We are currently in a very uncertain period of abnormally high inflation, increasing interest rate cycles, increased global geopolitical risks, decreasing global liquidity and potential recessions. Although recessionary fears seem to have abated for the time being, at GraySwan we remain cautious of implementing shorter-term strategies against a backdrop of market uncertainty. Instead, we urge investors to consider hedging as an effective risk management tool to provide better portfolio protection and diversification.
One of the most topical issues occupying the minds of leaders in governments, policy makers, corporates and scenario planners alike in recent times must undoubtedly be the adverse effects of global warming. Apart from a few climate change denialists, there is general consensus in the scientific community that worldwide adverse and erratic climate conditions experienced in recent years are largely attributable to global warming.
As economies across Africa look to recover from the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19 and the global supply chain issues that followed it, investment will be more important than ever. But it’s also becoming increasingly obvious that if the continent is to achieve its true potential, a different kind of investment strategy is needed.
South Africa faces possible grey listing by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). This warning was set in October last year when we were to pull up our socks and improve on shortcomings in identifying, reporting on, and prosecuting illegal cash flows and crime. We were given a year (to October 2022) to prove we are making improvements, with February 2023 as the deadline to demonstrate progress on these improvements.
Russia launched a full assault on Ukraine, its southwest neighbour, on February 24, 2022, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Globally, responsible investment is still in its early stages, and South Africa has the potential to play an important role in elevating it to the next level.
Interpreting the changes that take place in private equity (PE) prices over time isn’t straightforward as many of the drivers are unobservable. But there are some noticeable shifts in the marketplace that prove how PE is performing.
For years, Africa’s financial potential has been recognised by many global investors. As Africa is home to eight of the 15 fastest growing economies in the world, its economic prosperity matters globally. However, the pandemic has hit the Continent hard, with significant recovery set to take several years. Now more than ever, Africa requires investment, and that investment offers great opportunity, both to global investors and the future of the continent.
In today's world, funds and other financial institutions play a vital role in encouraging better corporate governance practices (CGPs) in companies. Funds recognise that good CGPs in their portfolio companies are not only important from a risk management perspective but can lead to greater investment returns in the long-run. Hence, investors are increasingly focussed on the adoption, implementation and ongoing effectiveness of CGPs in their portfolio companies. In this article, we explore exactly why good CGPs in portfolio companies (regardless of their size) are a growing priority for funds:
National Treasury released its second draft amendments to Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act on 2 November 2021. The purpose of the second draft is to respond to comments from the market, following the release of the first draft amendments in February 2021.
When most people think of investing, the first thing to come to mind is usually your traditional asset classes like stocks and bonds or even interest on cash savings. After all, these make up the bulk of virtually every investment portfolio domestically.
A South African private equity firm is using environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors as a critical deal filter, applying the ESG lens from the very start of the transaction through to ongoing management practices and eventual sale.
In July 2018, I published an article entitled, “Now might be the time to invest in African agtech”. It’s a good feeling to see my own optimism reflected in the market. At the time of writing, there was a surge in agtech (agriculture technology) ventures in Africa, which still tallied at a humble 82 start-ups. Funding in agtech had also increased 121% in the period between 2016 and 2017 (these figures were taken from a 2018 Disrupt Africa Report).
Innovation is a life force, catalyzing economies and accelerating humanity. However, the single most important challenge facing humanity today is how one understands and harnesses this disruptive innovation.
-crop-c0-64__0-47-273x206-70.jpg)
-crop-c0-56__0-31-273x206-70.jpg)
