Investor power for a fairer South Africa
We use research, engagement, advocacy and activism to drive urgent action to combat climate change and reduce inequality.
Our work focuses on three key ESG issues:
11 October 2021
This article was first published in the Financial Mail on 7 October 2021.
On October 1, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition published for public comment the long-awaited Companies Amendment Bill. Among the most striking proposed changes relate to wage gap disclosure, and a binding shareholder vote on executive pay. Both of these go to the heart of some of the most... continued
7 October 2021
On 7 October, following Sasol’s refusal to table South Africa’s first climate lobbying shareholder resolution, Sasol shareholders Just Share and Aeon Investment Management (Aeon) co-filed a second non-binding, advisory resolution ahead of Sasol’s 19 November AGM.
The resolution asks Sasol to improve and expand its... continued
20 September 2021
On 14 September 2021, Just Share and Aeon Investment Management co-filed a non-binding, advisory shareholder resolution at Sasol Limited, for tabling at its 19 November AGM.
The resolution asks Sasol to improve and expand its disclosure of its direct and indirect climate lobbying, including disclosing the annual membership fees paid to industry... continued
17 September 2021
On 15 September, FirstRand published an updated Policy on Energy and Fossil Fuels Financing (“the energy policy”) and, for the first time, a Climate Change Policy.
The energy policy represents a significant improvement on the bank’s previous energy-related policies – including confirmation that it will “no longer finance new coal-fired power stations with... continued
Round 2: Shareholders in new bid to force Sasol to reveal its lobbying activities
Fin 24
13 October 2021
WATCH: This is how miners are embedding ESG into their strategies
Business Day
11 October 2021
Shareholder activists gun for Sasol and its ‘climate lobbying’
Radio 702 - The Money Show
8 October 2021
Mining companies have failed to speak up about the environmental devastation they cause
Independent Online
7 October 2021
TRACEY DAVIES: Debunking the emigration myth
Financial Mail
7 October 2021
COVID-19 Coronavirus South African Online Resource and News Portal
Responsible investment means making investment decisions with a focus not simply on short-term financial gain, but on long-term value creation. It involves an investment approach that integrates environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into financial analysis and decision-making: i.e., it is premised on the belief that the concept of “value” in the investment system must extend beyond financial returns, to encompass the impacts of a company’s operations on the environment within which it operates and the people who work for it and who are affected by it.
Shareholder activism refers to the ways in which shareholders in a company can exercise their rights as partial owners of that company to influence management to behave in a particular way. The steps taken can range from engaging with management in private, to the use of shareholder resolutions and litigation to force changes in company behaviour.