1993
First SA BEE transaction
We sold our controlling stake in Metropolitan to a black-owned company, Methold. This was the first national black economic empowerment (BEE) transaction and resulted in the formation of New Africa Investment (NAIL), the first major black-controlled company to list on the JSE.
1996
Pioneering BEE Financing in SA
Sanlam Private Equity pioneered BEE financing in South Africa by providing start-up capital of R100 million for the establishment of the R2 billion Sanlam Development Fund. Over time the fund has funded over 100 BEE deals.
1996
Empowerment Equity Fund
Sanlam and Real Africa formed a separate asset management company, Real Africa Asset Management (RAAM). Soon after, RAAM launched the Empowerment Equity Fund, the first unit trust to focus on 'black chip' investments. In 2001 RAAM merged with Wiphold's asset management arm (WIPAM) to form a broad-based empowerment asset management group, which led to the formation of Pan-African Asset Management (PAM) in 2006.
1998
Sanlam Listed on JSE
Sanlam Limited was listed on the JSE and the Namibian Stock Exchange – the largest initial public offering in the history of South Africa at the time. It trebled the number of shareholders on the JSE through empowering more than two million Sanlam policyholders by turning them into Sanlam shareholders.
1998
Black Management Forum Investments Company (BMFIC)
The previously private Black Management Forum Investments Company (BMFIC), formed in 1996, converted into a public company. Currently the BMF owns 64%, Sanlam 30% and 240 individual members 6%.
2002
Umsobomvu Youth Fund
Sanlam paid R278 million into the government’s Umsobomvu Youth Fund, which was created to develop skills and create jobs among young South Africans. The fund has spent about R470 million on 61 projects over the past years.
2004
Ubuntu-Botho Empowerment Partnership
The sale of 8% of our shares to Ubuntu-Botho ushered in a new era of business and socio-economic growth, enhancing Sanlam’s proud history of being leader in empowerment and transformation. It became one of the most far-reaching black empowerment transactions to date, empowering people, organisations and small businesses at even the most rural level, fast tracking Sanlam’s transformation into a truly South African company.
2013
Ubuntu-Botho matures
In December 2013, the initial 10-year contract of the Sanlam Ubuntu-Botho empowerment partnership matured after creating about R15 billion in value, making it arguably one of the most successful transactions of its kind in South African history. An agreement was reached to extend the partnership with Ubuntu-Botho into the future.
2016
Launch of African Rainbow Capital
African Rainbow Capital (ARC) was officially launched on 14 April 2016 and is a subsidiary of Ubuntu-Botho Investments, Sanlam’s empowerment partner. The venture, jointly headed by former Sanlam CEO Dr Johan van Zyl and former Sanlam Investments CEO Johan van der Merwe, seeks to build interests in banking, insurance, distribution, asset management, property, private equity and healthcare administration.