Sanlam Investments formalises strategic relationship with Ninety One as it gears up for growth

Sanlam Investments today announced that its transaction with Ninety One is now effective, thereby formalising a long-term strategic relationship between two of South Africa’s leading asset managers.

The agreement strengthens Sanlam’s underlying investment engine that powers solutions available to retail and institutional investors across South Africa and offshore.

How does the partnership fit Sanlam Investments’ growth story?

“The transaction was a deliberate step to strengthen our market position by playing to our strengths,” explained Carl Roothman, CEO of Sanlam Investments.

“When we announced our intent in 2024, we were already occupying top-tier positions in multi-management, private wealth, indexation and alternative investments. However, we were looking to substantially strengthen our active single-manager capability. A strategic relationship with Ninety One was a logical choice due to their integrated approach in managing South African and offshore assets – a capability few local managers possess.”

The transaction included the transfer of nearly R400 billion in assets to Ninety One.
According to Roothman, the business is taking a long-term view.

“After the transaction, Sanlam Investments remains one of the largest asset managers in South Africa and on the continent with more than R1 trillion in assets under management – and we are now operating from a position of renewed strength.

“The future belongs to multi-skilled asset managers who develop customised solutions that offer investors deeper diversification, more access points and purposeful outcomes. By combining our in-house expertise with that of our specialist partners, Sanlam Investments is perfectly positioned to meet this demand.”

Sanlam Investments’ in-house expertise includes the following core capabilities:

• Multi management: tailored, outcome focused investment solutions built on deep client insight (c.R350 billion AUM).
• Private wealth: bespoke wealth management for high-net-worth clients (c.R165 billion AUM).
• Indexation: market leading index-tracking products and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) delivered under the Satrix brand (c.R290 billion AUM).
• Alternative investments: private equity, private debt, real estate and infrastructure, with a focus on impact investing in South Africa, the rest of Africa and select emerging markets (c.R150 billion AUM).

Its agreement with Ninety One completes the picture by providing access to proven global expertise in active single-managed strategies.

“Backed by Sanlam’s balance sheet strength and distribution footprint, and with the support of some of the largest and most successful shareholders in South Africa, the rest of Africa and India – including Absa, Shriram, Allianz and African Rainbow Capital – we will continue to deliver solutions that combine scale, innovation and impact across the investment spectrum,” Roothman concluded.

Ninety One CEO Hendrik du Toit concurred that the strategic relationship enables Sanlam Investments to focus its resources on the areas where it is building distinctive leadership, including multi-managed solutions, private wealth, indexation and alternatives.

“The completion of this transaction marks the beginning of a long-term partnership built on complementary strengths and a shared commitment to clients, who stand to benefit from the proven capability and resources of South Africa’s leading globally integrated active investment manager.

“This is a considered, future-focused relationship and a meaningful investment in South Africa’s savings and investment landscape,” he said.