Material Pillars - Responsible products and services
Sanlam Sustainability Report 2011
Responsible products and services
Highlights
- Committed to the UN Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI), making Sanlam the first private South African asset owner, along with the Government Employees Pension Fund and the Eskom Pension Fund, to do so
- Met most of our targets and successfully expanded our product reach
- Realised new opportunities to engage in public private partnerships
- Drafted guidelines on incorporating sustainability principles into investment decisions
- Signed Code for Responsible Investing in South Africa (CRISA)
- Enhanced engagement with investee companies through our proxy voting policy
Challenges
- Complying with all new regulatory requirements
- Developing products that meet both the needs of the Group and of the market, particularly the need for savings products in lower income markets
- Increasing access to financial services and expanding our client base in the current financial context
- Managing the impact of Solvency II on available capital impacting our BBBEE and infrastructure investments
- Meeting our preferential procurement targets, in the context of the continuing challenges around the viability of some BBBEE suppliers
- Limited client mandate or pressure to drive social and environmental agendas within our investment portfolios
Sanlam is one of the leaders in contributing to society from a private sector point of view."
- Cora Fernandez, Managing Director: Sanlam Investment
Today's clients have great financial awareness, more product options and more ways to source and engage with financial products. Products need to be easier to understand. They must address clients' needs and speak to their values. A diverse range of tailored products that meet clients' expectations, contribute to building trust and ultimately add value to clients, shareholders and our broader stakeholders is necessary to remain competitive.
