices.

50 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 50 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


KINGJAMES 30281
Were in the business of planning for tomorrow. The never-ending
pursuit of meticulously crafting our clients futures. And while
everyones expectations of the future may be different, we take
great pride in instilling a sense of security to the unknown. We do
this in the way weve always done it by staying true to a traditional
set of values, grounded in a tireless work ethic and an unwavering
dedication to making the most of every rand entrusted to us. Values
that choose functional over fancy and never waste time worrying
about window dressing. Its what works for us. And its what works
for our clients. Turning the materials were given into something
more is our trade and it is this determined, timeless approach to the
future that makes us Wealthsmiths.

For more information, speak to your Sanlam adviser


or broker or SMS your name to 44529*.

*Standard SMS rates apply. Sanlam is a licensed financial services provider.

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:09 PM


Governance

Why compliance is
abreast of emerging regulatory and
compliance requirements, regulatory
implementation leading practices and

a good investment
other regulatory trends.

With a good compliance programme


in place, and by cultivating an ethical
corporate culture, a business makes
is put on hold while the business decisions in the best interest of
devotes attention and resources to everyone. Losses are reduced, as
fending off the enforcement action. business is gained in a fair manner.
In addition, the cost of a tainted From an internal perspective, losses
reputation, damage to brand and loss incurred through misconduct decline
of clients can be devastating. In worst too, as transgressions are detected
at an early stage or prevented from
cases, financial advisors can lose their
happening at all. This cuts the costs
licenses, while businesses can be
that would potentially be spent on legal
forced to shut down.
fees, lawsuits, investigations and other
In light of the consequences of non- expenses associated with misconduct.
compliance, it is prudent for businesses
Having a compliance programme, or
to build and continuously enhance
access to a compliance team, also
compliance and ethics programmes to
demonstrates to stakeholders, including
better protect themselves from risk.
the regulators, that your business is
A robust compliance programme can,
making the effort to follow standards
in fact, be considered as a low-cost
of good business conduct.
insurance policy.
What exactly would your return
ELANA HONIBALL, Having said this, businesses are
on investment be on a compliance
Head of Compliance at Masthead currently feeling the wrath of the programme? To assess the financial
economy and many are strapped impact, one should subtract the money
for cash. As spending and budgets a compliance programme saves a
contract, ethics and compliance is business from the cost of running
The realities of managing risk usually the last area to be allocated the programme. That would involve
and the stepped-up enforcement any money. This happens because estimating the savings of events
efforts of government regulators businesses often view this area as an that could have, but never actually
have made the compliance unnecessary cost and prefer to focus happened, such as client complaints
their budget on income-generating or financial penalties. The value of
and ethics function a far more activities such as marketing. According these savings, as well as the functional
important part of a business to Deloittes 2013 Compliance savings that come from building a
these days. Trends Survey, the size of the typical better compliance and ethical culture
compliance function appears to remain in your business, is naturally difficult
The consequences of non-compliance relatively small in both manpower and to calculate. Ultimately, businesses
are steep. In recent months the FSBs budget. As much as money should not should be patient with their compliance
Enforcement Committee has issued influence whether or not to do the programme, as its value is best
administrative penalties ranging from right thing, it does. determined over time.
R10 000 to R2 million. Whats more
is that the incidence of penalties is But, given the relatively low cost In the near future, just as audit,
becoming more frequent, as regulation involved, and the significant benefits legal and HR resources functions
becomes increasingly complex. offered by a good ethics and are considered natural components
compliance programme, there is no of a business, so too will ethics and
Penalties for lack of compliance are not excuse to ignore setting one in place. compliance be included. It will be
just a local occurrence. US financial To keep costs in check, it is important considered not only as a part of a
services giant JPMorgan Chase & Co to make compliance a repeatable and business, but something that a business
spent some $5 billion on litigation sustainable process. desires to do.
in each of the past two years. Last
year, the company planned to spend By automating compliance processes For now, businesses that have an
an additional $4 billion and employ 5 as far as possible, businesses can effective compliance programme in
000 new staff members to fix risk and reduce the cost of human intervention, place will have a distinct strategic
compliance issues. which is often the largest portion advantage over their competitors, who
of compliance spending. Companies are likely to be arm-wrestling with
The cost of non-compliance goes can quite successfully outsource the the regulators or constantly repairing
further than just a fine. One would function if they cannot afford or compliance failures.
need to take into account the prefer not to employ a compliance
opportunity cost associated with officer or team. Outsourcing can
enforcement action, where everything provide access to experts who keep

52 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 52 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Financial Planning

Umbrella funds RYNO


offer solution to Killing himself with
small businesses 30 a day.
Auto-enrolment must be managed
to prevent cost increase
While larger corporate employers
may have resources to transition
to auto-enrolment practices better,
including access to specialist pension
advice, small businesses will need
to look at consolidating resources to
gear up for the change.

A well-managed umbrella fund,


which is a highly cost-efficient
retirement savings solution for
employees, can positively address the
challenges they may face.

CRAIG AITCHISON, Umbrella funds enable employers


Corporate GM of Customer to auto-enrol their employees in a
Solutions at Old Mutual Corporate simple, pre-determined way, with
changes managed via the monthly
payroll submissions. This allows
Proposals released by National employers to keep their eye on their
Treasury last month strongly core business. Its a good solution
emphasised the governments for small businesses as well as large
commitment to auto-enrolment corporates.
to correct inefficiency and
In an umbrella fund the
improve the poor savings administrative burden and other
rate in the current South governance costs are shared by the
African retirement system. participating employers in the fund.
However, auto-enrolment This pooling of assets and sharing
needs to be part of a pre- of costs gives rise to economies of
determined process, otherwise scale and lower charges to members.
the mandatory savings system Retirement fund members therefore
benefit because a larger proportion
may actually increase costs to
of their contributions will go towards
employers and members.
their retirement savings.
Employers, especially those of
Latest industry statistics from the
small businesses, need to consider
Financial Services Board (FSB)
management of auto-enrolment in
shows that funds with fewer than
retirement funds carefully, should this
20 members pay on average 10
become mandatory. The alternative
times more administration fees as
is increased costs, possibly at the
a total percentage of contributions,
members expense. This is the
compared to large funds with over
current experience of the United
10 000 members.
Kingdom, which implemented auto-
enrolment on 1 October 2012. Practical experience has
demonstrated that stand-alone funds
Smaller businesses may have
(where a retirement fund administers
fewer resources to devote to auto-
its own fund) can benefit by moving
enrolment requirements and the
to umbrella funds.
costs are likely to have a greater
impact on them.

COVER JULY 2014 53

July 14.indd 53 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Financial Planning

#MyBigBreak
growth and duration of each individual
financial need over time. This speaks
to BrightRocks commitment to Treating
Customers Fairly.

Malan said that the tremendous demand


milestone. COVER caught up with Schalk
for cover created by the huge insurance
Malan and co-founding Executive gap (of R24 trillion, according to the
Director Suzanne Stevens to talk about latest ASISA industry study) in South
the road so far and the days to come. Africa, presents a significant opportunity
BRIGHTROCKS ACHIEVEMENTS for BrightRock.
Since opening for new business in April Thats why we started this business.
2012, BrightRock has written future We knew change was needed and
premiums of R811 million in total, with believed we could deliver the kind of
cover in-force equating to around consumer-centric product thinking
R51 billion. Nationwide, more than 2 required to help close the gap.
700 independent financial advisors
have signed distribution contracts with This also speaks to BrightRocks
BrightRock to date. Month-on-month, flexibility. BrightRock policyholders can
the number of activated policies is change their choice of a lump-sum to a
growing by an average of around 20%. recurring pay-out (or a combination of
the two) at claim-stage for their income
Malan believes that the true test of a protection needs on permanent illness
companys achievements is how it fares or injury and on death.
at the claims stage. In the past two
years BrightRock has made a number of PLAIN LANGUAGE AND PAPERWORK
substantial pay-outs the largest claim BrightRocks website says it well:
BrightRock gives South African paid to date was a death claim of We dont pretend life insurance is
life insurance a face lift R16 million. simple, it isnt. So we do our best to
tell you about it in everyday English.
BrightRock has sent sports Malan said: The industry has sat up BrightRock uses objective medical
correspondent David Kibuuka to Brazil and taken notice of us, and weve criteria based on international clinical
where he will report on the World seen some product developments best practice guidelines to assess illness
Cup matches using the Twitter hashtag being launched in response, especially and injury claims, removing many of
#mybigbreak. in the income protection space. The the traditional barriers to claim. Stevens
broker markets response has been said BrightRocks documents are written
Daves Big Break will be screened week tremendously positive and the client in ways that people can understand
nights on eNCAs sports reports until take-up to date has been exceptional. for example, clinical definitions
13 July. Viewers will see Dave fumble include laymans explanations for easy
and hustle as he encounters crazy NEEDS-MATCHED PRODUCT reference.
characters, obstacles, and challenges DESIGN
that will encourage him to learn to love BrightRocks needs-matched product Instead of issuing generic
change. design has given consumers the power documentation, BrightRocks paperwork
to co-create a life insurance product is crafted around individuals.
Its all part of BrightRocks Love Change suited to their exact needs with their
consumer marketing campaign and financial advisor. BrightRock aims to Peoples lives dont stay the same.
ties into the Change Exchange, an meet policyholders needs, not only BrightRock has designed a product that
online resource centre that BrightRock at the time of sale, but also post- rides the winds of change with their
has created for people to have purchase as it tracks the behaviour, clients, all the way.
conversations about lifes big change
moments: tying the knot, starting a
family, buying a house or landing that
dream job.

This is just one example of the myriad


of ways BrightRock has not only
changed the face of South African life
insurance, but given it a haircut, an
iPad, and a brand new attitude.

Two years ago BrightRock, underwritten


by Lombard Life Ltd, entered the
South African life insurance market.
BrightRocks Executive Director: Actuarial
and main product architect, Schalk
Malan, said that in the early days of a
life insurance company, each year is a

54 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 54 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


A change of health RYNO
after the date of Pays a packet for

application risk insurance as a smoker.

BY THE OMBUDSMAN FOR LONG-TERM INSURANCE

The applicants duty of Biopsies followed on 10 September


disclosure in an underwritten and 12 September 2012 and after
policy does not end when the that cancer was diagnosed.
application is completed. In In terms of the clause stated above
terms of the common law, the insurer repudiated the policy and
the duty continues until the declined the claim.
conclusion of the contract; and
the timing of this will depend We upheld the insurer based on the
on the circumstances of the wording in the application form for
the following reasons:
particular case. Insurers extend
the duty by means of specifically The backdated date of entry was 1
contracting on a different basis. September 2012, but the insurer only
For instance, it could be stated accepted risk on 10 September 2012,
in the application form that the which is thus the applicable date.
duty to disclose will continue
The consultation was on 6
until the later of the first
September 2012, after the life
receipt of the premium or the insured noticed a breast lump, and
commencement of cover. the fact that the life insured had
a mammogram and ultrasound on
The following case studies shed
further light on the issue: the same date, was clearly material
information, in that a reasonable
CASE 1 prudent person would have disclosed
The date the application was signed it to allow the insurer to assess the
26 August 2012. effect of the information on the risk
it was asked to undertake. She had
A PROVISION IN THE a duty to disclose this information
APPLICATION FORM STATES: even if she had not yet been
You confirm you have given relevant, diagnosed.
complete and true information. By
signing this application form, you give Had the insurer been informed of the
a formal promise (called a warranty) breast lump, it would have deferred
that you have given us and will the decision to accept the policy until
continue to give us all information the outcome of the investigations was
relevant to your application until we known. As it turned out, a diagnosis
have accepted risk under this policy of breast cancer was made a few
or until this policy starts, whichever
days later, on 10 September 2012.
date occurs last...
If one reconstructs the policy to put
The risk was accepted on 10
September 2012 and the policy the complainant in the position she
commenced retrospectively on 1 would have been if she had correctly
September 2012. disclosed the breast lump, and the
insurer then waited for the outcome
A claim was lodged shortly of the investigations, it is clear that
afterwards for breast cancer. During the application for insurance would
investigations the insurer discovered not have been accepted.
that the complainant consulted
a doctor for a breast lump on 6 The insurer was entitled to void the
September 2012. policy, and no claim was payable.

COVER JULY 2014 55

July 14.indd 55 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Financial Planning

The period between the dates of Should this application be accepted Therefore the acceptance fell away.
application and when cover commences, by the Insurer, it will be conditional
can, in some cases, be quite long upon there having been no material CAUTION
even several months. The office has alteration to the facts on which the It appears that some policyholders,
handled some very unfortunate cases acceptance was based and no illness and possibly even some intermediaries,
where the life insured has had a change or injury suffered by the Life Covered are not aware of the implications of a
of health during this period and an between the date of this application change of health on insurance cover
eventual claim (even many years later) and the date the Insurer issues your and the continued duty of disclosure.
is then declined. Benefit, or 30 days prior to the first It may be necessary for insurers to do
premium due date elected by you, some education and to draw attention
CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE whichever is the later. to this aspect in their documentation.
Some insurers specifically mention Such references usually appear in
in the application form that the This was not a question of non- the fine print which is part of the
acceptance of the risk is conditional disclosure in our view but the declaration on the application form.
upon there being no change in health application of a condition. A reinsurer This is not information to which the
between the dates of application and had given its opinion that it would applicant pays particular attention,
the cover commencing. have been reasonable for an insurer unless it is highlighted. It could also be
to have deferred the underwriting that he/she no longer remembers what
CASE 2 decision until more information (in the he/she read in the application form if
The policy was applied for in June form of a further medical report) had there is a lengthy period between the
2009 but a medical incident called been obtained. There had thus been application and the cover commencing.
haemoptysis, coughing up blood, a material alteration of the facts on
occurred on 7 July 2009. The policy which the insurer relied to accept the There are some insurers, which refer
was accepted prior to 7 July 2009 policy. to this continuing duty of disclosure
but only issued on 13 July 2009. in their Welcome Letter when the
When a claim was lodged following a The insurer was entitled to rely on the policy is sent to the client. This is a
pulmonary embolism the insurer found abovementioned clause. The condition commendable practice, which is more
out about the haemoptysis incident and for acceptance of the application had likely to elicit the required information
it relied on the following clause in the not been fulfilled as there had been from the applicant.
application to void the policy: a material alteration of the facts.

56 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 56 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


SAVE THE
RYNO
Ryno needs to quit
the killer. With a
commitment to do so,
Altrisk will give him
a reduced premium
from day one.

Plus well help him quit.


Advisors to face
mandatory retirement If your clients smoke talk
to them about Altrisks
preservation Proactive Smoker it
could save their life and
Mandatory retirement preservation prepare for these or risk facing their pocket.
will soon add another layer of unnecessary business challenges in
the future, says Anitha Giridhar,
complexity and operational Associate Director of FIST at
challenges to retirement fund Deloitte.
For more
management in South Africa.
In 2013, the proposal was that each
information
This is a reality that employers, worker would be permitted one speak to your
principal officers, retirement fund withdrawal per preservation fund per
trustees and service providers year, the amount of which would be Altrisk broker
limited to 10% of the capital value
need to start considering, of the retirement savings preserved, consultant or go
according to professional services with a minimum value.
to www.altrisk.co.za
firm Deloitte and Ubiquity,
Unused withdrawals would be
a stakeholder engagement, permitted to be carried over so that
communications and reputation members would not feel the need to
consultancy firm. withdraw the maximum amount each Were your type
year, to minimise potential financial
Reforms around mandatory strains in the future. of risk insurer.
preservation of retirement benefits After stakeholder engagement, the
are moving fast. The National proposal has been amended to
Treasury (in its 2014 Budget Update include the following:
on Retirement Reforms, released 14
March 2014) confirmed that its latest A de minimis requirement has been
proposal was being discussed at introduced to remove the need
NEDLAC, and that proposals would for small sums to be preserved.
be implemented following final
consultations. The number of withdrawals will
be limited to one withdrawal per
With the impending deadline, it taxpayer per year, rather than
is becoming even more imperative one withdrawal per preservation
for the industry as a whole to be fund per year, to reduce the
mindful of the changes and start to number of withdrawals.

COVER JULY 2014 57


Altrisk is a division of Hollard Life Assurance, an authorised
financial services provider (FSP 17697).

July 14.indd 57 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Financial Planning

appears to be the favoured model


for ensuring a smooth transition
once a member leaves the fund to a
preservation fund. This will possibly
reduce the need for a member
to acquire a solution on the retail
market.

Governance by the boards in


implementing the new changes

In its current format, preservation


proposals will require fund boards to
acquire advisory services with respect
to the discretionary rules that funds
can apply to annual withdrawals.
Current proposals limit annual
withdrawals to a maximum of 10%
of the capital value of the retirement
savings preserved. In determining
withdrawal rules, funds will have to
ascertain the profile of fund members,
member needs, efficient and effective
communications with members and
Under consideration is a review Moving forward (and ahead of ongoing support to members with
of the tax treatment of pre- further consultation with the National regard to withdrawals. These new
retirement withdrawals to ensure Treasury), employers, funds, providers rules will ideally also be revised in
fairness and to discourage and trade unions will have to consider accordance with King III and PF130
withdrawals for frivolous reasons. the following: provisions.

Any withdrawals before retirement Preparing for benefit Ensuring new regulations do not
will serve to reduce the amount administrative challenges to impede current operations
that can be paid by a pension cater for preservation changes
fund in the form of a lump sum Boards of funds will have to ensure
(i.e. one-third of the capital value that the implementation of new
if no prior withdrawals have been rules and regulations will not affect
made) to minimise the erosion of the services provided by benefit
IT IS LIKELY THAT NEW
retirement benefits by early access. administrators capabilities like benefit
PRESERVATION RULES withdrawals. Funds can do this by
While further clarity is required from COULD POSSIBLY COME INTO having control audits like ISAE 3402
the National Treasury and the Financial performed to ensure system integrity.
EFFECT AS EARLY AS 2015.
Services Board, it is likely that new
preservation rules could possibly Regulatory preparedness in
come into effect as early as 2015. dealing with changes arising
This emphasises the extent to which from this legislation
retirement preservation has become a Considering funds and retirement
reform priority, says Kaveer Beharee, service providers especially benefit Preparedness by the Financial Services
Principal at Ubiquity Consulting. administrators will require time to Board to process large volumes of
adapt to new regulation. The industry regulatory amendments resulting from
While the industry awaits the National should possibly consider requesting the reforms to ensure timely and
Treasurys release of its set of draft that new regulation be staggered over effective implementation by the various
regulations on default strategies, a period, giving various stakeholders stakeholders.
including requirements for funds to sufficient time to put these changes
have default investment portfolios, into effect. While we support mandatory
default annuity products for members retirement preservation and the
on retirement and default preservation Driving down costs consultative process by the National
rules for members on termination of Treasury, retirement funds and service
membership before retirement. Cost-efficient structures and
providers should start developing
transparency support reform
While retirement preservation is a big objectives. Retirement service strategies and processes to ensure
step towards improving an individuals providers and boards of funds should that new regulations do not lead to
quality of life during their pension understand how cost-efficient operational failures, ends Giridhar.
years, the current proposals will compulsory preservation models
bring about significant changes in the implemented in other countries are.
running of funds. Currently, a default opt-out model

58 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 58 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


HAVASWW-D63274/E

When you qualify as a


professional, you qualify
for a share in our profits.

With a 4-year degree or equivalent qualification, you


can become a member of PPS, the only financial
services company created by professionals, for
professionals, and completely owned by its members.
Apart from insurance, investment and healthcare
solutions tailor-made to your specific needs as a
professional, as a valued PPS member you also
share all the companys profits*
which were upwards of R4.2 billion last year alone.
Were professionals, just like you.

For more info, SMS CM and your name to 42097, consult a PPS
product-accredited financial services adviser
or visit www.pps.co.za.

THE KEY TO SUCCESS LIES IN SHARING IT.

PPS offers unique financial solutions to select graduate professionals


with a 4-year degree. PPS is an authorised Financial Services Provider.
*Members with qualifying products share all our profits.
Standard SMS rates apply.

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:09 PM


Financial Planning

Smooth bonus portfolios:


the investment worlds blue jeans
commentary around smooth bonus and wish to protect the value of their
portfolios, it is worthwhile to consider investment from a market downturn.
whether smooth bonus portfolios If capital preservation is an objective
will be as durable as blue jeans and - for example in preservation funds
continue to fulfill an important role in and even for unclaimed benefit funds -
the retirement industry. smooth bonus portfolios offer a better
value proposition than low risk, low
Smooth bonus portfolios offer the best return funds.
of both worlds, providing exposure
to an aggressive portfolio, but with In the technical discussion paper,
downside protection through capital criticism was raised regarding the cost
preservation. The insurer provides of the capital guarantee in smooth
the capital guarantee and capital bonus portfolios; the potential exit
preservation is therefore not achieved penalty on termination; the lack of
through a conservative asset allocation transparency and the conflict of interest
or via the use of various hedging between the insurers shareholders and
strategies. The smoothing mechanism its policyholders. Although the criticism
in smooth bonus portfolios assists in was thoughtful, it is always important
managing policyholder expectations by to consider how all the threads are
TWAN WESSELS, reducing exposure to the extreme ups woven together to make up the final
Marketing Actuary: Investments and downs of investing in the market. product.
at Momentum Employee Benefits
In return for the capital guarantee
offered by the insurer, a capital charge
is charged. The capital charge pays
SMOOTH BONUS
for the true economic cost of the
Smooth bonus portfolios are PORTFOLIOS OFFER investment guarantee itself, as well as
not the flavour of the month. A BETTER VALUE the regulatory capital that the insurer
This might be as a result of over PROPOSITION THAN LOW
must hold. The regulatory capital must
be met by the insurer to ensure that
confidence; considering that RISK, LOW RETURN FUNDS. the promise to the policyholder will
markets are flaunting record always be honoured. The peace of
highs. However, smooth bonus mind that the investment guarantee
portfolios have been around for brings comes with a price. Although
In the role smooth bonus portfolios it is possible for retirement funds to
decades and they still provide a fulfill in the industry, it is often smooth their own investment returns,
good fit and value to investors, overlooked that these portfolios also this does not provide any investment
playing an important role in offer guaranteed benefit payments at guarantee. Smoothing inside a
the smoothed investment value on retirement fund is equivalent to running
the retirement industry. They unexpected exits which include death, an insurer without any capital which,
are reliable and they have been disability, resignation and retrenchment if it is not managed correctly and with
around the block - smooth bonus - and not just offer guaranteed benefit the necessary expertise, exposes the
payments on retirement. Currently, fund to significant risks.
portfolios are the investment
due to a lack of preservation, these
worlds blue jeans. exits constitute the majority of Smooth bonus portfolios are a
payments from retirement funds; even form of insurance against adverse
Debates in the media about the costs if preservation is improved, death, market movements. The guaranteed
versus benefits of smooth bonus disability and retrenchment will remain smoothed investment value is only
portfolios and the role they fulfill in realities. During times of unexpected payable on certain insured events.
the retirement industry followed the and emotional events one needs Payments on non-insured events i.e.
release of National Treasurys technical peace of mind and a reliable blue jean a voluntary exit or termination, will
discussion paper Charges in South partner in ones investment selection. normally be paid out at the lower of
African retirement funds. The paper Smooth bonus portfolios are also a the smoothed investment value and
was a thoughtful review - including good fit for investors who have a low the actual underlying asset value.
some criticism - of smooth bonus tolerance for investment volatility and This feature is wrongly seen as an
portfolios. In response to the recent investors who are close to retirement exit penalty. It is critical and exists to

60 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 60 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


protect the remaining policyholders interests of policyholders. Numerous portfolios should be promoted by
and prevent anti-selection in the lines of defense protect policyholders improving member understanding of
form of sophisticated investors interest and these include a statutory their features and their relative costs
acting on information and skills not actuary who has a statutory duty to and benefits.
available to other fund members by protect the interests of policyholders
withdrawing from the fund in times of and committees with independent, In the current market environment that
economic turmoil purely to realise the non-executive director representation. includes local and global structural
guarantee. In addition, just as it is vital for Levi challenges, a lot of uncertainty and
to maintain a trusted brand, it is at markets flaunting record highs, it might
Finally the technical discussion the heart of an insurers vision as well. be an opportune time to reconsider the
paper raised concerns about lack of The strength of business is built upon merits of the investment worlds blue
transparency and conflict of interest looking beyond the numbers: because jeans. The proof is in the performance:
between the insurers shareholders people count. a respectable multi-managed partially
and its policyholders. Smooth bonus vesting smooth bonus fund makes
portfolios have evolved over the last It is important to compare like with blue jeans talk, having achieved a real
few decades, have opened the black like. Just as jeans are different to return in excess of 6% per annum over
box in favour of sensible transparency chinos, smooth bonus portfolios are the last 10 years, net of the capital
and are now subject to strong different to market-linked portfolios charge.
governance principles to ensure that and they serve a different purpose.
there is a strong voice representing the The appropriate use of smooth bonus Yes, it makes blue jeans talk.

Statement of Investor Rights


Ten rights that any investor will
expect from financial service providers

6
The Statement of Investor services of financial professionals and An understanding of my
organisations, I have the right to: circumstances, so that any
Rights was developed by CFA

1
Institute to advise consumers Honest, competent, and advice provided is suitable
of the conduct they are entitled ethical conduct that and based on my financial
to expect from financial service complies with applicable objectives and constraints

7
providers. law Clear, accurate,

2
complete, and timely
CFA Institute is encouraging financial Independent and objective
professionals around the globe to
communications that
support the statement and provide it
advice and assistance use plain language and are
to their clients to demonstrate their based on informed presented in a format that
commitment to fundamental ethical analysis, prudent judgment, and conveys the information
principles. diligent effort effectively

3 8
Since the financial crisis of 2008, An explanation of all fees
CFA Institute, through its regional My financial interests
member societies, has undertaken the taking precedence over and costs charged to me,
responsibility to rebuild the credibility those of the professional and information showing
of the financial services industry, and the organisation these expenses to be fair and
explains Nerina Visser, CFA and reasonable

4 9
Deputy President of CFA Society
South Africa. Through the Statement
Fair treatment with Confidentiality of my
of Investor Rights, we as financial respect to other clients information, and

5 10
professionals are able to show our
clients that they can trust us to provide Disclosure of any Appropriate
the service they expect and deserve. existing or potential and complete
Visser provides a summary of the conflicts of interest records to
10 investor rights according to in providing products or support the work done on my
CFA Institute. When engaging the services to me behalf.

COVER JULY 2014 61

July 14.indd 61 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Working with
WHEELS

World of wheels:
powered by technology
In this months Working with Wheels, technology is the name of the
game. Weve come so far, and this is what we learned along the way.

An app for vehicle


LIVE Inspect solution allows credible
inspections to be done by anyone, at
any time. These activities and outputs
can easily and immediately be tracked

pre-inspections via a dashboard allowing the insurer to


see the details of the inspection as soon
as it is complete.

The mobile app uses form pre-population


Some insurers think pre-inspections and license disc and drivers license card
are unnecessary, calculating that the scanning and decryption. These elements
business case does not stack up. Poor or alone significantly improve data capture
unreliable data, costs, delays and effort accuracy as inspectors no longer need to
needed to get a customers inspection type in any details, in particular the 17
done, are often not worth the effort. digit VIN number which is notorious for
input error.
Other insurers have embraced pre-
inspections and multiple channels have The data management system integrates
been tried and tested, with mixed with the proprietary auto datasets of
results. An analysis by Lightstone Auto Lightstone Auto for each inspection, and
found that inspections done for one can automatically flag to the insurer that
major insurer were 40% incorrect the vehicle make, model and/or year on
when it came to make, model and VIN the policy are wrong.
JASPER VAN HEESCH, number.
Head of Business Development The app can take photos and make sure
at Lightstone Auto Inaccuracy affects underwriting precision that every key action is time, date and
and prevents efficiencies in claims location stamped.
management where insurers want to We are currently building a self-
Lightstone Auto, a provider of manage their vehicles through the inspect version of LIVE Inspect which
comprehensive data, analytics claims process via the vehicles VIN insurers can put into the hands of their
number. policy holders. With fraud detection
and systems for the insurance,
mechanisms like number plate
lending and dealership industries, We have developed a new benchmark
recognition and proximity evaluation,
in pre-inspections solutions which we
and Custom App, the specialist believe will dramatically improve the
Lightstone Auto is helping insurers make
mobile app development firm, things more convenient for their clients
derived benefits and will challenge while still retaining the integrity of the
have recently introduced LIVE thinking on this topic, said Graham solution, said Harvey.
Harvey, CEO of Custom App.
Inspect, a new addition to the
The app is available for free download
LIVE App suite, to assist insurers Using a combination of the mobile on Android and IOS and a small fee is
in accurately understanding app, a data management system and charged for each inspection completed.
a related interface that can be fully
vehicles they have added to their integrated into various datasets and For more information visit:
books. insurer management systems, the http://www.lightstoneauto.co.za/

62 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 62 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Untitled-1 1
75638 Cover.indd 1 2014/07/07
2014/05/19 11:10
11:58 PM
AM
Working with
WHEELS

Demystifying the cost


of fleet ownership
WADE GRIFFIN, SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE PLAN REDUCING PREMATURE VEHICLE
Director of Commercial Vehicles at OPTIONS REPLACEMENT
Hyundai Automotive South Africa What happens when a vehicle in your Drivers are responsible for the vehicles
fleet breaks down? Do you have a that they operate and the cargo
maintenance and service agreement transported. SMEs should select a fleet
With fleet vehicles the cost of thats supported by an expansive dealer supplier that can assist in training their
ownership has a direct impact network and a comprehensive roadside drivers with:
assistance offering?
on the businesss bottom line, performing preventative
yet the fleet is often a critical maintenance checks;
component to getting the work safe driving principles
done. UNDERSTAND NOT and mechanisms;
ONLY THE COST OF THE
SMEs that run fleets need to driver techniques and
PURCHASE, BUT THE COST
understand the elements that make up driver health; and
the cost of ownership. These elements OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.
can be managed by selecting the right fatigue prevention.
vehicle fleet through the right vehicle MAXIMISE EFFICIENCIES
provider. The elevated cost of fuel is an ongoing
SELECTING THE RIGHT FINANCING challenge. Investment into efficient
MINIMISE DOWNTIME STRUCTURE
Understand whats included or vehicles will not only save on fuel
Understand not only the cost of the spend but also lower carbon emissions.
excluded in a vehicle warranty. While purchase, but the cost of vehicle
full manufacturers warranties tend maintenance. A full maintenance Management of downtime, supplier
to be more valuable as they cover leasing (FML) contract can be more support and vehicle quality play a
part failures and are comprehensive beneficial to the business: vehicles are role in managing cost of ownership
in nature, local warranties can contain not registered in the companys name and business sustainability. SMEs
a host of exclusions and limitations and there is no disposable risk. The need to select the right fleet and the
in terms of what is covered. A local company receives a fixed maintenance right provider to optimise costs and
warranty may look more appealing rate for the period of the lease plan efficiencies.
with a lower upfront cost, but it could and can budget for a fixed amount
result in higher maintenance costs. monthly.

64 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 64 2014/07/07 8:31 PM


Up here, commitment
is everything.

Property insurance solutions on a new global scale.


The AIG Global Property Division is a world leader in providing insurance, risk management
and loss control services for commercial property and energy risks. Now were thinking even
bigger. With larger per-risk capacity, new resources and capabilities worldwide. Whether your
needs are local, multinational or global, our industry specialists can coordinate consistent
service from engineering to claims to risk transfer solutions designed to meet your specific
needs. To learn more, visit www.AIG.com/globalproperty

Insurance and services provided by member companies of American International Group, Inc. Coverage may not be available
in all jurisdictions and is subject to actual policy language. For additional information, please visit our website at www.AIG.com.

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:10 PM


Working with
WHEELS

Cape Town:
Most congested city in South Africa
DAAN HENDERICKX, The Traffic Index compares travel times during non-
Country Manager of congested hours with travel times in peak hours experienced
TomTom South Africa by passenger vehicles. The Index takes into account both
local roads and highways. The top 10 most congested cities
TomTom (TOM2) has published its fourth annual ranked by overall congestion level in 2013 were:
global traffic index for 2013. The results revealed
1 Moscow 74% 6 Palermo 39%
that Cape Town is the most congested city in
South Africa, surpassing Johannesburg the most 2 Istanbul 62% 7 Warsaw 39%
congested city in 2012. 3 Rio de Janeiro 55% 8 Rome 37%
4 Mexico 54% 9 Los Angeles 36%
TomToms traffic data showed that traffic congestion on
secondary roads is worse than main roads, and commuters 5 So Paulo 46% 10 Dublin 35%
are spending an average of 10 working days a year stuck
in traffic. This is creating a new set of challenges for local South Africa has seen an increase in congestion in all of
authorities looking for solutions to the increasing traffic the six cities that the report monitored. Congestion in Cape
problem. Town and East London has increased by 2%. South Africa
had a congestion level of 21% in 2013 while the individual
The data found that the traffic shortcuts drivers take to
cities were ranked as follows:
avoid congestion are actually long-cuts, adding 50% more
travel time to journeys. South Africa is the only country in
the world to experience their worst congestion on a Monday Global Ranking
morning while the rest of the world experiences worst 1 Cape Town 27% 33
congestion most often on a Tuesday morning.
2 Johannesburg 25% 48
Traffic congestion continues to be a global challenge.
Traditional responses to congestion building new roads 3 East London 22% 65
or widening existing ones are no longer proving to be
4 Pretoria 22% 73
effective. Real time traffic information can help drivers
find the quickest shortcut on their journey, and assist 5 Durban 18% 98
governments to make smarter decisions to improve traffic
flow for their cities. 6 Bloemfontein 12% 134/138

FP
I C Mee
PR
O
Software Solutions
on t u
fe s
Ins renc at o FI
ur e 2 ur
an s
DA
c 5- tan
27 e C 26 J d a
Are you looking for an Insurance Management Software Suite with new capabilities and -2 on un t th
9 fer e
insights into your policy and claims administration, including underwriting? One that also Ju en or e
ly ce at
boasts data sharing capabilities? the
With its data exchange facilities, PROFIDA is compliant with current binder regulations and is one of the first
software solution providers to receive STRIDE certification.
It incorporates a statistical reporting module - business intelligence that provides meaningful, detailed
information related to your claim ratios, new business and insurance value bands. You are thus promptly
alerted to critical issues to be addressed in your business processes.
PROFIDAs cutting edge technology and the unique flexibility of its extension framework makes it possible for
it to grow and adapt with you and your business, in whichever direction it may develop. Host it on your
server or ours the choice is yours.
Are you a rather large enterprise with a complete offering? A brokerage or a specialist underwriting
manager providing a niche insurance? PROFIDA will meet your needs both now and on our journey into
the future.

Visit us at www.profida.co.za or phone (021) 975 0215 STRIDE CERTIFIED

66 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 66 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


The story
behind the silver
Mercedes gang
Statistically, a motorist
is more likely to become
a victim of hijacking at
their place of residence,
on a weekday, between
16:00 and 20:00 in the
evening.

Previously motorists were


warned to be vigilant when
approaching their place of
residence, to ensure that they
werent being followed, and
to be cautious when exiting GRANT FRASER,
the vehicle to open a gate Divisional Director:
or to carry in the groceries. Product and Marketing MiX
While a place of residence Telematics (Consumer)
continues to be the likeliest
scene of a hijacking, it is now
just as dangerous to exit your Veer onto the road as
driveway as it is to enter. soon as traffic permits
and it is safe to do so.
The viral video of the Silver
Mercedes-Benz Gang showed Do not wait for the gate
a couples attempt to share to close; to check that the
their experience with the property is secure circle
world, in order to empower the block and confirm
others. On 17 May the gang this when you pass by.
accessed a residence in
If you must exit the vehicle,
Blairgowrie after trapping a
switch the car off, close
vehicle in between the silver
and lock all doors keys
Mercedes and the closed gate
in the ignition will identify
of the property. The disturbing
you as an easy target.
camera footage sees the
motorist being removed from Dont follow a structured
the vehicle and forced back routine; criminals
through the now open gate will be less able to
to his home. The gang uses premeditate a crime.
a spotter to identify potential
targets, block your path and Dont make the
leave you helpless. situation worse; comply
with demands.
PUBLIC SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM Keep your panic button
MATRIX: nearby and alert authorities
Check your surroundings; as soon as it is safe.
be sure you are able to
exit your home safely and Vigilance will go a long way in
without any disruption. protecting you and those who
share your journey.
Never sit in your parked
car; be cautious of Watch the video here:
your surroundings. http://bit.ly/SydLGn

COVER JULY 2014 67

July 14.indd 67 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


Working with
WHEELS

The value of technology


and business efficiency
Mike Crankshaw, CEO of fleet
management company, FleetCUBE,
said: Fifty vehicles cost about R6,8
million a year in total operating costs.
When businesses are able to set the
right fleet management policies, they
should be able to reduce costs by
R680 000.

Shorter routes mean using less fuel


and less wear and tear, leading to less
maintenance and tyre costs.

Avoiding traffic congestion is


paramount to the efficient operating
of logistics companies. Wasting
time results in customer service
frustrations, loss of income for
the company, unnecessary fuel
consumption, and wear and tear
on the vehicles. Useful navigation
devices ensure that traffic congestion
is identified and alternative routes can
be selected to avoid these.

MODERN ROUTE NAVIGATION


DEVICES TAKE THE GUESSING
OUT OF THE EQUATION,
TRANSLATING INTO LESS
BUSINESS MILEAGE.

Fuel costs are estimated routes. Operators can also select routes Driver efficiencies result in increased
that will avoid toll roads and direct productivity for example additional
to constitute roughly 45% drivers on the shortest most efficient deliveries, which means earning
of total operating costs for routes around toll gantries. additional revenue. Drivers often
many businesses, especially think they know the shortest route to
The return on investment in most the next customer, but human error
those involved in logistics and cases ranges between four and eight is surprisingly high. Modern route
transportation. For businesses months and fleet owners can no longer
navigation devices take the guessing
ignore the fact that drivers and driver
operating a fleet of vehicles, out of the equation, translating into
behaviour need to be controlled if they
less business mileage.
the associated running costs are are going to manage their fleet costs
effectively. Fleet management services enable the
increasing year on year by 12%.
fleet owner to know where each driver
The proven savings are considerable
Tracker Business in partnership with is and their time of arrival at the next
and for a courier company able to save
TomTom provides live in-cab traffic 20 km per day (per vehicle) for a fleet delivery, which is optimal for good
interrogation and navigation services of 40 vehicles, indicates an annual customer service.
unique to Tracker Business which saving of more than R260 000, which
enable drivers to avoid congested over three years works out to a saving
routes and select the shortest possible of around R800 000.

68 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 68 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


Untitled-1
Untitled-1 11 2014/02/1811:11
2014/07/07 9:40PM
PM
Working with
WHEELS

World cup stars


and their super cars
GLOBAL CAR CLASSIFIEDS CARMUDI UNLEASHES THE
FANCIEST RIDES OF FIFA HEROES
With FIFA World Cup around the corner, Footballers from
across the globe have headed to Brazil to put everything
on the line for the pride of their nation. However, away
from the field, do you know how much pride they place in
their rides? Carmudi digs into the brands and budgets of the
super rides that catch the fancy of some of the best football
players across the world.
4) SAMUEL ETOO MAYBACH 57 S XANATEC COUPE
1) RONALDO LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LP 700-4 At a time Etoo was the highest paid player in the world.
Officially recognised as the best player in the world He is said to have a fleet of cars costing an astonishing
currently, Ronaldos car exudes the same type of panache 6,700,000 USD. Of his collection the car that stands out is
the footballer does with the ball at his feet. The Lamborghini his Maybach Xanantec Coupe. It costs over a million dollars
Aventador is not a shy car with a lofty 700 Brake and has a huge presence on the road, similar to that of the
Horsepower (BHP) to help the vehicle reach a top speed of Cameroonian captains on the pitch.
217mph. The Ballon Dor winners car comes in a stealthy
matte black to add that extra touch of understated style.
However all this flash will set you back a hefty 450,000
USD.

5) RIBERY LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP560-4 SPYDER


Ribery, referred to as the jewel of French football by the
legendary Zinedine Zidane will once again be the focal point
of Frances bid for World Cup glory. Riberys glory on the road
is in the form of his Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder. Able to reach
201mph and costing 225,000 USD, his ride comes in an eye
catching bright green so he is never out of the spotlight.
2) LIONEL MESSI GRANTURISMO MC STRADALE
A car befitting of a player held in the same regard as some
of the greatest of all time. When needing to get from A to
B, Messi uses his Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale. His
vehicle comes in a clean looking white, reaches a top speed
of 188mph and costs upwards of 181,000 USD. Certainly
a worthy drive for the only man who can stand toe-to-toe
with Ronaldo in world football.

6) NEYMAR AUDI R8 GT
The man with the weight of a nation on his shoulders and
the face of the Brazil World Cup. The talented forward
chooses to cruise the roads in the Audi R8 GT. Costing
nearly 250,000 USD, it reaches top speeds of nearly
200mph. Neymar has decided to keep the design simple
and sleek in a bright white paint job and a classical red
leather upholstery interior.

3) WAYNE ROONEY ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH


For the talismanic Englishman it is fitting to choose a car that
is British. The Aston Martin Vanquish is a car which expresses
the same class on the road that Rooney does on the field.
This car set Rooney back a fair amount costing 280,000 USD.
However, with a top speed of 183mph and a booming engine
of 565 BHP it is most certainly a car for a superstar.

70 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 70 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


EMPLOYEE MOTOR FLEET
AND RISK RISK FINANCE INSURANCE CAR HIRE
BENEFITS SOLUTIONS Paladin INSURANCE
Blue Diamond
Centriq BrokerserV
Manwood

NON-STANDARD OWNER DRIVER


LIFE INSURANCE INSURANCE
AllLife
HCV Hambe Kahle
INSURANCE
IUM

MARINE AVIATION
INSURANCE
INSURANCE Azriel Aero
Nautical Aviation

EVENTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT
KEU Xelus, Total Risk
Administrators

EXCESS BUYDOWN
INSURANCE MOTOR
STAND ALONE IUM, Paladin,
Beyonda Group SAU Paradigm,
Ad Ultimum

WHY LOOK ANYWHERE ELSE?


Were all different. We think, work and live differently. At Centriq, we see insurance in the same way differently. Its this way of looking
at you and your clients that makes us a partner you can trust and turn to, whatever your clients insurance needs, from assets to
liabilities to people. Over the years, weve built relationships with leading UMA business partners in our industry that position us to offer
each insurance broker and their clients unique solutions provided by dedicated and competent people thats the Centriq difference.

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:11 PM


CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT
Renasa lays the
foundation for education By Annetjie van Wynegaard

literacy by creating and distributing


reading books to schools in need.
Bonny Loureiro, a former teacher,
writes the stories, and Julia du Plessis
is the illustrator.

A teacher affects eternity; Saturdays during the school year. These


sessions focus on foundation phase
he can never tell, where his
numeracy and literacy; maths, science
influence stops. Henry Brooks and technology at the intermediate and
Adams senior phases; and helping educators
gain computer skills.
The Thandulwazi-Rokunda teacher
development programme, established On Saturday 17 May 2014 Bonny
in 2006 by the St Stithians Foundation, Loureiro, the General Manager of
aims to improve the skills of educators RITE (Renasa Insurance Training
teaching in schools in previously and Education), Renasa Insurance
Companys social responsibility Bonny presented the readers to
disadvantaged areas. Thandulwazi teachers and spoke about interactive
derives from the isiZulu meaning the programme, presented a workshop at
Thandulwazi. ways to make learning fun and
love of learning, and the up-skilling effective. During the workshop the
workshop sessions coordinated teachers spoke about how to use
RITE supports the foundation phase of
by Karen Walstra and hosted by St games in the classroom, not only
education by helping underprivileged
Stithians College are held on 11 to teach language, but also to build
schools lay the building blocks for
confidence in students and to help
them grow into strong individuals
physically and intellectually.

Bonny stressed the importance of the


foundation phase on a childs cognitive
capacity, literacy, numeracy and ability
to communicate.

At the end of the workshop Bonny


gave the teachers readers to take back
to school and use in their teaching.

RITE has bought the rights to the


Alphaland Literacy Programme and has
already donated it to over 250 schools
in past years. RITE has extended its
reach through the RITE Reader Project.
Renasa donate packs of 110 readers per
class to each teacher that attends the
RITE workshops.

72 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 72 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT
Dream, Believe, Achieve
was initiated to highlight the crucial
role that young women can inspire,
influence and lead others to greatness.
Magwegwe said, We wanted to get
Momentum plays host to 120 girl Johannesburg where he found himself the message out there, by educating
homeless. He later started a fruit and and empowering a girl child, you are
children in the workplace
veg stall which funded his university helping the young women and girls of
fees. Magwegwe holds a number of this country to believe in themselves.
Momentums vision is empower young
diplomas and degrees and has recently
women across the country to believe To date, over 600,000 girl learners
completed Harvard Business Schools
in themselves and to open their have been blessed with an opportunity
Advanced Management Programme.
eyes to the integral roles they can to be exposed to the world of work.
play in shaping this nations future. Despite advances in legislation, the
Wednesday, 4 June was Take a Girl majority of women in South Africa still
Child to Work Day at Momentum. suffer from gender inequality
as they lack the skills to
Take a Girl Child to Work Day enjoys
make them economically
a wealth of support from both public
independent, said Magwegwe.
and private sector organisations and
We are extremely happy to
corporations. This years campaign was
have the opportunity to be part
aimed at girls from Grade 10 to 12 with
of this initiative and influence
the tagline Dream, Believe, Achieve.
girl learners that they can be
Frank Magwegwe, Momentums Head the future of South Africa by
of Middle Market Segment shared beginning with a dream.
his story of success, showcasing that
More than 120 girls visited
dreams do come true. After completing
Momentum offices, which
high school, Magwegwe moved to

PARTNERSHIP
THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF RISK IN EVERYTHING

Protecting your clients business against risk takes strategic insight. It takes innovation and tailored solutions. It takes the
pioneering approach of cell captive insurance. Guardrisk offers cover for corporates, small enterprises and municipalities, as well
as cover for a variety of industries including marine, construction, motor and many more. The option of a third party insurance
offering lets clients sell insurance cover to their customers, boosting their business earning potential and building their brand.
Tel: +27 11 669 1000 www.guardrisk.com

An Authorised Financial Services Provider

COVER JULY 2014 73

July 14.indd 73 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT
Santam helps youth combat crime
Tersia Mdunge, CSI Manager at Santam

organisation to develop intervention


programmes specifically for children
and young people involved in crime.

Vuyo Nelane, a Grade 10 leaner from


Hodisa Secondary School, says he looks
forward to participating in the initiative.
I cannot wait to get involved in this
programme that will help me become
the best person I can be. I also think it
will help us to make positive changes
in our school while having fun in the
process.

The programme will be implemented


as a structured curriculum that
involves peer education, building
learner capacity, clarifying values and
value systems, and developing and
implementing practical projects and
activities.
Santam has committed an basket of interventions is the Safety
Ambassador Programme which aims to
additional R2,7 million in I am confident that the programme
curb the spike in juvenile offenders by will enhance our efforts to give
support of the National Institute inspiring young people to lead a crime- the learners direction and purpose.
for Crime Prevention and the free lifestyle. Learners will not only gain skills on
Reintegration of Offenders Santam sponsors the programme at 24
how to deal with crime, but the
(NICRO) work to help programme will also prevent them from
schools across South Africa and as a
getting involved in such activities, says
adolescents reduce their risk result of their investment since 2009,
Mrs Rebecca Mpailane, a teacher at
close to 800 learners have successfully
of falling into a life of crime. Moemedi Secondary School.
completed the Safety Ambassador
This brings the insurers total Programme. SANTAM MANAGES A
investment to this cause close STREAMLINED CSI PORTFOLIO
Santam appreciates the potential
to R5 million and extends its of young people, and strategically
THAT CURRENTLY INCLUDES THE
partnership by another four FOLLOWING INVESTMENTS:
invests in partnerships that help youth
UNICEF Safe and Caring
years. realise their potential. The scourge
Child-Friendly Schools;
of crime in our country, particularly
The cash injection from Santam has in disadvantaged communities, City of Cape Towns School
enabled NICRO to expand the Safety impedes peoples potential to Resource Officers;
Ambassador Programme to a group thrive psychologically, socially and
of 60 grade 9 to 11 learners from the economically. Programmes like the Santam Child Art Programme;
Hodisa Secondary School and Moemedi NICRO Safety Ambassador Programme
Secondary School in Rocklands in the are a vital contribution to society Santam Staff Volunteerism; and
Free State where the programme will because they ultimately help to nurture
community wellbeing. Santams Emthunzini BBBEE
run for three years.
Community Trust that provides
NICRO, a non-governmental NICRO has been developing funding in the areas of education,
organisation, ultimately aims to constructive solutions to breaking the arts, culture, training, development
find lasting solutions towards crime cycle of crime and violence in South programmes, enterprise
prevention. Forming part of their Africa since 1910. It was the first development and job creation.

74 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 74 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


Risk Management

Combating white
has drastically changed of late, with
cyber crime statistics rising annually.
He identified that while the insurance
industry has taken great steps in

collar crime
BY TARYN KERR
reducing fraud in certain areas, more
investment in new developments is
needed.

William Lawrence, from the


MEA-SAS Institute, spoke about
confronting fraud from the front end,
and how underwriting is affected and
can be effective in preventing fraud
trends. He explained how analytics
can be used not only to uncover, but
also outsmart the most resourceful
fraudster.

Hugo van Zyl from the SAICB gave


a progress update and presented an
industry-wide database of known
fraudsters.

The second day kicked off with Ronel


Rust, Senior Manager of the Fraud
Investigation and Dispute Services,
at Ernst & Young. Rust provided
practical ways in which the industry
can identify key opportunities to
curb fraud, what it takes to make
a positive change and what is
preventing this. George Barnes and
infamous Tony Sales joined Rust for
a panel discussion on catching and
The second annual Insurance Although were funded by the prosecuting known fraudsters. The
short-term insurance industry, our panel addressed issues of dismantling
Fraud Conference was held on
operations benefit all South Africans, organised crime, investigating fraud
20 and 21 May was hosted by and to date we helped return assets and how to build a worthy court case.
Spectacular and sponsored by valued at more than R60 million to
the uninsured public, a member of Ian Logan, a Senior Director at
Censeo. The event addressed Transunion Credit Bureau, spoke
the SAICB said.
how cyber crime affects the about how to prevent fraud at the
insurance industry. It is as difficult to measure the impact point of sale. He addressed the issue
and prevalence of insurance crime, as it of online fraud, credit data and the
Servaas du Plessis, CEO of Censeo, is to measure efforts to combat it. The propensity to commit fraud, and
spoke about optimising the industry SAICB has adopted the measurement using the data in the insurers favour.
approach to fraud, and how brokers of successful convictions as one of George Barnes, MD of Forensic
and insurers need to work in sync to its KPIs. To date, there have been 15 Investigations and Risk Management
prevent it. He spoke about steps the investigations that have resulted in Consultants, spoke about how to close
SAICB have taken in preventing fraud. finalised criminal proceedings. In all 15 the loopholes to prevent furthering
instances, the perpetrators were found fraud trends. He discussed the future
The South African Insurance Crime guilty a 100% strike rate for the of data sharing, and how this can be
Bureau (SAICB) was founded in 2008, SAICB. used more effectively in the insurance
and its member companies represent industry.
more than 50% of the South African Chris Andrews address was entitled,
Insurance industry (based on GWP). Cross-Industry Challenge: Distributing The conference concluded with the
In its first five years of operation the Responsibilities. Andrew asked, to UKs alleged greatest fraudster, Tony
company delivered an average return what extent does fraud prevention Sales. A riveting presentation gave
on investment of 2,2:1 for its member fall into the intermediaries hands? He the audience a unique insight into
companies while the return on said all departments need to tackle the intricate psyche of an organised
investment for the current, sixth year fraud, and technology can assist criminal, how a fraudster selects his
of business, amounts to a ratio of more fraud detection and prevention. Leon targets and commits his crime. Sales
than 5:1. The current membership Townsen, MD of Censeo, reviewed also gave advice on how the insurance
year has seen the SAICB help return the latest fraud trends in South Africa industry can offer greater customer
more than R75 million to its member and globally. A comprehensive study service, without running the risk of
companies. showed that the fraud demographic fraud.

COVER JULY 2014 75

July 14.indd 75 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


Risk Management

SCOR shows insurers


the tricks of the trade
BY ANNETJIE VAN WYNEGAARD

What is business interruption and


contingent business interruption?

SCOR Global P&C sought to explain


these terms and their impact on the
insurance industry at the two-day
campus seminar from 14 to 15 May
2014.

Didier Schtz, Risk Control Practice


Leader at SCOR P&C, was the speaker.
He used the analogy of Russian
Babushka dolls to explain how CBI
claims are interrelated. CBI is an Schtz made available a tool box contingency plans and business
extension of BI, which is an extension for facing BI and CBI exposures, and continuity plans for different scenarios.
of property damage coverage. made use of real world case studies to
understand interactions, to understand The real-world scenario included the
Schtz said that BI insurance is not wordings, and to grapple with BI and day-to-day operations of a pulp mill, a
a nice to have or one size fits all CBI mitigation. treatment plant, a tunnel operator, and
coverage. BI insurance coverage must a steel maker.
be tailored to specific needs and risks. BI and CBI exposure can be
He explained how to use chain rules determined by using the Triangle- The second day ended with thank you
to determine whether BI applies, and Tripod method. Vulnerability is drinks and the opportunity for the
emphasised that the brokers role is determined when the: industry to network and to share their
very important in this process. experience of the two days.
1. Risk object (human resources,
The chain rules define an insured loss technology, information, finance, etc) is SCOR is a global reinsurer with 39
as: exposed to a offices across five continents reporting
to six hubs: New York, London,
Physical damage or loss 2. Hazard (socio-economic, man-made, Paris, Zurich, Cologne and Singapore.
natural disaster, operational) and holds The Campus seminar was also an
To suppliers, customers or opportunity for the SCOR Global P&Cs
dependent property 3. Financial consequences (continuity, Engineering team, Andreas Arnold from
profit, stability, growth, reputation, Switzerland and Pui Fong Han from
Of the type covered as specified etc.). Singapore to meet with clients.
in the Property Damages Policy
Schtzs reading material explained Terry Ray, CEO of SCOR Africa
Which causes an interruption that a BI and CBI mitigation plan finds Limited, said that as a subsidiary of the
economically justified solutions to main group, SCOR Africa Limited has
For a defined indemnity period. brought the experts from Paris to talk
mitigate the financial consequences of
an identified BI exposure. to underwriters and reinsurance brokers
Schtz explained that for CBI coverage
about CBI. Ray said CBI has been a hot
to apply, the type of physical damage
The two types of BI and CBI topic in recent years, certainly over the
must be the same as insured under last 18 months. He said the session was
mitigation plans are:
the controlling policy. CBI coverage a good opportunity to share knowledge
will only be adequate if one is able to 1. A contingency plan for loss affecting on the subject.
identify and understand the impact of critical facilities and equipment, and
other business on operations, he said. To download an electronic copy of
2. A business continuity plan in the SCORs latest publication written
The first day focused on the case of a major disaster that affects a further to the annual conference,
explanation of terminology and processing unit or more than one plant. follow the link:
the theory behind BI and CBI, and www.scor.com/images/focus_cbi.pdf
the second day saw the practical During the second day attendees
application of the theory by the assessed several case studies, identified COVER also did a video interview with
brokers, insurers and underwriters in potential hazards and consequences Didier Schtz. Watch it at:
attendance. of a major loss, and brain stormed http://bit.ly/1hQ9gwZ

76 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 76 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


Cyber versus PI Round 1
CyGeist and Stalker Hutchison Admiral Traditional liability policies respond
(SHA), an underwriter of Professional when a demand for damages is made
Indemnity insurance, agree that the by third parties. In the specific case
biggest and most understandable of cyber incidents immediate action is
difference between cyber and critical. Waiting is not an option.
professional indemnity policies lies in
the cover for consequential costs of a Cyber insurance policies are triggered
data breach provided by the former. when a breach is suspected. At this
point relevant crisis management
Professional indemnity policies do not service providers are deployed. A
provide any of the first party cover proactive approach is imperative in
offered by a cyber insurance policy, minimising the loss and potential
said Candice Sutherland, Business reputational damage.
Development Consultant at SHA.
This first party cover includes loss of As far as the actual liability element
business income and data recovery is concerned, there might be some
resulting from a network security specific circumstances resulting in
or privacy breach, as well as crisis overlaps between the two types of
management, which encompasses all policies, but this will ultimately depend
costs incurred in minimising the impact on how broadly the professional
of the breach. These costs include: indemnity policy wording is framed.
fees of attorneys, forensic investigators, The broker and client would need to
NATALIE VAN DE COOLWIJK, review the following more closely:
MD of CyGeist, a cyber-focused UMA IT specialists, loss adjusters, costs
underwriting on behalf of Guardrisk of minimising reputational damage
Generally professional indemnity
and notifying parties affected by the
cover relates to the provision
breach.
of a professional service, but
information and cyber risks are
often not a fundamental part of the
We are noticing a rapidly professional service being offered.
growing interest in our cyber FIRST PARTY COVER IS
Broadly speaking professional
insurance offering, both A FUNDAMENTAL RISK indemnity cover is negligence-
MANAGEMENT TOOL based, and since the Protection of
by brokers and potential
Personal Information Act (POPI) is
policyholders. This is in TO DRIVE CORRECT
going to impose strict liability, these
response to significant changes POLICYHOLDER risks could fall wide of the cover.
in the corporate threat BEHAVIOUR.
Fines and penalties are a
landscape over the last few common exclusion under
years, primarily as a result of the professional indemnity policies,
whereas cyber insurance policies
increasing value of organisations Companies often underestimate generally afford coverage to
digital and information assets, the value of the first party cover, the extent insurable by law.
the corresponding surge in particularly crisis management. First
party cover is the driving force behind SHA and CyGeist recommend
cyber crime and introduction of keeping track of rejection decisions
the purchase of such policies in the US.
legislation forcing companies to Figures from the latest NetDiligence by insurers going forward in order
protect sensitive information. Cyber Liability and Data Breach to understand to what extent these
Insurance Claims study substantiate risks are excluded from traditional
Insurance has evolved accordingly, this. Of the $84 million in total liability coverages. There is also the
as can be seen by the increasing payouts submitted by insurers for the possibility that some insurers wont
number of carriers venturing into the purposes of the study, approximately feel comfortable covering such risks
cyber insurance market. Brokers and half (50,4%) was spent on fees of and end up implementing further
consumers are trying to understand specialists, crisis management and exclusions so as not to insure them.
what new coverage elements cyber notification. Candice warned that in the US many
insurance policies introduce, and where insurers have rejected cyber and
their cover potentially overlaps with the First party cover the main difference privacy related claims under the
more traditional insurance products, in between cyber and PI is a more traditional policies, and when
particular professional indemnity (PI) fundamental risk management tool to contested, the courts have sided with
policies. drive correct policyholder behaviour. insurers.

COVER JULY 2014 77

July 14.indd 77 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


Coffee with
COVER

Hollard's bright future


T
aryn Kerr from COVER sits
down with Nic Kohler, CEO
of Hollard, to chat about the
Etana-Hollard merger, and how the
Taryn Kerr: Where did your journey
Hollard Broker Markets transaction
in insurance begin?
is a serious vote of condence for
the broker channel. With a number Nic Kohler: I studied actuarial science at
university, so I was destined to work within
of successes both nationally and the insurance industry. I had a bursary from
internationally under their belts,
Kohler sees a bright future for
Commercial Union, so I began working for
them in the actuarial department. That was
"We try to avoid
Hollard and for its broker partners. the only company that I worked for before I
joined Hollard in 1997.
unnecessary
TK: How did you end up at Hollard
formality and
and what was your journey inside bureaucracy"
the company?
NK: Hollard was a very small company in
1997, but I had friends that had worked with
me at Commercial Union, and had recently
joined Hollard. Hollard was just starting to
get serious about life insurance at the time,
and had started to employ people from
the life industry, and my friends convinced
me to consider joining Hollard. I met with
Miles Japhet, Managing Director of Hollard
at the time, and he suggested that I attend
the company conference as a bit of an
introduction to the company culture. I loved
the atmosphere at the conference, especially
the fact that Hollardites were serious about
what they did, but did not take themselves
too seriously. The company had no legacy
and there was an opportunity to do things
that were right for the customer from the
outset. Based on all of that, I joined Hollard
to do some actuarial work, but soon became
involved in many different areas of the
business. In 2007, I was given the incredible
opportunity to take over as CEO from Paolo
Cavalieri, when he left to start Etana.

78

Coffee_july.indd 1 2014/07/07 11:12 PM


TK: How did Hollard manage to
keep the "small company" feel for
so long and do you think you will
be able to manage that after the
Etana merger?
NK: We have a very deliberate strategy to
maintain a small company feel, as we do
believe that it offers a lot of advantages
TK: The merger with Etana seems and Mozambique have set new records
over more traditional corporate structures.
year on year and are maintaining that
It gives us agility in decision-making and to have gone smoothly, from a
momentum this year. They provide
helps us to be an employer of choice, a business and personnel point of great diversication from the tougher
place where people enjoy working. We view. How did you experience it? underwriting environment that we are
try to avoid unnecessary formality and
experiencing in South Africa at the moment.
bureaucracy, and we try to maintain a at NK: It was relatively smooth, but only
Many of these countries have high-growth
structure and to say no to politics. But because of a very deliberate focus
economies, which also helps. We are
there is denitely a pendulum effect with on change-management, as well as a
developing life insurance businesses in
growth comes a need for some structure, tremendous amount of goodwill from Etana
these countries, in order to develop a
but then you realise that you may have staff and Hollardites alike. I really need to
composite business model as we have here.
gone too far, and you break it all down commend the entire Hollard and ex-Etana
We are also looking to expand our African
again. The Etana team has come from a team for approaching the integration in a
footprint - we are in negotiation to acquire
smaller company, and will therefore be very very constructive and apolitical fashion.
a majority stake in a Ghanaian insurance
valuable in swinging the pendulum back to Paolo and his executive played a critical role
company, and are in the nal stages of
the agile side. in bringing the Etanans into the fold. It was
negotiating an entry into East Africa. This
a critical leadership moment for them, and
expansion gives our South African based
they had to show the broader Etana team
partners a great opportunity to do business
what they were gaining despite a very real
elsewhere in Africa a rapidly growing and
sense of loss. Of course, the integration also
increasingly competitive set of markets.
had an impact on Hollardites, and it required
a mature approach from all involved. We TK: What are your thoughts on
are now less than a month away from
RDR and the survival of UMA's and
"I studied actuarial completing the physical integration, and
independent brokers?
I think this process of presenting a unied
science at proposition to the market will be a lot easier NK: We are holding our breath to see
university, so I was once everyone has settled down in their new exactly what RDR will entail, but from
workspaces.
destined to work what we have been led to believe, I think
that it will be good for the industry. It will
within the insurance TK: You need to be commended on
provide regulatory clarity on things such
the new branding, as it has been so
industry." well received by consumers.
as denition of intermediary services and
related remuneration, and will ensure that
intermediaries are properly remunerated for
NK: Thank you. It was important for us - we
their professional advice. Ultimately, it will
have been quiet for a while, and Etana had
continue the process of professionalising
a very strong brand identity so we needed
the service provided to the client by
to make sure that we got out there with
intermediaries, and will assist these
a refreshed proposition that reects our
intermediaries to get proper recognition
personality, warmth and quirkiness.
for the value that they add. Ultimately,
TK: Will the size of Hollard impact the intermediaries who ensure that their
businesses meet RDR requirements will not
the strong partnership model that only survive but will thrive.
has made it famous?
The UMA that has a proper value
NK: I think that our partnership model will proposition will also thrive, but I think it
evolve in a positive way, since we now have will be tough for UMAs that are simply
the Etana branch that has a signicant local administrators and which are using the
is lekker position across the country, and we model to derive extra remuneration. As
have a more complete product range than Hollard, we rmly believe that the UMA
we have had in the past. We have deeper model will have a denite place in the future
resources and more to offer, but we still environment, especially when it comes to
believe strongly in the power of partnership. specialist and niche risks.
We want to tweak our partnership model
to leverage the strengths that we have, as
opposed to relying entirely on the partner for
every aspect of business.

TK: Hollard has been active north


"I think that our of our borders for a very long time.
partnership How is that going and what exciting
model will things are happening?
evolve in a NK: It is going very well. Our SADC
positive way" operations Namibia, Botswana, Zambia

79

Coffee_july.indd 2 2014/07/07 11:12 PM


Wealth Management

Managing the wealth of individuals is a delicate and critical task. COVER asked the industry
what the latest developments in the wealth management environment are, and what a wealth
management service actually provides. We also considered where the industry is moving
toward, and how nancial advisors are making use of unique opportunities.

A complex conversation
THIERRY VALLET
GM of AfrAsia Bank and Executive
Director AfrAsia Private Banking

Greater complexity and


dynamism are reshaping the
wealth management industry.

Well-versed private customers


with complex needs and the
shaky investment context present
challenges to wealth managers. The
internationalisation of the economy and
technological developments ensure that
banks have to constantly reinvent their
value proposition and diversify for new
markets. Technological developments
makes banking services available online
decreasing the need for an extensive from traditional banking products with us while The AfrAsia offering
network of offices. offering attractive returns, financial is complemented by our asset
planning, investment solutions through management arm which in proposing
At the same time, the regulation of specialist investment houses including competitive and creative investment
reward and rising levels of investors our in-house asset management arm products with attractive returns to
confidence following the banking AfrAsia Capital Managements (ACM). individuals and institutions.
crisis of 2008 require a new level of
transparency and new methods of AfrAsia Bank adopts a customer- The AfrAsia approach to Private
charging for services. As a private centric approach. We are able to offer Banking enabled us to develop solid
bank, we aim to help our customers to tailor-made products that traditional recognition in the regional scene.
mitigate the risks they face and benefit institutions do not provide: more AfrAsia Bank was awarded the Best
from market conditions. attention is given to customers. Private Bank in Mauritius 2013 by The
Currently, private banking and wealth Banker/Private Wealth Management.
Wealth management is based on management stand for a major part of
trust. With the trust we build with our the banks activity. The management The current positive growth in Africa
investment partners, we provide sound has been able to position AfrAsia Bank is driving the development of financial
and creative investment solutions for such that it is perceived as a real services and slowly encouraging
our clients needs. Wealth Management private bank in Mauritius and in the the shift from traditional banking
is delivered at AfrAsia Bank by our region. to a modern business platform: the
experienced team of Private Bankers needs of the continents residents are
and Portfolio Managers. They aim to As a result, our comprehensive changing as their wealth increases.
first understand the customers needs, set of service is attracting an This is why Africa and especially the
objectives, and future plans. Given increasing demand from high-net SA HNWIs market segments are at the
this, a tailor-made solution is provided worth individuals (HNWI). Most core of AfrAsia Banks strategy.
to each customer. Our offering spans of our customers prefer to invest

80 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 80 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


Growing tomorrows
5. Price: is the portfolio good value
when compared with similar portfolios
sold through similar channels?

leaders today
Manager tenure and investment in their
portfolio(s) are also key considerations.
Portfolios which have been managed
by the same portfolio manager for
five years or more, and in which
the manager co-invests, generally
The MET Collective Investments include, among others, investment outperform.
manager talent leaving large banks and
2014 Boutique Investment ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS
corporates to form their own firms,
Manager Conference was agility, pure investment and singular
held on 9 and 10 June in strategy focus (non-core functions
Cape Town and Johannesburg largely outsourced), uniqueness of
investment research and investor
respectively and showcased distrust of larger firms.
MET Premium Partners, a select
The salient points under each of the
group of boutique and specialist
presentations included:
investment managers offering
investors access to diversified INDUSTRY COMMENT: THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
and unconstrained sources of WINNING PORTFOLIOS AND
alpha. IMPROVED INVESTOR EXPERIENCE

Kevin Hinton, Head of Distribution


and Client Services at MET Collective
Investments, opened the days Liliane Barnard from Metope
proceedings, explaining that, in Investment Managers considered
the current uncertain market, an the outlook for South African listed
increasing number of institutional property. Metopes view is that the
investors are seeking non-traditional sector is currently an excellent asset
sources of return. The long-standing class choice as it offers stable income
bull market and hunt for cheap yields (inflation-outperforming income
capital has led to a proliferation of growth, with more than 95% of income
smaller, more nimble investment derived from rentals, resulting in
managers which are able to leverage quality distributions being supported by
market opportunities more timeously cash earnings), improved liquidity and
and offer active and smart beta interest from foreign investors looking
investment options. for high-yielding investments, rental
market growth, increasing supply of
David O Leary from Morningstar new space and lower vacancy rates.
discussed the disparity of stock
analysis information available in the The South African property market
market and the difficulty that often offers significant diversification
creates for investors. Morningstar opportunities for inward-listed
therefore aims to assist in better companies and foreign holders of local
investment decision-making by entities. Local listed property has been
evaluating investment managers the best performer in the past 10
according to five key criteria: years, offering yields of 23% (compared
with equity (20%), bonds (9%) and
1. People: investment manager talent. cash (8%)). As the sector has a low
correlation with other asset classes,
2. Process: how strategy translates to it also contributes to the reduction of
portfolio construction. overall risk in a portfolio.
The percentage of market share
occupied by South African boutique 3. Parent: sales or stewardship (putting Total returns from the South African
investment manager businesses has the investor first, fee structure, market listed property sector for the next two
risen from just under 10% in 1999 to leading or lagging products, etc.) as a years are expected to be 11% to 12%
almost 40% in 2014, with the number priority focus. per year (with a real return of more
of portfolios managed now at about than 5%). Global property is expected
180. According to an international 4. Performance: why the portfolio to return 10% for the next 12 months,
survey by Sungard, key factors performed as it did in different with a suggested portfolio weighting of
behind the rise of boutiques globally markets. 15%.

COVER JULY 2014 81

July 14.indd 81 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


Wealth Management

Ian de Lange from Seed Independent correlation to the market and capital preference shares, listed corporate
Investment Consultants presented on preservation through growth asset bonds and property in the companys
the benefits of smart beta strategies. classes (like equities). Contego offers portfolios, with its flexible income
Passive trackers and active investment three portfolios in the MET Premium portfolio generating returns of 7,8%
managers typically outperform market Partner stable, namely the Contego BI (5,22% after tax) at 6 April 2014.
cap-weighted indices after costs, MET Income Plus Fund (low risk, stable
whereas smart beta approaches tend returns), Contego B2 MET Protected Investors suited to the portfolio require
to outperform traditional market Income Fund (cautious, low-equity regular income, protection from equity
cap-weighted indices through the income portfolio) and Contego B3 MET and bond volatility and optimised,
systematic use of predetermined Protected Balanced Fund (moderate after-tax returns.
styles and factors when constructing risk, high-equity balanced portfolio).
Brandon Quinn from Saffron Wealth
portfolios.
All the portfolios have outperformed focussed on investment strategies
their benchmarks and sector averages involving income enhancement (Saffron
since inception (January 2012). MET Opportunity Income Fund) and
Important notes: inflation protection (Saffron MET
Inflation Linked Bond Fund).
The Contego BI MET Income
Fund offers better returns than
money market and cash.

The Contego B2 MET Protected


Income Plus Fund offers an attractive,
tax-efficient level of income.

The Contego B3 MET Protected


Balanced Fund offers strong,
Seeds investment process involves inflation-protection growth.
the use of two building blocks, namely
value (stocks that trade below their Clients looking for reliable, consistent
intrinsic value) and momentum (price returns from an informed, more
and earnings momentum), when conservative investment manager would
Saffrons investment philosophy
constructing portfolios. BCA, the be well suited to Contegos approach.
encompasses alpha generation within
worlds leading provider of global
FLEXIBLE INCOME a risk framework, taking advantage
macro and independent investment
of pricing inefficiencies, a quantitative
strategy research, has proved that
and technical research bias, an
value and momentum considerations
unconstrained investments universe
outdo growth in the US and globally.
improving risk-adjusted returns and
Value and momentum outperform
diversified sources of added value
in different market conditions and
improving the risk/return profile. Key
the blend therefore produces more
to Saffrons investment process is risk
consistent outperformance.
budgeting, short-term investment
Seeds one-year equity return (at 31 maturity, specific entry and exit yield
May 2013) is 28,65%, with a ranking expectations and the quantification of
of 5/114 (ALSI 21,81% and 50/114 and potential downside risks.
general equity median 21,03% and
The boutiques flexible income-
57/114).
focussed portfolios offer a wide
Louis van der Merwe from Truffle
Kobus Louw from Contego Asset investment universe, including cash,
highlighted the importance of a
Management explained the importance sovereign bonds, credit, listed property,
fundamental valuation philosophy
of investment protection through global investments and commodities,
within a co-investor investment
portfolios having a negative to low credit and equity derivatives.
management environment. Such an
approach assists in maintaining steady ACTIVE EQUITY
income streams, improved liquidity and Cy Jacobs from 36ONE Asset
reduced volatility. Management explained that the
market does not always price securities
Truffles investment strategy also
efficiently and that share selection
involves capital preservation (through
through bottom-up fundamental
reduced volatility), asset class
analysis (with a macro analysis overlay)
diversification and minimum exposure
can, as a result, outperform over time.
to the general equity market. A
36ONE furthermore manages risk
blend of dividend, interest and rental
through the monitoring of portfolio
income results in real, tax-efficient
exposures within a range of asset
returns. The investment manager
classes, including mid- and small-cap
uses a combination of listed perpetual
shares.

82 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 82 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


(high conversion of earnings into Gary Quinn from Blue Alpha
discretionary cash), sustainability of Investment Management discussed
franchise (dominant market position the use of equity guidelines as a means
affording pricing power), management to enhance returns and lower risk.
(innovation and marketing investment) Although index valuations are a strong
and valuation (high yield/low price). form of measurement, this does not
always apply to shares. Simply picking
The investment process then involves shares with low price-earnings ratios is
an adherence to the houseview of the insufficient as this should be balanced
share, bottom-up (predominantly) and with return on equity and market cycle,
top-down share analysis, a maximum as well as cash flow considerations.
share number of 35 and maintaining a
relatively low churn rate. Management
visits are undertaken regularly
Adding value through the exploration and companies that are not fully
of growth opportunities is also key, understood are not invested in.
as is analysing opportunity versus
risk scenarios. Business opportunities The Imara EF rel All Share Fund (112%)
are balanced against associated risks, has outperformed the FTSE/JSE All
including revenue streams, possible Share Index (53,4%) since its inception
cost escalations and the inefficient in 2008 and the Imara EF rel Domestic
use of capital. Analysis is an on-going, General Equity Fund (112%) has
interactive process, with portfolio outperformed the general equity sector
positions being monitored in real time. average (65%) since its inception (also
in 2008).
36ONE manages four portfolios:
Blue Alphas equity positioning involves
two unit trusts (36ONE MET Flexible Hlelo Giyose from First Avenue
resources (growth and quality),
Opportunity Fund and 36ONE MET Investment Management looked
industrials (growth could continue
Equity Fund) and two hedge funds at intrinsic value investing (which
at pace) and financials (yield and
(36ONE Hedge Fund and 36ONE is not deep value or growth/
growth). Price earnings are a poor
Fund). The 36ONE MET Flexible momentum investing), with companies
predictor of returns in resources, while
Opportunity Funds total three-year demonstrating a high price-to-
domestic industrials benefit from cash
return to 30 April 2014 is 87,5% earnings ratio featuring significantly
flow measures and financials from
(compared to the JSE All Share Index in its portfolio (61,9%). First Avenues
contracting balance sheet analysis.
return of 63,3%) and the 36ONE product offering is highly concentrated
MET Equity Fund has returned 61.0% with the investment teams best ideas, The Blue Alpha MET CI Emerging
(compared to the SWIX index total with its 10 best occupying up to 60% Market Fund (18,9%) has been a
return of 51,6%) since its inception on of its portfolios. consistent top-quartile performer
1 July 2012. over one, three and five years,
outperforming the FTSE/JSE W All
Chris Botha from Imara Asset
Share total return (12,3%) and South
Management discussed the generation
African general equity sector average
of attractive, real returns through
(11,3%).
investment in advantaged businesses
over longer timeframes. The company Delphine Govender from Perpetua
views capital impairment as its primary Investment Managers, a 100%
risk and portfolios are therefore privately-owned company, discussed
benchmark agnostic with no cash the companys analytical philosophy,
limits. Imaras investment universe behavioural process and organisational
comprises a watch list of 120 shares focus. Key to its analytical philosophy
and factors which are considered is an understanding of who Perpetua
include high return on invested capital is as an investor and adhering to
Quality and margin of safety form part
of share selection, with stewardship
(capital allocated effectively), economic
moat (wide or narrow), valuation
(trading at discount to intrinsic value)
and uncertainty rating (predictability of
cash flows) considerations key to the
process.

First Avenues portfolio has handled


bouts of uncertainty extremely well,
with its general equity portfolio
outperforming the SWIX on the five
biggest drawdown days of the past year.

COVER JULY 2014 83

July 14.indd 83 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


Wealth Management

that, while the companys behavioural practices aimed at providing long- plus 5% return objective. The
process focusses on the belief that term, superior risk-adjusted returns. portfolio has outperformed the
producing different returns necessitates The key drivers of strong returns, sector median by 7,2% since its
portfolios which are different to according to its investment philosophy, inception in January 2011.
the market and average manager. are traditional valuation methods,
Perpetuas organisational focus involves which are constantly reassessed, being ENGAGING WITH PREMIUM
the firm being set up as a profession used within a dynamic investment CLIENTS IN THE NEXT DECADE
or business, with freedom, aptitude, environment. Sebastian Dovey from The Scorpio
internalisation of process, temperament Partnership delivered an interesting
and incentivisation as building blocks. The company believes that the closing presentation, which considered
assessment of themes (growth rates, the question of what the wealth
Mismatches between value and price inflation, interest rates) operating management industry needs to do
matter most, with Perpetua focusing within markets is critical to the to double its current US$18,5 trillion
on intrinsic valuation, discounted share understanding of valuations placed assets under management in the next
purchase and conviction maintenance on securities. Counterpoints hallmark five years.
to leverage associated opportunities. is contextual value, which involves
Value investing is core to this approach, the combination of environment and Investor habits are changing and
with Perpetua falling into the bottom method in its investment approach. research conducted by Scorpio has
left of the value investing continuum. Diversification and an understanding illustrated that maintaining existing
Members of the investment team of different sources of returns are also client relationships and investing in
are all analysts, with individuals (as important. systems and technology that promote
opposed to committees) accountable and support these associations is key.
for decision making. The investment Key differentiators for Counterpoint Demonstrating value for money is
manager is not benchmark cognisant are its experience in running multi- going to prove vital in the coming years
and takes a longer-term view on asset class portfolios and availability and information management, which
investments (the value of a company on various multi-asset class managers makes it easy for clients to navigate
takes precedence over the trajectory of and LISP platforms. Portfolios offer their savings and keep up with trends,
its share price). exposure to local money market and will form an integral part of that.
short-dated fixed income, long-dated
The Perpetua Composite Return fixed income, property and equities, Another important observation is how
(11,5%) has outperformed the SWIX with global exposure to fixed income, wealthy clients find their investment
(6,4%) on a year-to-date and three- property and equities. managers. Leading the survey was
month (11,5% versus 10,0%) basis. 24% of respondents identifying wealth
Charles Booth, also from Truffle, then managers through friend or family
RESPONSIBLE RETIREMENT went on to highlight the companys
referrals and 17% through their own
INVESTING returns framework, which involves
research, both of which support
Adrian Clayton from Northstar Asset consistent alpha generation, maximising
the importance of relationships and
Management considered long-term independent positions and managing to
technology.
exposure to quality investments where any benchmark and risk tolerance.
value exceeds price. Shareholding times A discussion around how investors
are indefinite; valuations reflect the This returns framework has resulted
feel about saving was also highly
correct price and quality is measured in the companys portfolios outranking
enlightening in terms of wealth
by a sustainable return on invested peers and outperforming sector
managers deciding on how best to
capital using this approach. medians since their inception:
manage their needs. Having clients
Truffles CIS Equity Fund has a identify words, which best describe
Northstars equity research process
minimum 75% equities mandate, their investment attitude (bearing,
involves quantitative screening (value
with the objective of long- bullish or owl), helps in shaping the
and quality measures) and reading
term capital preservation. The level and type of consultation best
(books and research reports), which
portfolio has outperformed the suited to them.
culminate in a watch and buy list of
companies. Some of Northstars current sector median by 4,6% since its
MET Collective Investments CEO,
views are cash as a sound capital inception in January 2011.
Leon Greyling, closed the days
preservation tool, long-dated bond proceedings, explaining that the
Truffles CIS Balanced Fund has
maturities being favoured over shorter- MET Premium Partners investment
dated, property being overvalued and a capital split between equity,
property and interest-bearing managers have been put through
resources offering depressed turnover a rigorous due-diligence process to
levels, although with fair valuation. investments mandate, with a CPI
plus 4% return objective. The ensure they have the requisite skills
The Northstar Managed Fund has portfolio has outperformed the and processes in place to meet the
consistently outperformed its peers and sector median by 5,6% since its varying needs of investors. Momentum
inflation plus 5% benchmark since May inception in November 2011. Manager of Managers is therefore able
1999. to use their expertise in retirement
Truffles Flexible Fund has a fund portfolios and Momentum-
Steve Mills from Counterpoint Asset capital split between equity, branded retail investment solutions
Management discussed the companys property and interest-bearing where a multi-manager portfolio is
focus on simple, yet effective, business investments mandate, with a CPI required.

84 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 84 2014/07/07 8:32 PM


Technology

Legacy transformation:
the enhance and evolve approach
Cloud, data, mobile and social in South Africa has had a massive
impact on insurers. There is regulatory
media are all transforming the
scrutiny on products, and pressure to
way consumers interact with change existing distribution channels.
their insurers. This represents an
The challenge is to manage growth and
exciting opportunity for South exploit the revised channels through
African insurers that are willing to the intelligent use of customer data,
invest in new core technology. while, at the same time, adapting to
changing legislative requirements. One
area of consideration is the Protection
of Personal Information Bill, which will
impact on the way companies manage
personal information. At the same
time, focus needs to be placed on the
Solvency Assessment and Management
framework and Treating Customers
Fairly standards.
RHYS COLLINS,
Head of African Operations at SSP
Legislative change can have both
a positive and negative impact
on the insurance industry, but its
Historically, South African insurers critical to have a flexible technology
as usual. The Enhance and Evolve
have invested in aging, tightly-coupled infrastructure in place to be able to
approach also helps businesses mitigate
monolithic systems that adapt poorly deal with the competing forces for
risk, and to extract all the value and
to changing technologies and are technology change. From research,
data from their existing systems on a
failing to meet the requirements of it is clear that updating the core
step-by-step basis.
this growing customer base. Even
the recent technology upgrades It enables insurance businesses to
insurers have undertaken havent INSURERS SHOULD BALANCE upgrade their most critical legacy
really changed this. These legacy technologies on a modular basis and to
THEIR LACK OF COMPETITIVENESS
systems are unable to address the evolve without complete replacement,
needs of the new landscape and they WITH IMPLEMENTING A NEW ensuring they remain competitive and
are, in effect, hampering business CORE SYSTEM. that customers do not suffer in the
growth opportunities, in contrast to process.
the latest micro insurance businesses
that are growing from a new cost and In this manner, the most urgent
technology base. technology platforms that underlie business priorities can be addressed
the main processes within insurance first, while other systems can be
While micro insurance is but a small is imperative for survival. Adapting updated in line with strategic business
portion of the insurers portfolio in legacy platforms is complex, time- need. This approach allows the
South Africa, there is a profitable consuming and fraught with issues, so business to be proactive in addressing
opportunity there if the model is right. building a business case for technology its legacy systems, rather than being
investment can be difficult. As a driven purely by market change.
Established insurance businesses have result, these expenditures need to be
the advantage of a wealth of historic prioritised and cost-justified, more so The opportunity to take advantage of
information, but they need to be able than ever before. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) delivery
to leverage this data more effectively. will also play a big role in legacy
Newer insurance businesses have However, insurers should balance evolution for those companies able
already accomplished this by adopting their lack of competitiveness with the to manage the constraints and risk
technology platforms that are flexible pain and cost of implementing a new around data management. The result is
and adaptable to change. These core system. Insurers should consider a flexible, adaptable modern platform
insurers can operate across multiple Enhance and Evolve strategies that that enables the business to respond
channels, access data that gives them gradually replace core systems. This quickly to change, and is optimised
a birds eye view of the landscape, approach is helping some businesses for Big Data and new product
and launch newer products faster. move to new flexible technology development, as well as digital, mobile
Furthermore, recent regulatory change platforms while maintaining business and social.

COVER JULY 2014 85

July 14.indd 85 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


Technology

Technology motorises
insurers anti-fraud vehicles
Over-inflating household claims is break-ins for lost belongings. Claims on
also worsening in South Africa not TV and audio devices (29%), computer
only among individuals and SMEs, equipment (25%) and jewellery (21%)
but among syndicates claiming either were found to be the most popular.
through multiple policies or fake IDs.
Almost three quarters of fraudulent
On a commercial level, fire damage is claims for jewellery came from men,
still a South African classic, with stock with 38% of all claims made by under-
loss claims natural to escalate in a 18s. Meanwhile, 47% of mobile phones
distressed economy becoming much were reported as stolen in September
more prevalent. 2013, which coincidentally was the
month the iPhone5 was launched.

BETTER DETECTION AND


GLOBALLY, FRAUD IS CURRENTLY PREVENTION
COSTING THE WORLD ECONOMY Anti-fraud regulations and more robust
$3,5 TRILLION data analytics tools are needed to
JONATHAN HOLDEN, detect red flags.
Managing Executive: Insurance at
Innovation Group South Africa For the insurance industry, the right
A GLOBAL PANDEMIC balance needs to be struck between
World travel and trade, the rise of the cost of prevention and detection, and
multi-national corporation, the internet losses suffered through fraud. One of
and broadband access all these the challenges in striking this balance is
trends converge to create challenge to identify and measure the real cost of
Fraud will always be alive as a and opportunity for innovators on both fraud to an insurer.
sides of the law. Fraudsters will hunt
necessary cost of being in the PINPOINTING THE GAPS
for gaps in the system to exploit.
insurance business. But the law Analysis of the constantly evolving
of diminishing returns is under Globally, fraud on the back of corporate nature of fraud and the fraudster
competitiveness and technology helps the insurance industry bolster
strain. The global economic advances is currently costing the world its defences against these universally
crunch has fuelled an appetite economy $3,5 trillion in occupational costly criminal activities.
for fraud perpetration, biting into fraud costs alone.
Problems of identifying and dealing
policy pricing. Companies and governments can best with insurance fraud are complex, for
root out fraud and corruption if they four main reasons:
SOUTH AFRICAN FRAUD SCENE employ innovative electronic tools.
An estimated R15 billion or 30% of all Businesses can protect themselves Fragmented or inconsistent data:
2013 insurance claims in South Africa against fraud by purchasing commercial Fraudsters rely on multiple insurers
were fraudulent. Businesses lose an crime or fraud risk insurance and risk and multiple databases to create
estimated 5% of annual revenues to management tools. confusion or avoid the possibility
fraud, with a continual upward trend of the insurer making the right
in the number of commercial crimes in In the US, as in India, medical claim connections to identify fraud.
the country. fraud is sweeping insurance coffers
clean. The UK one of the most Complexity: fraud is diverse and
This is driven to a large extent by sophisticated trackers of insurance dynamic, only limited by the
fraud in the motor industry down a fraud, reported a 2,5bn loss to the imagination of the fraudster.
long value chain from towing, panel economy in 2013 60% from personal
beaters, salvage and glass fitting, claims, with a sharp rise in bodily No core mechanism or process:
through to accidents and theft. injury claims earning Britain the label Applying a consistent approach in
whiplash capital of the world. all cases is difficult; what rules do
While road conditions, escalating costs you apply and how rigid are they?
of vehicle repairs and theft do drive LOCAL RESEARCH FINDINGS
car insurance premiums up, about 25% Innovation Group researched the top Agility of the customer: Dealing
to 33% of all claims contain some fraud trends in 2013, and found that with an issue often provides a spur
element of fraud, according to the AA. 52% of fraudsters blamed theft and for the fraudster to try something

86 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 86 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


new; so you need a comprehensive claims are not caught, simply because REMODEL LEGACY SYSTEMS TO
approach to spot emerging issues. companies lack the necessary tools to COMBAT CRIME
identify which claims are legitimate and Legacy systems are a problem, and
BIG DATA PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE which may be fraudulent. new systems are expensive. Although
Electronic tools can expose the major funding is always an issue, taking on
fraud risks, and act as a deterrent for When implemented within an insurance new, sufficiently sophisticated systems
potential fraudsters. adjuster process, data mining leverages can reduce the current 30% of all
a combination of powerful analytical premiums going towards fraud, and at
Data mining can lend considerable value techniques with first-hand business the very least push these 10 to 15%
to the organisation seeking to leverage knowledge. This information is then down within the next five years.
key business intelligence or predictive turned into the insight necessary to
analytics to detect insurance fraud and identify probable instances of abuse or
protect the organisation from loss. Many fraud.

How green geysers can


help the insurance industry
Imagine a geyser that tells IRVAN DAMON,
CEO of carbonTRACK South Africa
you in advance when it needs
to be replaced. carbonTRACK
The Internet of Things refers to a
has developed a locally- network of connected machines or
manufactured smart energy appliances embedded with sensors,
platform that allows users digitally communicating bytes of
to monitor their energy information across the internet to devices
like your smart phone, tablet or desktop.
consumption in real-time, with
the potential to cut costs for the In South Africa, with its spiralling
electricity tariffs representing an
insurance industry.
increasingly important cost centre for
consumers, monitoring and switching
About 250 000 electrical geysers are
energy loads are an urgent requirement.
being replaced annually. This platform
and the devices connected to it will carbonTRACK units are manufactured
predict geyser failure before it occurs locally in South Africa, creating jobs
by detecting leaks in the drip tray and contributing to the green economy.
and alerting the homeowner to the as solar water heating geysers, heat
problem. pumps and tracking solar panel energy Once installed in the household by an
generation. accredited installer, they communicate
Finance and insurance organisations with the software platform via the
will benefit from the proposed Green The carbonTRACK device is easy to
internet to allow users to:
Geyser programme and we will help install, and the software interface is
policyholders replace their electric simple and easy to understand. Savings Monitor and track household
geysers with solar geysers. The are transparent and understandable. power usage remotely;
system will mitigate risk as it allows Under certain conditions, energy
for proactive maintenance, and its savings in the residential sector have Monitor temperature and switch
reporting protocols will alert insurers peaked at up to 35% of the energy bill. the geyser on and off;
and installers when the geyser is
Electricity grids in Africa are under Control the pool pump;
performing below par.
enormous pressure and the lack of
The platform was jointly created by supply has severe repercussions for Detect leaks in the geyser drip tray;
with its Australian sister company to users. Consumers increasingly expect
both content and control from their Set geyser temperatures remotely;
allow users to measure and manage
their electricity consumption using their mobile smart devices and laptops.
Detect runaway temperatures on
phone, tablet or desktop. More and more, they are demanding
the geyser and avoid damage;
to receive content on their phones
The platform interfaces with and tablets, and to be able to manage Reduce carbon footprint; and
conventional electrical hot water more than just their finances from their
geysers, renewable energy devices such phones, given todays connected world. Cut energy bills.

COVER JULY 2014 87

July 14.indd 87 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


Untitled-2 1 2014/07/07 11:13 PM
Untitled-2 2 2014/07/07 11:13 PM
Renewable Energy

Renew the energy,


renew the country
Renewable and sustainable energy projects are essential to the development of
South Africa, and Africa alike. These projects have very specic risks, some of
which are risks during the construction phase. COVER kept an eye on the industry,
to see what projects of this nature are underway. We also asked for some insight
on risks specic to these projects, focusing on the construction phase.

M&F protecting whats


In order to meet our clients needs,
we have developed a product, using a
cradle to grave design approach, which

important to SA provides Marine, Construction, and


Operational cover for assets, breakdown
and profits, all in one comprehensive
policy, said Samantha Boyd, Head of
Corporate & Niche Insurance at Mutual
In recent years, there has been a & Federal. She added that the policy is
growing emphasis on renewable able to adapt to various situations and
energy as a source of alternative incidents. To date weve had incidents
where a client experienced damage to
energy. materials while in transit to a site. In
another incident a clients blades for
South Africas Integrated Resource Plan a wind farm were damaged during a
(IRP), which is a 20 year projection on storm at a harbor where it had been
electricity supply and demand, indicates stored prior to shipping to South Africa.
that by 2030, approximately 38% of
the total electricity generated in South Other incidents included damage to
Africa - about 23 375 MW will be Photo Voltaic (PV) cells during inland
required to come from renewable transit from the ports, due to road
energy sources. This is according to the accidents or overturning of trucks, and
South African Department of Energy loss during the construction phase of a
Independent Power Producer (IPP) wind farm project where a tele-handler
Renewables. which was being used to pick up blades
overturned and fell on top of the
Mutual & Federal has been providing blades. All of these incidents would be
insurance cover for local renewable and transportation by road before recoverable in terms of our Renewable
energy projects that involve the construction work commences. Once Energy project insurance policy, thus
construction of both wind and solar the plant has been constructed, the providing the protection expected by
farms. permanent assets will also need our clients, she concluded.
appropriate cover, from testing and
The construction of renewable energy start up, through to full operation. Mutual & Federal has the technical
plants is complex and involves expertise and resources to provide
a diversity of risks. Many of the Within its Corporate & Niche division clients with peace of mind knowing that
components used for the solar or Mutual & Federal offers quality they are dealing with an insurer that
wind farms are sourced overseas. Corporate, Marine and Construction understands the complexity of renewable
Risks therefore include the importing insurance solutions to turn renewable energy risks, and can offer the necessary
and shipping of the components energy setbacks into comebacks. cover under one seamless policy.

90 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 90 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


The JSE lists its
a low carbon infrastructure, minimal
resource reliance and increased natural
resources, says Parks Tau, Executive
Major of the City of Johannesburg.

first green bond


The JSE has always been linked to
the development of our city and we
are pleased to work with the City of
Johannesburg to bring this bond to
market. Funding green projects are
Johannesburg Stock Exchange important in all cities to ensure their
(JSE) has listed its first green greater sustainability, says Graham
Smale, Director of Bonds and Financial
bond. The R1,46 billion ($140 Derivatives at the JSE. Johannesburg is
million) bond issued by the City the first city in the C40 Cities Climate
of Johannesburg will be used Leadership Group to issue a green
bond.
to fund green initiatives within
South Africas largest city. The city council issued its first
and natural energy. One of the city municipal bond in 2004 and had
The bonds are priced at 185 basis councils green programmes include redeemed R1,9 billion, including R900
points (1,85%) above the R2023 South the installation of 43 000 solar million in the past 12 months. The JSE
African government bond. The bond water heaters by City Power that will regulates the largest listed debt market
auction, which took place in the week collectively save the equivalent of in Africa, both by market capitalisation
before the listing, was 150 percent 22,5GW-hours of electricity a year, and by liquidity with approximately
oversubscribed. The bond, referred to enough to run a small town. R25 billion traded daily. At the end of
as COJGO1, will mature in 2024. 2013, the JSE had roughly 1 600 listed
The green bond will provide the city debt instruments worth more than
The bond will used to fund climate with a funding source to improve and R1,8 trillion. More than half of the debt
change mitigation strategies especially expedite the implementation of its listed on the JSE is placed by the South
those 2402
thatILASA
include
Half greater use of
Page Horizontal gas 1
Ad.pdf climate change
2014/02/05 12:34 PM mitigation strategy, African government.

If you are a Loss Adjuster who is a


cut above the rest, you have to be one
C
of our members.
M

CM

MY

CY THE INSTITUTE OF
CMY
LOSS ADJUSTERS OF
K
SOUTHern AFRICA

Providing insight and guidance, overseeing education and ensuring continuous professional
development to Loss Adjusters of distinction for over 50 years you know you can rely on us.

For more information please visit www.ilasa.org.za

Tel +27 11 325 1977 Fax 086 519 9446 E-mail admin@ilasa.org.za
First Floor Victoria Gate South, Hyde Park Lane Manor, Hyde Lane, Hyde Park, Johannesburg

COVER JULY 2014 91

July 14.indd 91 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


Renewable Energy

Sustainable Development
mention the coordination of contractual lesson learned from developers in other
interfaces, will present substantial markets building under similar time
challenges and risks for developers. constraints has been poor siting of
projects where wind turbulence, rather
Regulatory, credit, resource, than abundance, has led to several
construction and operational risks mechanical failures within the turbine
are nothing new for renewable and overall, a shortened asset lifetime.
energy developers and investors
alike. In Africa, the potential impact Although well understood by
of each remains to be seen. Stability experienced developers, construction
of financial incentives supporting and operational risks pose greater
renewables will be critical; particularly, challenges in Africa. Poor packing and
as many African governments opted handling of equipment while in transit,
not to introduce European style feed-in theft from site and subcontractor
tariffs. But several developers have deviations from accepted construction
failed to consider what the effect practices are commonplace. Many
of non-compliance with regulatory original equipment manufacturers
thresholds for local content could mean have been quick to send business
JATIN SHARMA,
for the bankability of their projects, development executives to the
Business Development Leader and Head
of Offshore at GCube Underwriting and and, as such, incentives may be continent, but slow to realise the
MIKE ROBSON, withdrawn for falling short of defined need to build up a local operations
Managing Director of C&G, outline the percentages of local content and failing and maintenance team, develop crane
risks and rewards in African renewables. to provide an adequate, bankable availability strategies or stockpile
hedge. strategic spare parts of equipment
susceptible to machinery breakdown.
Transferring this risk to their suppliers
and/or contractors is a poor substitute. Providing a secure framework to
In less than two years, renewable Suppliers and contractors will always underwrite the development of
energy project development has elect the most cost competitive African renewables, and ensure
made a substantial shift from approach to building a project, and appropriate investor security requires
with the exception of local construction the experience of insurers who have
Europe and North America to the labour, their international supply supported the development of clean
emerging markets. chains are far more appealing than energy assets in multiple emerging
developing local supply. Constrained markets. At GCube and C&G, we see
This has been encouraged by generous balance sheets may also take their toll Africa as having clear promise for
government frameworks, the falling as the solvability of local developers, renewable energy development, and a
cost of technology, opportunities to contractors and often the power market that has the ability to leapfrog
build cost competitive projects at scale offtaker raises concerns about the the traditional phases of national
and a blend of wider financing options, ability of counter parties to deliver on energy development in the same way
ranging from multilaterals and export contracts, as well as having sufficient that African mobile telephony by-
credit agencies to more traditional contingency funds in place to tackle passed hard-wired communications.
project finance. The African continent problems manifesting during the
is at the forefront of this shift. construction and operational phase. The continent is not without
challenges, but by working with
South Africa and Morocco are leading OFF GUARD experienced partners, investors in
this growth, with Kenya close behind. In recent years, many European African renewables should not only
Total financing secured by the 28 investors have been caught off guard be able to generate portfolios of well
renewable energy projects during by worse than expected wind flow in performing assets, but also know they
South Africas first renewable energy winter months leading to a decrease are securing first-mover advantage
independent power producer (IPP) in energy production, leaving many in a market that has huge potential.
procurement round, amounted to in a highly constrained liquidity Mike Robson concludes, The market
$5,7bn in funding. The Kingdom position and forced to draw on debt still has a long way to go, but with the
of Morocco has awarded contracts service reserve accounts. It is unclear right safeguards in place, South Africa
for some of the largest wind and whether African renewables, with their certainly has the potential to meet its
concentrated solar power (CSP) abundant natural resources for wind energy goals. The remarkable success
projects in the world. Although and solar, will face similar challenges of C&G in Round 1 & 2 underlines the
countries like Morocco and South Africa in the short to medium term. Resource importance of pro-actively identifying
have a relatively mature construction data has been collated in a relatively an opportunity and then putting in
and infrastructure industry, the short space of time in order to meet place a sound, proudly South African
schedule and scale of projects, not to government-imposed deadlines. The and world-class solution.

92 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 92 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


Renewable energy tariffs
cheaper than Eskom
capacity from the Medupi and Kusile
power plants, each with an average
expected generation cost in the region
of R0,97Kwh.

According to Mergence research,


total investment into wind and solar
renewable energy plants currently
amounts to R82 billion, with the
banking sector, insurance companies,
pension funds and international
investors as major funders.

Currently more than 85% of South


Africas generation capacity comes from
coal-fired power plants. In terms of
governments 2010 integrated resource
plan (IRP) the objective is to reduce
carbon intensive coal energy to 50%
of the mix by 2030, with renewable
energy sources contributing at least
26% of the energy mix.

The benefits of renewable energy


include green savings. For
each kilowatt hour of coal-based
energy generation, Eskom emits
approximately 0,96 kg of carbon
It is more attractive for the Kwh and an average solar energy dioxide and uses approximately 1 litre
tariff of R0,80/Kwh. While this of water. The current procurement of
government to procure new
compares favourably with Eskoms 3468 MW renewable energy sources
energy from renewable energy current average electricity generation into the energy mix instead of coal-
sources given the current trend cost of R0,64/Kwh, Eskom tariffs fired power plants will reduce South
of Eskom electricity generation are expected to increase higher than Africas annual carbon emission by 6
inflation with the new generation million tonnes.
costs and the competitiveness
within the Renewable Energy
Independent Power Producer
(REIPP) procurement programme.

Speaking at a media presentation in


Johannesburg, Mark van Wyk, Head
of Impact Investing at Mergence
Investment Managers, said that the
tariffs at which renewable energy
independent power producers are
supplying energy into the grid has
decreased significantly over the three
successive bidding rounds of the
REIPP. This is partly as a result of
efficient project installation costs and
technology enhancements.

The latest round three of the bidding


programme has culminated in an
average wind energy tariff of R0,65/

COVER JULY 2014 93

July 14.indd 93 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


Renewable Energy

Meet the battery doctors


BY ANNETJIE VAN WYNEGAARD

I first met Chris and Serena


Anderson in South Korea
where we taught English
together for a few years. Chris
and Serena, a married couple
from Johannesburg, immersed
themselves into Korean culture
from the get-go.

South Koreans recycle everything.


Going green isnt just a buzz word
its a way of life. Nothing is wasted
anything that can be repurposed is
boxed up and reworked, usually by
roving ajumas (older women who
walk by your house and pick out the
good stuff for an extra buck).
Battery Doctors, a division of ProTec capital, it is much more difficult for a
Our gang stayed in Daegu city. In International. The company is currently business to grow, she said. It forces
2013 Chris and Serena attended the operating in over 50 countries around players to start small, and grow slowly.
Daegu Green Energy Expo. They were the world. This can be a good thing as it forces
planning to return to South Africa and you to watch each part of the business
Together they re-energise used or very carefully, but it can and often
start their own business. We were
dead batteries with a non-hazardous, does hinder growth.
concerned about the escalating costs of
environmentally friendly chemical
electricity back home and spent hours
called ProBat which works with a A third factor is access to entry in
at the expo talking to people about the
specially designed charging system the market. It costs too much and
different solar, hydro and wind energy
called ProCharge. These re-energised takes too long to register companies.
options available, said Serena.
batteries are second hand batteries If a business could be registered and
The expo made them realise that that have been brought back to full started on the same day, income could
renewable energy was definitely the capacity and are sold with the same increase and opportunities might not
direction they wanted to go into, but one year warranty you would get with be lost.
they were concerned about the costs most brand new batteries.
Despite the challenges, Chris and
for the average South African.
BEING A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR IN Serena are optimistic about their
At the expo we came across a team SOUTH AFRICA TODAY future. When things become more
of people promoting their battery The landscape for young entrepreneurs difficult than we anticipated, we always
regeneration equipment. After speaking has been riddled with bumps. Theres remind ourselves why we started out.
to the operators we realised this could definitely support for entrepreneurs We want to make a difference for our
be a great way to help South Africans in South Africa, but its not always people. We want to create employment
save money while recycling batteries. easy to find, said Serena. As we and make our country better. Thats
understand it, the South African what keeps us moving forward and
Batteries are everywhere, and we government has plans to introduce an always thinking of ways that we can
felt that this technology was more arm of government aimed specifically improve our offerings and become
accessible to the majority of South at assisting small and emerging better at what we do.
Africans. After weeks of research we entrepreneurs. We only hope that the
eventually found a far more advanced services available from such a branch Our choices are limited, but only to
product with Battery Doctors and of government will be readily available the positive. We will only knock on
began planning to bring the technology to all entrepreneurs all across South more doors, speak to more people and
to South Africa. Africa. do what we can for the people of our
country.
Chris and Serena started Battery Age is a major factor when starting
Doctors RSA in January 2014, as a a business, said Serena, along with
local arm of the international company, access to finance. Without access to

94 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 94 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


The risks and rewards of
renewable energy projects
Dubbed the most attractive Close by July 2013 before construction During the construction phase, he
emerging investment destination of these projects can start. highlights the possibility of fires and
for solar photovoltaic (PV) floods that can cause damage to the
It is quite a lengthy process, but once a equipment. Also from a security point
capacity, South Africa is, this project has been selected as a preferred of view, there must be adequate
year, seeing a number of new bidder and reaches financial close, safekeeping on site to protect the
renewable energy projects construction can start and within nine valuable equipment and cabling from
becoming operational. months to two years, a project can being stolen.
come to fruition, which is much quicker
According to David Dyer, Divisional compared to the time it takes to build a Once the project is completed, and has
Executive for Services and Renewable new coal or nuclear power station. been properly commissioned, there
Energy at Marsh Africa, about three
are operational threats that need to be
years ago, the Department of Energy However, the risks involved in putting
considered.
announced a Renewable Energy IPP up such a renewable energy plant can
bidding programme with an allocation be wide-ranging, from engineering and Because all of these projects are
of about 3725MW of power in five construction risks, to the logistics of financed, the Lenders require adequate
different rounds, with a split between getting massive equipment moved from protection in the event that something
PV (1450MW), wind (1850MW), the harbour to its final destination. The goes wrong throughout all the stages
concentrated solar power (CSP), hydra, use of experienced local contractors
of the project.
landfill gas, biomass and biogas making and insurers with knowledge and
up the balance. understanding of local conditions, Equilibrium is being reached between
translates into a significant differentiator. the cost of putting up a renewable
Government issued 28 project licenses energy plant and the cost of power,
(1 416MW) and Eskom confirmed Initially a lot of equipment had to be
and its becoming more economical
that 18 of these have already been imported from overseas because we
didnt have any manufacturers in South and viable to do that successfully.
connected to the grid, involving mainly
Africa. First of all, there is a marine risk There are a number of manufacturers,
wind and PV projects in the Eastern,
for the equipment being transported particularly on the solar side, which
Western and Northern Cape provinces,
by sea on board vessels. Once the have started up local manufacturing
accounting for 1028MW.
equipment arrives at the port, road operations, contributing to the cost
A further 19 projects were awarded transit from the harbour to the sites effectiveness. This has to a large
in Round 2 (1 044MW) which are poses additional risks. As projects are far extent been driven by the Department
presently under construction. This was out in the country somewhere, travelling of Energys increasing local content
followed by 17 Round 3 projects (1 on smaller roads and accessibility can requirements, which encourages the
456MW) that had to reach Financial sometimes be a big challenge. growing industry.

West Africa joins in


Sierra Leone Ministry of The USD 18 million clean energy
Finance and Economic project includes institutional
Development announced and critical human resource
that Sierra Leone has won arrangements for sustainable
the first call for proposals for management of the facility.
the prestigious International Gratitude was extended to IRENA
Renewable Energy Agency for coordinating the selection
/ Abu Dhabi Fund for process, the ADFD for extending
Development (IRENA / ADFD) USD 9 million as part funding to
financing facility; and have the Government of Sierra Leone
signed the 6MW Freetown and ASIC/OGI that will coordinate
Solar Park project which will additional USD 9 million as private
target urban and western equity. The project will place
rural districts around the Sierra Leone on the global map
capital, Freetown. This is a of Renewable Energy; and further
landmark Renewable Energy Project in West Africa, adding strengthen the existing cordial relationship between the
valuable and needed clean electricity to the grid. Governments of Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates.

COVER JULY 2014 95

July 14.indd 95 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


Actuarial Society of South Africa

International accolades for


South African actuarial research
Two South African actuarial The award winning papers were Co-author of the paper, Johann
presented in the Pensions, Employee Sohnge, said: Receiving international
studies were acknowledged
Benefits and Social Security category recognition is certainly motivation to
internationally recently when and the Health category. continue and build on the work that is
the Scientific Committee of the currently still a drop in the bucket.
Fourie said both papers tackled topics
2014 International Congress that are relevant beyond the borders Co-author Kudzai Chigiji commented:
of Actuaries (ICA) recognised of South Africa, namely ensuring Winning this prize means that this
both papers as the best in sustainability of social security benefits lesser known side of the actuarial
and the cost of healthcare during the profession will attract attention, which
their categories. The Congress
final year of a persons life. will afford us more opportunities to get
was held in Washington at the involved in global matters that have
beginning of April. ALLEVIATING POVERTY WITH lasting social impacts.
SOCIAL SECURITY
The first paper titled The Evolution HEALTHCARE COSTS IN THE FINAL
and Future of Social Security in Africa: YEAR OF LIFE
An Actuarial Perspective was written The second award winning paper was
by members of the Actuarial Societys titled An Actuarial Perspective on
Social Security Member Forum. The Healthcare Expenditure in the Last
authors are Fatima Badat (Ernst & Year of Life. The authors are Shivani
Young), Kudzai Chigiji (WesBank), Ramjee, Senior Lecturer in Actuarial
Johann Sohnge (Metropolitan Life), Science at the University of Cape
Krishen Sukdev (Independent Actuaries Town and Matan Abraham, Research
and Consultants) and Natalie van Zyl Assistant in Actuarial Science at the
(University of Stellenbosch). University of Cape Town.

ONLY 16 PAPERS OUT OF THE


225 PRESENTED RECEIVED
AWARDS AND TWO OF THOSE
WERE FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

Niel Fourie, Public Policy Actuary at The paper aims to display the state The aim of this paper is to highlight
the Actuarial Society of South Africa, of social security in Africa by looking the key methodological considerations
said more than 225 actuarial papers at the successes and challenges in an investigation into the costs
and presentations were delivered at facing African countries like Rwanda, incurred by health insurers arising
the Congress to some of the worlds Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and from the provision of benefits
leading actuaries from around the Tanzania. Comparisons with other during the 12 months preceding a
globe. emerging nations were used to identify beneficiarys death.
lessons that can be applied to African
Only 16 papers out of the 225 nations, given some of their similar Ramjee said: It was wonderful
presented received awards and two of socio-economic characteristics. to have the work acknowledged
those were from South Africa. This is internationally. Its an area of research
significant since it shows that South The paper highlights the fact that that we are continuing to work in so
African actuarial skills are rated highly assessing and ensuring sustainability it important that we get the feedback
by the rest of the world. of social security benefits requires that the work is valued by the
actuarial modeling of long-term actuarial community.
According to Fourie South Africa was demographic and economic changes
the third most represented country to ensure that adequate resources are Both research projects are work in
at the Congress next to the US and held. The role of the actuary is also progress. The papers and presentations
Denmark. Our presenters and papers extended to areas involving strategy can be downloaded from
were of exceptional quality, which and policymaking and implementation http://ica2014.org.
made me proud to be a South African in taking Africa closer to poverty
actuary. alleviation through social security.

96 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 96 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


Association for Savings and Investment South Africa

Strong growth in
local CIS industry
LOCAL CIS INDUSTRY GROWS TO SA Multi Asset High Equity category
R1,54 TRILLION IN FIRST QUARTER continues to be the most popular
Quarterly statistics for the local with investors, and portfolios in this
Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) category have delivered an average
industry, released on Monday 19 May return of 15,9% over the one year
by the Association for Savings and ended March 2014, and an annualised
Investment South Africa (ASISA), return of 15,1% for the five years as
show that in the first three months of well as the 10 years ended March
this year the SA Multi Asset category 2014. By comparison portfolios in
once again attracted the bulk of all the pure equity category delivered
net inflows. SA Multi Asset portfolios less than 5% more over the three
recorded net inflows of R23 billion reporting periods. PETER DEMPSEY,
in the first quarter of this year. In Deputy CEO of ASISA
second place was the SA Interest While portfolios in the Multi Asset High
Bearing category with net inflows of Equity category are allowed equity
R10,1 billion. All other categories of exposure of up to 75%, they are not
South African portfolios, namely SA obliged to maintain such an aggressive institutional investors like pension and
Equity and SA Money Market funds, holding. provident funds.
experienced net outflows.
The SA Multi Asset category consists of OFFSHORE FOCUS
The same pattern presented itself for 507 portfolios and holds almost half of Locally registered foreign funds held
the 12 months to the end of March total industry assets. assets under management of R212,8
2014. The local CIS industry attracted billion at the end of March 2014,
net inflows of R158 billion of which THE INDUSTRY IN SUMMARY compared to R216 billion at the end of
R114 billion was channeled to portfolios Although inflows tapered from the December 2013.
in the SA Multi Asset category. The SA record breaking highs achieved
Equity category suffered net outflows between the third quarters of 2012 and These foreign funds recorded net
and the SA Money Market category 2013, the local CIS industry continued outflows of R7,3 billion for the first
recorded a marginal net inflow of to benefit from strong investor quarter of this year, mainly due
only R125 million. Portfolios in the confidence in the first quarter of this to repurchases from institutional
SA Interest Bearing category recorded year. portfolios. While retail investors were
net inflows of R27 billion for the year taking money offshore, institutional
ended 31 March 2014. The net inflows of R27 billion in the investors were bringing money back.
first quarter of this year brought to There could be two reasons for the
Multi Asset portfolios make it possible R158 billion the total net inflows for outflows from institutional funds,
to achieve diversification across the 12 months ended March 2014 either rebalancing of portfolios or profit
asset classes within one fund. Expert the second highest net inflows for any taking.
portfolio managers determine the rolling 12 month period. A total of
appropriate exposure to the different R166 billion in net inflows was recorded Foreign currency unit trust funds are
asset classes in line with their denominated in currencies like the
for the year ended March 2013 the
investment mandates. The SA Multi dollar, pound, euro and yen and are
highest ever.
Asset category is made up of the offered by foreign unit trust companies.
following sub-categories: Income, Low At the end of the first quarter this year, These funds can only be actively
Equity, Medium Equity, High Equity and the local CIS industry managed assets marketed to South African investors if
Flexible. of R1,54 trillion and offered investors 1 they are registered with the Financial
053 portfolios. Services Board (FSB). Local investors
Investors are doing the right thing by wanting to invest in these funds must
entrusting asset allocation decisions WHO INVESTED? comply with Reserve Bank regulations
to the professionals. While these More than half of the inflows in the 12 and will be using their foreign capital
portfolios were not designed to shoot months to the end of March 2014 came allowance.
the lights out, they aim to deliver a either directly from investors (28%)
more stable performance than pure or were channeled via intermediaries There are currently 308 foreign
equity portfolios by smoothing out (28%). currency denominated funds on sale in
market volatility through diversification. South Africa.
Linked investment services providers
The prudent approach taken by the (Lisps) generated 24% of sales and
majority of investors has paid off. The 20% of sales was received from

COVER JULY 2014 97

July 14.indd 97 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


IISA Hail Forum

The impact of hail on


short-term insurance
Recent weather events have
caused damage that led to
insurance claims of more than R1
billion in the past year.

On Friday 30 May, South African


insurance companies, along with the
South African Insurance Association
(SAIA) and The Insurance Institute of
South Africa (IISA), reinsurance experts,
weather scientists and an international
agricultural insurance specialist, held
a forum to discuss insurance risk and
exposure. COVER mapped out the key
points made by all stakeholders.

John Melville, Executive Head of Risk


Services at the Santam Group, opened
the risk forum. Melville said that 2012
and 2013 saw a dramatic increase in
hail insurance claims in motor and
property insurance in South Africa. predominantly in Gauteng. He added The WMO has 192 member countries.
that crop damage due to foul weather Terblanche said, according to the Swiss
He asked, Has something fundamental led to massive losses over the past two Re sigma, global insured losses from
changed in our weather patterns? What years. catastrophes were USD 45 billion in
should we expect going forward? What 2013, with large contributions from
can we do about the risk from an IISA Chief Executive, David Harpur, floods and hail. Total economic losses
underwriting and claims perspective? said the forum was a necessary event. from natural catastrophes and manmade
He said the industry needs to take a disasters were USD 140 billion in 2013.
Melville gave a brief description of the forward look on its risk and exposure
history of documented hail incidents in to weather related claims. We cant He said that hailstones are lumps
South Africa. predict what is to happen if we dont of ice/water/air mixture with sizes
put our heads together and find greater than five millimetres that
In 1949 hailstones with a circumference solutions to mitigate the impact on the are generally opaque with layered
of 23 cm fell in Pretoria, damaging industry as a whole. structure. He said the hail embryo is
12 000 large windows at Iscor and formed within 15 minutes. Hail forms
hundreds of motor cars. In 1980 12 of THE SCIENTISTS in strong thunderstorms, particularly
South African Airlines 36 aeroplanes International and local weather those with intense up-draughts, high
were damaged at OR Tambo scientists, Dr Deon Terblanche, liquid water content, great vertical
International Airport. The industrys from the World Meteorological extent, large water droplets, and where
insured loss was R25 million (R1,2 Organisation (United Nations) and a good portion of the cloud layer is
billion in 2014) and aircrafts claims Professor Stuart Piketh and Mr below freezing. Hail is most common
were around R20 million (around Roelof Burger, from the North West in mid-latitudes during spring and early
R900 million today). In 1984 in University addressed the changes in summer when surface temperatures
Witwatersrand the insured damage the weather patterns at the forum. are warm enough to create instability
was R50 million (or R1,2 billion today). for strong thunderstorms, but the
Pretoria suffered again in 1985 when A growing and urbanising global
upper atmosphere is still cold enough
the city centre was damaged and population, and a warming climate,
to support ice.
insured losses reached R75 million, or imply greater exposure to extreme
R1,6 billion today. weather events, including hail storms. Terblanche concluded with a discussion
There is an urgent need for improved on the controversial subject of weather
THE ORGANISERS techniques to observe and predict modification and hail suppression. He
SAIA Chief Executive, Barry Scott, these events and for the financial said that hail suppression has taken
said the 2012 and 2013 claims tools to build resilience. said Dr Deon place in Mpumalanga and elsewhere in
were driven by severe hail storms Terblanche. Gauteng, with inconclusive results.

98 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 98 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


reinsurer, Munich Re, gave a global
perspective on hail exposure and
risk management in crop insurance.
Schwarz said: The International Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment
report number five expresses low
confidence in observed trends in
small-scale thunderstorms (hail, gusts,
tornadoes).

However, Schwarz added that overall,


for all parts of the world, there seems
to be a trend of more frequent and
severe thunderstorms. Because of more
humidity in the air, the preconditions
for torrential rain and thunderstorms
(having the potential for extreme hail)
are fulfilled. A significant trend of
more humidity can be seen in North
America, in parts of Europe, and the
Eastern part of South Africa.

Consequently, the occurred events and


severe losses in these regions in 2013
are not surprising. The South African
farmers are ever-more exposed to hail
the strongest of the species nor the and other natural perils. Therefore they
Professor Stuart Piketh said, South
most intelligent that survives, it is the need comprehensive insurance cover
Africa has cutting edge infrastructure
one that is most adaptable to change. as a risk management tool, beyond
and capacity to study hail events and
standalone hail cover. This can only be
a rich history and body of knowledge
THE REINSURERS based on a Public-Private Partnership
of local hail research. The North
From a reinsurance perspective Pieter between the public sector, the farmers
West University is busy expanding
Visser, Aon Benfield, Catastrophe and the insurance industry.
this infrastructure and capacity
to specifically meet the needs of Analyst said, The hail event on
28 November 2013 caused the Schwarz said to ensure successful crop
communities interested in the impact underwriting, a few key aspects are
of hailstorms as well as evaluating largest market catastrophe loss in
the history of the local insurance necessary:
the trends in storm frequency and
industry estimated at R1,4 billion. The
severity.
impact of the rapidly expanding urban
sprawl in Gauteng and the increased
Build up a loss database
Burger spoke about how they study
participation of the emerging middle per crop and region;
hail storms. He said that studying hail
storms are made up of six elements: class in insurance are main drivers in
changing the hail loss environment.
Calculate technically
Observing hail on the ground, adequate rates;
observing the environment, observing
He said that the loss to reinsurers from
thunderstorm microphysics, observing Manage ones portfolio
28 November 2013 about equalled
thunderstorms using satellites, composition by crops
the total catastrophe premium paid in
observing thunderstorms using radar,
2013. Some insurers catastrophe losses and regions;
and modelling hailstorms. went into the third catastrophe layer
for the first time in their history. Use specialist know-
He said hail occurs during summer,
reaching its peak in November. Storms how and expertise;
Visser said that reinsurance is designed
start between 12h00 and 20h00, and to protect against large catastrophe Organise professional and
peak between 17h00 and 18h00. losses. He said there should be efficient loss adjustment; and
increased awareness around hail
THE INSURERS
between 15 October and 15 December. Continuously develop
From an insurance and claims
Insurers should aim to understand their products.
perspective, Waldi Els, Santam Group,
exposure better and spend more time
Regional Claims Manager said, Our
and money on risk profiles. He said
challenge is to encourage a culture
there is, for example, a substantial risk
of risk mitigation and risk awareness. He emphasised the importance of a
attached to suburbs with solar geysers
We have to ensure that we from an public-private partnership in ensuring
a potential market for reinsurers.
industry point of view are prepared to a sustainable risk management system
deal with the challenges faced by such Holger Schwarz, the executive for crop production.
an event. I would like to share the very responsible for crop insurance in
wise words of Charles Darwin, It is not Europe and Africa at the international

COVER JULY 2014 99

July 14.indd 99 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


Loss Adjuster Conference

Seventh annual Loss


Adjusters Conference 2014

The Institute of Loss Adjusters 3. As the result of any actual or loss adjuster and his principal and
alleged; in accordance with any service level
of Southern Africa hosted their
agreement that subsists between
seventh annual conference on 4. Negligent act, error or omission; them.
22 May this year.
5. In the performance of the A loss adjuster must ensure that he
professional duties of the insured. only accepts a mandate where the
President of the ILA, Jan Schubart,
said: The Institute has for many years performance of the mandated function
WHEN DETERMINING THE ISSUE
supported the ongoing education of matches his expertise.
OF NEGLIGENCE, SAID CARR, TWO
its members and provided a platform SIMPLE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE The acquisition of any information
for all industry members in their quest ASKED: by the Loss Adjuster must be in
to strive for continuing professional 1. Would the reasonable expert in accordance with any privacy and
development. the insureds position have seen the protection of information legislation
possibility of loss or harm? And if such
The conference covered topics that may be in force, and the loss
harm was foreseeable,
including corrosion and cures of adjuster must keep records for up to
pipes, Fidelity Guarantee insurance, 2. Would the reasonable expert in five years after the completion of his
Professional Indemnity for loss the insureds position have taken mandate, although some circumstances
adjusters and brokers, electronic reasonable steps to avoid such harm may require the records to be kept for
equipment losses, POPI for loss from occurring? a longer period.
adjusters, principal controlled policies,
She said that membership of ILASA Carr stressed the importance of
and mitigating fire and water damage,
requires loss adjusters to buy PI thorough record keeping, including
followed by a cocktail evening.
cover, and that loss adjusters clients record of advice provided (by brokers
The following pages will focus on two usually stipulate in their SLAs with loss to their clients). Remember, she said,
presentations: Professional Indemnity adjusters, that the loss adjuster must it is an often quoted maxim that the
and Protection of Personal Information. purchase PI cover. law is not concerned with the truth, its
concerned with the proof.
PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY Carr quoted from the ILASA Code of
Kristy Carrs presentation on Conduct, mentioning that it was a WHEN IT COMES TO THE LOSS
Professional Indemnity (PI) for loss good place to start, when looking for ADJUSTERS POLICY SCHEDULE,
adjusters and brokers defined PI cover pointers on how to avoid a PI claim. An CARR IDENTIFIED NINE POINTS TO
as cover that would be triggered when insurer should give specific instructions KEEP IN MIND:
the following factors are present: to the loss adjuster: Who is the insured? Is it one
company, or have they bought other
1. Your legal liability; All services should be rendered in companies?
accordance with the contractual
2. To pay compensation; relationship existing between the When is the retroactive cover date?

100 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 100 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


THE EIGHT CONDITIONS FOR
LAWFUL PROCESSING OF
INFORMATION ARE:
Accountability;

Processing limitation;

Purpose specification;

Further processing limitation;

Information quality;

Openness;

Security safeguards; and

Data subject participation

POPI is about data protection and


using information reasonably and fairly,
said Bodiat, and responsible parties and
operators must have systems in place to
safeguard information.
What is the business description? POPI FOR LOSS ADJUSTERS
Sandra Sithole and Aneesa Bodiat Consent and acquiescence are central
When is the period of insurance? from Norton Rose Fulbright unpacked to POPI, which makes the wording in
the implications of the Protection of contracts and policies very important.
Is the limit of indemnity
Personal Information Act (POPI) for
provided on an each and every 10 THINGS LOSS ADJUSTERS
claim or aggregate basis? loss adjusters.The Act gives effect to
the constitutional right to privacy by SHOULD KNOW ABOUT POPI
regulating how anyone who processes Sithole identified 10 important facts
What is the excess, and is the
that loss adjusters need to know to
excess inclusive or exclusive of personal information handles, keeps
comply with POPI.
legal costs and expenses? and secures that information.
1. CLAIMS ARE ONLY TO BE
Have endorsements on the policy SOME DEFINITIONS PERTINENT TO INVESTIGATED WITH THE
which widen the cover granted THE ACT INSURERS KNOWLEDGE AND
to the insured been carried Bodiat explained processing as AUTHORITY.
through from year to year? anything you do with the information The loss adjuster, as the operator,
from the beginning to the end and processes information for the
Did you make sure that extensions of
added that this includes the storage responsible party, the insurer, according
cover that you believe are in place
are reflected in the policy schedule? and destruction of the information. to the contract with the insurer and
acts as the insurers agent.
Reinstatements of cover. Personal information relates to a living,
natural person or an existing juristic 2. THE INSUREDS CONSENT TO
Carr asked, what is an adequate limit person. Information that will identify INVESTIGATE A CLAIM COMES VIA
of PI cover for loss adjusters? The usual that person, including email addresses THE INSURER.
answer provided by most brokers, she and phone numbers, is personal This is the insurers responsibility. The
said, was the highest limit you can information. processing of personal information by
afford, as no broker can ever tell you the loss adjuster is allowed by reason
with absolute certainty that any limit of the provisions in the policy.
A data subject is someone to whom
(within reason) will be adequate to meet
the information relates, and a 3. CONSENT TO PROCESSING
any claims you might face. To determine
responsible party is someone who Consent refers to the data subjects
the limit of cover, loss adjusters should
determines the purpose of and means specific, voluntary and informed
take into consideration their SLAs.
of processing the information, in this expression of will in terms of which
Brokers must consider the nature of the
case the insurer. permission is granted for processing of
work they are undertaking, whether it is
high or low risk. personal information.
The operator is someone who uses
You can increase your limit at any and processes information on behalf 4. KEEP PERSONAL INFORMATION
time during the policy period and pay of the responsible party, in terms of CONFIDENTIAL
a pro-rata premium on the increased a mandate or a contract but without Do not disclose personal information.
premium that will be due, said Carr. actually coming under direct authority The Act allows for disclosure of
This increased limit will not apply of the responsible party. This is where information if required by law, for
to claims and/or potential claims or the loss adjusters responsibility kicks example, in terms of the Promotion of
incidents that you are already aware of. Access to Information Act or in terms
in.
of the mandate.

COVER JULY 2014 101

July 14.indd 101 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


Loss Adjuster Conference

9. RECORD RETENTION PERIODS


After a period of time the responsible
party is required to get rid of the
information or to de-identify the
information (strip it of identifying
factors that could name the data
subject). But records may be retained
if this is a contractual requirement or
where the information is required for
purposes of the responsible partys
lawful activities.

10. PENALTIES AND OFFENSES


The data subject can complain to the
Regulator, and failure to comply could
mean a fine of up to R10 million, or jail
time.

READ THE ACT NOW,


ESPECIALLY CHAPTER
THREE WHICH SETS
OUT THE EIGHT CORE
PRINCIPLES OF THE ACT.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING


DIFFERENTLY UNDER POPI?
Sithole said: Read the Act now,
especially chapter three which sets out
the eight core principles of the Act.

Conduct a gap analysis;

Put privacy governance in place;

Mitigate the risks of


security breaches;

And revisit contracts which relate


to PI and liability wordings.

Lastly Bodiat and Sithole advised


delegates to train their staff in
5. SECURITY OF PERSONAL 7. AUTOMATED DIRECT e-security, to become more creative
INFORMATION IS PARAMOUNT MARKETING with passwords and encryption, to
When you outsource, for example, your There is a whole chapter in the Act fortify physical security needs and to
IT services, make sure you have the dedicated to direct marketing. Most of consider cyber insurance policies.
appropriate security systems in place the provisions mirror the similar themes
and the obligation is in their contract. in the Consumer Protection Act. This Schubart thanked the delegates
POPI will require you to prove that all doesnt d affect loss adjusters directly. for attending the conference: It is
reasonable measures were taken to obvious, even to me as a loss adjuster
secure your IT systems. 8. CROSS-BORDER TRANSACTIONS at times that without you the delegates
There are restrictions placed on the this event would not take place. I
6. THE INFORMATION REGULATOR cross-border transfer of personal thank you for your participation and
This is an external enforcement body information including the requirement encourage you to tell us what you
that will assess claims of breaches of for consent. The cross-border transfer of would like to see in future events.
data protection, civil damages, and act information is also allowed in the case
as a legal aid resource for people who where a transfer is necessary for the COVER caught Jan and Kristy on video.
do not have the money or resources to performance of a contract between the Visit our YouTube page for snippets of
take legal steps themselves. data subject and the responsible party. the conversation: http://bit.ly/1kGTqJC

102 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 102 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


FIA Awards

FIA Awards
Celebrating 16 years of financial excellence
South African intermediaries
vote for the best financial
service providers.

The 2014 Financial Intermediaries


Association of Southern Africa (FIA)
Awards gala dinner celebrated the
achievements of insurers, underwriters
and investment companies that
provide the best support to the
intermediaries that make up the FIAs
membership.

Arnold van der Linde, President of the


FIA, said that the FIA Awards represent
the benchmark for excellence in the
offerings of product suppliers as rated
by South Africas financial and risk
advisors.

As we celebrate the industrys top


product suppliers we should also
embrace with all of the associated
responsibilities our task to protect
the free market that makes our clients
product choices possible. Lets never
invite nor, though irresponsible actions,
force the regulator to kill our industry We would like to extend our heartfelt While the FIA Awards present an ideal
with excessive regulation. congratulation to each of the category platform for product suppliers to be
winners at the 2014 FIA Awards, said recognised for going that extra mile,
Nine FIA Awards were issued to FIA CEO, Justus Van Pletzen. And we we should not lose sight of the role
cover the four core disciplines in offer a special word of thanks to those that valuable and reputable advice
the financial advice space, namely product suppliers who continue to back plays in assisting consumers to secure
employee benefits, financial planning the model of intermediated distribution their financial futures.
(including risk and investment advice), and consistently put their clients our
healthcare and short-term insurance. members first.

COVER JULY 2014 103

July 14.indd 103 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


FIA Awards

A WORD OF THANKS
FROM THE WINNERS
The winners have expressed their heartfelt
gratitude for receiving the awards. This is what
they had to say.

SANTAM
On celebrating the achievement of Short-Term Insurer of the
Year Commercial, Santams Executive Head of Commercial
and Personal Insurance, Edward Gibbens, said: Today, more
than ever, we recognise the essential role that insurers play
in society and we know it is our task to demonstrate the
HOLLARD real value our business has for individuals, businesses and
Hollard received the award for Short-term Product Provider indeed, the South African economy.
of the Year: Personal Lines for the second year running.
Pierre Geyer, Head of Commercial and Personal Lines at
Hollard said: The personal lines insurance space is incredibly
competitive, with direct players becoming more aggressive
and new players continuously entering the market. Its great
to get the feedback that were still assisting our brokers to
compete in this very tough environment.

With our promise of Insurance Good and Proper, to both


policyholders and intermediaries, we recognise our role
through our partnerships and continuous investments in
our business with the intention of exceeding expectations,
added Gibbens.

Quinten Matthew, Santams Executive Head of Specialist


Business said, Santam has established strong partnerships with

It is a real honour to receive this recognition, but we also


regard it as a call to action. We are hard at work looking
at how our offerings in the personal lines space can be
improved and will be calling on the broker community
to assist us to ensure they remain competitive and offer
genuine value to consumers in this space, added Geyer.

Hollard Group CEO Nic Kohler said: We continue to strive


to assist our partners to navigate an extremely demanding
environment, both from a competitive and regulatory point
of view.

104 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 104 2014/07/07 8:33 PM


our intermediaries and their feedback has been fundamental in DISCOVERY
the formulation of our value proposition. Weve always wanted Discovery came out tops in two categories at this years
to provide the type of service that supports the work that our Financial Intermediary Association of Southern Africa (FIA)
intermediaries do in this business and I believe we have made Awards. Discovery Life took the honours in the category
great strides in achieving just that. Long-term Insurance Product Supplier of the Year Risk
Products; and Discovery Health was named Product Supplier
of the year Healthcare. Discovery Health has won this
award category each year since its introduction.

CIA
CIA was named the Underwriting Manager of the Year. Andr
de Waal, Managing Director of CIA, expressed the companys
excitement and gratitude.

It is heartening to know that these product offerings by


Discovery are seen as the benchmark in their respective
categories, said Hylton Kallner, Chief Marketing Officer for
Discovery.

Kallner thanked all intermediaries for the recognition at this


years awards: We are humbled and extremely grateful for the
support from our intermediaries. They are an integral part of
our business structure. Our philosophy is to create innovative,
category leading products that meet consumers needs and the
FIA awards are a gratifying endorsement of that ethos.

We are thrilled with this our third FIA Award, which stands
testament to our hard work and commitment to our line of
business, and to the individuals in the industry who make it
happen our brokers!

Receiving this award acknowledges the dedication and effort


the CIA team has put in during the past fourteen years. ALLAN GRAY
The industry recognised Allan Gray as the Product Supplier
As much as the FIA actively promotes and expects of the Year Investment Products Single Premium. Jeanette
professionalism, competence and ethical behaviour from Marais, Director of distribution and client service at Allan
its members so are we at CIA passionate about brokers Gray, responded on behalf of Allan Gray:
who share our vision of providing service excellence to our
policyholders.

As has been the case in all the previous years, the awards
ceremony was once again a well-organised prestigious event
enjoyed by all those attending. A huge thank you to the FIA
for a wonderful evening!

COVER JULY 2014 105

July 14.indd 105 2014/07/07 8:34 PM


FIA Awards

We are very flattered to win this award, which for us is Consumers and advisors are very conscious of the value they
testimony to our focus on creating long-term wealth for are receiving, and we are happy that they have recognised
our clients. We are also grateful for the recognition by the Liberty in this regard.
advisor community that the award reflects.
While our innovative product ranges such as Liberty Evolve
We continue to follow the same investment philosophy, and GateWay (our LISP product) are important for growth,
which we believe will deliver superior returns to clients over our existing recurring product range is equally important in
the long term. We offer a simple range of funds that we providing investors with holistic investment options.
believe serves the needs of most of our clients, in line with
our view that too much choice does not necessarily help
clients make good long-term decisions.

As most advisors know, past performance is not necessarily


a guide for the future, and investment decisions should be
based on thorough research, not simply picking last years
winners. The issue, however, is for investors to understand
this, and that is a key role that advisors can play.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the advisors SANLAM
for the important role they play in their clients lives, for Last but not least, Sanlam walked away with the award for
their ongoing support, and for their continued trust and Product Supplier of the Year Employee Benefits. Dawie de
confidence in Allan Gray as their investment partner. Villiers, CEO of Sanlam Employee Benefits, said: The award
is a great honour and a true indictment of the success of
SEBs business strategy. The intermediary lies at the heart
of our business in many ways. Every product we develop
or service we introduce is checked against the needs of the
intermediary.

LIBERTY
Liberty was named top Product Supplier of the Year
Investment Products Recurring Premium. Frank Schutte,
Managing Director: Retail Product and Marketing, Liberty
responded:

Dawie continued: Winning this award has shown that we


are doing something right, that our products, support and
services meet the needs of this extremely important group.
And that we are making it easy for intermediaries to engage
with their clients about SEB.

We are beyond thrilled with this result. The awards will


inspire SEB to improve its offering and the quality of its
client service further. It is truly gratifying to have our efforts
rewarded and this definitely drives us to continue to grow
and improve.
It is an honour to receive this award on behalf of Liberty. It
is a greater honour to be acknowledged among our peers The evening could not have been made possible without the
at the FIA Awards this evening. Weve been hard at work to hard work and dedication of each and every intermediary,
reinvigorate Liberty in the investment space so to receive insurer, underwriter, product provider, and industry body and
this recognition from the industry is a great achievement for association. Well done!
us.

106 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 106 2014/07/07 8:34 PM


Global strength

Regional teams

Local guru

Put life into motion anywhere in the world

Life insurance markets are changing rapidly and opportunities abound. Together with our
team of experts, you can quickly design and roll out new ideas at the global, regional, or local levels.
Its an integrated, customized approach to product development. And its the perfect combination
for moving forward in new, promising directions.

Learn more at www.munichre.com/life

NOT IF, BUT HOW

Untitled-1 1 2014/07/07 11:14 PM


Market Cover

INSETA increases training to


unemployed learners in 2013/14
Mzimkullu Msiwa, INSETAs have completed this qualification,
Chairperson, said, We are committed learnership candidates can go to
to delivering quality training, which university, with a bursary from
has a genuine impact on economic INSETA.
growth, thereby ensuring a good
return on South Africas investment in PARTNERSHIPS WITH
education and training. UNIVERSITIES AND TVET
COLLEGES
A further analysis of some of key INSETA partnered with public
INSETA-funded training and support universities and TVET colleges
for the 2013/2014 financial year is to support unemployed learners
listed below. studying towards full qualifications
in areas of scarce and critical skills
DEVELOPING SCARCE AND in the insurance sector. A total of
CRITICAL SKILLS 712 unemployed learners received
INSETA increased its support for bursary funding and 83% successfully
developing actuaries, underwriters and completed their studies.
SANDRA DUNN, assessors. An amount of R30,7 million
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) INSETA has been invested in the development INSETA was appointed by the
of actuaries and over the past five Department of Higher Education and
years INSETA has partnered with the Training (DHET) to be the lead Sector
South African Actuaries Development Education and Training Authority
Programme (SAADP) to support 301 (SETA) in three TVET colleges. INSETA
In the 2013/14 financial year the unemployed learners. launched their offices in the Eastern
Insurance Education and Training Cape at Ingwe and Ikhala Colleges.
INSETA gave six scholarships to INSETA will co-ordinate the activities
Authority (INSETA) has funded
learners to study with the Association of the other SETAs in the province,
training to a 9 604 learners, of for Savings and Investment South around common services, like career
which 4 006 were unemployed Africa (ASISA) Academy in the Life guidance. INSETA expects to launch
learners and 5 598 were Insurance Underwriting and Claims their offices at Ekurhuleni West College
Assessor programme. The scholarship this year.
employed learners, compared to
recipients obtained valuable work-
2 761 learners in the previous based experience with insurance SUPPORT FOR SMALL BROKERS
AND BURIAL SOCIETIES
financial year. companies.
INSETA provided funding for 507
One barrier in the insurance sector burial societies who benefitted
According to the 2011 Census, South
includes the fact that there is no from short programmes in Financial
Africa has an estimated 3,2 million
formal registered qualification for Management, Bookkeeping,
persons aged 15 to 24 who were not
some occupations. However, INSETA Secretarial skills, Treasurer training
employed and not in education and
has succeeded in registering the and Information Technology skills.
training (NEETs). This figure represents
Insurance Underwriter qualification INSETA provided 746 small brokers
about a third of the 15 to 24 year
with South African Qualifications with support through short training
old population. 1 468 unemployed
Authority (SAQA) under the following programmes. INSETA supported
youth and 3 727 workers successfully
qualification title: Occupational brokers with Financial Advisory
completed learning programmes, which
Certificate: Insurance Agent: Insurance and Intermediary Service (FAIS)
started the year before.
Underwriter. programmes, learning material and
Skills development is directly linked to examination preparation workshops.
an increase in Gross Domestic Product ARTICULATION OF THE WEALTH INSETA has also set up a dedicated
(GDP). Countries that have increased MANAGEMENT CAREER PATHWAY broker network (including a skills
their literacy rates of between 20% and INSETA continues to support the portal) to support small brokers. So
30% have simultaneously increased Articulation Initiative launched as to encourage participation of small
their GDP from 8% to 16%. in 2010 by providing funding for employers, INSETA runs a dedicated
learnership candidates to register Small Medium and Micro Enterprises
INSETA continues to increase skills with Technical Vocational Education (SMMEs) Learnership programme in
development in the insurance and and Training (TVET) colleges to which they manage the recruitment
related sectors, thereby contributing to complete their National Qualification of learners, project management,
reducing unemployment, poverty and Framework (NQF) level 5 Wealth administration, payment of stipends
inequality. Management Qualification. Once they and training.

108 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 108 2014/07/07 8:34 PM


On the road with
Hollard Insurance
Hollard Insurance went on the
road in May to launch their
new Brokers Market across the
country.

Companies stop growing when they


stop adapting to change, said Hollard
Insurance CEO Nic Kohler on Thursday
evening, 22 May, at the Johannesburg
leg of the Hollard Insurance Broker
Road show. Hollard started because
the industry needed to change.

Hollard has recently launched its new


Hollards Broker Markets business in
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and
Port Elizabeth.

Kohler said the Reintegration of Etana


brought about Hollard Insurance
Partners (dedicated to UMAs) and
Hollards Broker Markets business. He said the new Broker Market is The Johannesburg event was well
dedicated to brokers, with a risk attended by local and Pretoria-based
Hollards Broker Markets business is
improvement mindset and focused brokers, and the presentations were
headed up by former Etana Chairperson
product experts. followed by an informal networking
Paolo Cavalieri. Cavalieris CV reveals
session.
a long list of national and international He said the new Broker Market believes
accomplishments in accounting, that local is lekker, and will not make
banking and finance, as well as rowing. use of call centres. He said the broker
is at the top of the new business
Cavalieri said, If ever was a time for
model: With you we can do a better
independent advice and the role of the
job.
broker, its absolutely now.

COVER JULY 2014 109

July 14.indd 109 2014/07/07 8:34 PM


Product Development

Beames gone wireless


Beame has launched a wireless and Tyre illustrate consumers facing
innovations that continue to and have
tracking unit. The brand has
already accelerated the growth of the
offered an affordable, wireless brand.
solution with benefits to
They have also released the Beame
consumers everywhere the Smartphone App. The app launched
most important being one of on 17 June to Android and Apple users
the best recovery rates in the everywhere and at the touch of a Play
Store/iStore button, subscribers take
industry.
tracking into their own hands. The
brand shows that just compiling a list
The brand catered for audiences
of FAQs and making it available on a
looking for affordability and
corporate website is an obsolete CRM
functionality. The wireless solution
practise.
answered the market need for a with the consumer and the brand as
simple, non-intrusive product that Beame has considered how the well as insurers and contract holders.
wouldnt tighten the purse strings landscape has changed and moulded In one very funky looking application
and in doing so, ensured that tracking a solution that again shakes up the all Beame contract holders can manage
became a reality for a much broader industry. In line with its offering of and distribute information to insurers,
South African market. simplicity, the brand now offers secure contact the organisation directly with
contract management at the touch any queries, report a hi-jacking or
No matter how broad the market,
of a button. Important and useful vehicle theft and check the proper
some fundamentals just dont change;
information is now at customers functioning of a unit for extra peace of
consumers everywhere no longer have
fingertips. mind.
the time to fuss over detail, so from
installation through to management, Grant Fraser Divisional Director: The application will be available on
Beame customers enjoy simplicity in Product and Marketing MiX Telematics other platforms in the near future with
its truest form. Online purchasing and (Consumer) explains, This App goes a the second release scheduled for July
installations at a nearby Tiger Wheel long way in facilitating communication 2014.

Banking App gets a facelift


The FNB Banking App has can now open cheque accounts, credit
cards and investment accounts from
published its latest version to
the convenience of the FNB Banking
App stores and it is packed App for both smartphones and tablets.
with new features, a new look
Personalised product offers takes the
and feel, account opening, hassle out of banking by matching
personalised customer offers and specific products to customers based
Over the last year, the FNB Banking
inward SWIFT payments from on their individual characteristics. FNB
App has delivered a number of
Banking App users will be able to get
abroad. new features, such as the ability to
pre-approved loans, accounts and
investments offered to them as soon purchase iTunes codes for customers
The refreshed look and feel makes or as gifts. A new eBucks menu also
as they login, without having to search
the App visually more appealing, and lets customers check balances, reward
for them.
more importantly, even easier to use. levels and more. Share Investing and
The FNB App is available across major With this new feature we can ensure Stock broking, which was introduced
smartphone platforms including iOS that customers using our App only in October last year, means that
(Apple), Android, and Windows Mobile. receive personalised and relevant customers can also trade shares,
Blackberry v10 will be available soon. product offers, says Giuseppe Virgillito, equities and view other instruments in
Head of Banking App, FNB Mobile and real time.
A new innovation on this latest version
Connect.
of the FNB App is the ability to open Technology improves at a rapid pace
an account, from start to finish using FNB has also launched SWIFT and we work hard to harness new
the banking app, in under 10 minutes. Payments on the FNB Banking technologies and innovation to bring
Other than FNBs tablet app, this has App, allowing customers to receive something relevant and useful to our
not been possible to do on an App payments from abroad from their customers. The latest version of our
in South Africa until now. Customers smartphones. App does just that, concludes Virgillito.

110 COVER JULY 2014

July 14.indd 110 2014/07/07 8:34 PM


Discovery Invest Sher points out that there are
no management fees within the
global portfolio. However, standard

launches equity product Discovery Invest administration fees


apply, as would financial adviser fees
if investors make use of financial
planners. Discovery does, however,
For investors looking for equity portfolio provide a negative return
of up to 50% at the end of five provide another unique benefit called
exposure to the European and US the Discovery Upfront Investment
markets, the Discovery Capital years, 100% capital protection
is provided for and the investor Integrator, where investors have the
200+ offering is a fixed-term opportunity to get back the value of
receives back full capital. So if an
five-year product based on a investor invested R1 million and these administration and financial
global portfolio investing in the the portfolio return is negative adviser fees. The product is also
Eurostoxx50 and S&P 500 indices. 40%, the investor receives back designed to be tax efficient so returns
the R1 million original investment, are taxed as capital gains within the
Launched by Discovery Invest, the and capital remains intact. Discovery Endowment Plan.
Discovery Capital 200+ product offers
some unique features for investors However, should the portfolio fall Investments are made as a once off
who remain fully invested for the five more than 50%, the investor would lump sum, with a minimum investment
year period. These enhancements be exposed to the full downturn in the of R100 000, and the product offer
are aimed at boosting investment portfolio. For example, on a R1 million closes on 10 July.
returns while offering some capital investment, with five year performance
protection in negative markets, says Sher explains that for all benefits,
being negative 60%, the investor
Craig Sher who is the Head of Product protection and enhancements to apply,
would receive back R400 000.
Development at Discovery Invest. investors must remain fully invested
Sher indicates that the planned for the five year period. However
If the global portfolio return is allocation of the portfolio is 70% to we acknowledge that personal
positive at the end of five years, the Eurostoxx50 and 30% to the S&P circumstances can change, and should
the Discovery Capital 200+ will 500 price indices. Although the global an investor need to withdraw funds
provide a minimum return of portfolio is based in these offshore prematurely, they would receive back
100% (double) the original capital markets and invested in foreign indices, the market value of the financial
investment made. This includes the product has been designed so there instruments Discovery has used at that
flat performance (if markets move is no currency risk to the investor. If particular time.
sideways), or even if there is very the Rand weakens or strengthens over
the five year period, this does not This product is highly suited to equity
limited positive performance.
impact on the final return of the global investors wanting some diversified
If the global portfolio return is higher portfolio. offshore exposure into developed
than 100% after the five year period, markets. There is the opportunity of a
investors will not only double the The global portfolio returns do not high minimum return if markets are flat
capital they invested, but receive all include dividends as these distributions or positive, with full upside potential
the additional upside return as well. are rather utilised in providing the should markets more than double,
enhanced payouts and guarantees that as well as the benefits of conditional
There is also conditional downside the product offers at the end of its five downside protection should markets
protection. Should the global year maturity. become negative, says Sher.

COVER JULY 2014 111

July 14.indd 111 2014/07/07 8:34 PM


LCM Credit Risk and Top Cover Norton Rose Fulbright
GARTH DE KLERK GALE SHABANGU
Partner: Top Cover Diversity and Inclusion Manager

Gijima Gijima IISA


MAPHUMUZANA NXUMALO BHEKI KHUMALO WAYNE ABRAHAM
CEO & Executive Director Human Resources Executive Board Member

POTM_july.indd 1 2014/07/07 11:24 PM


A&G_A4_Print_sails.indd 1 2012/12/12 3:54 PM
29578_"Commercial JSE" 297x210.indd 1 2014/05/20 11:07 AM

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen