The AEEI Group also holds a 30% equity interest in BT Communications Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd (BT). This investment is accounted for as an associate.

BT has been present in South Africa for more than 19 years and is continuing to expand its operations in sub-Saharan Africa. This partnership is a demonstration of BT’s long-term commitment to South Africa and the B-BBEE agenda.

BT provides networked information technology services to clients in South Africa. BT operates as a subsidiary of BT Group plc.

MARKET AND SERVICES

BT is focused on serving the increasing requirements of both South African-based multinationals expanding globally as well as global companies that are expanding their presence into South Africa and the rest of Africa. BT has experience across all industry sectors, and has unrivalled expertise in the financial services, mining, oil and gas, government, healthcare, media and broadcast, and transport and logistics sectors.

Customers include more than 300 blue chip clients in South Africa, including Anglo American plc, Barclays Bank Africa and Visa Inc.

BT has extended its next-generation global IP network into South Africa to three global points of presence within South Africa. BT’s Global Media Network is also being extended to South Africa with the deployment of the media and broadcast node in Johannesburg enabling the delivery of high-quality, real-time video content between South Africa and popular media hubs worldwide.

BT has extended its global managed voice network into South Africa, providing carrier-grade global voice services including global termination services for outbound voice requirements (both mobile and fixed line originated), global inbound voice services for South African call centre operations, as well as extending BT’s conferencing services into the region.

On top of these network services delivered by the BT 21st Century Network platform globally, BT also delivers unified communications and collaboration services, including Immersive TelePresence, Managed LAN and IPT services as well as the security and consulting services that form an essential part of these offerings.

BT’s investment in technology is mirrored in its commitment to corporate social responsibility. In 2007, BT announced its development partnership with Unicef, committing R20m to enhance the quality of education for children from some of South Africa’s poorest socioeconomic backgrounds.

BT’s business strategy for sub-Saharan Africa is to provide the best-of-breed managed network services for multinational companies operating in Africa. They provide expertise to the national operators to improve their retail and domestic market offerings to their respective citizens.

BT is one of the world’s leading communications services companies. They serve the needs of customers in the UK and in 180 countries worldwide. Their main activities are the provision of fixed-line services, broadband, mobile and TV products and services as well as networked IT services. Further information can be found on www.globalservices. bt.com/uk/en/aboutus.

Further information on this strategic investment can be found on www.bt.com/globalservices.

Saab Grintek Defence (Pty) Ltd (Saab) has reinforced its position as a leading South African defence and security company, bringing capabilities including electronic warfare systems, sensor technology, command and control, training systems, avionics, security and support solutions to the African and international markets.

Saab provides a broad range of world-leading products, services and solutions within military defence and civil security to the African market. An impressive range of defence forces across the globe are using South African electronic warfare and avionics technology, which is designed at their facilities in South Africa,

With new and improved technological systems and solutions, Saab increases a country’s defence capabilities and provides innovative, effective products and services for those tasked to maintain security. Saab also works with various stakeholders in gathering data and providing insight into how security threats evolve, and what the best market-customised solutions are.

Saab is able to work with customers to create solutions that meet their needs and budgets and many of their solutions can be retrofitted to existing infrastructure, further enhancing their versatility and cost efficiency.

Important markets beyond the country’s borders are where Saab intends to maintain and expand its successes including India, Asia Pacific and Europe. On the continent, markets of focus include Botswana and Kenya, while the Company’s solutions and services are at home in many nations beyond these.

Saab offers practical services to a wide range of sectors, including conservation, mining, health support services, peace-keeping, air traffic control, weather forecasting and other sectors that require sophisticated military-grade technology to deliver the best solutions for civilian safety and protection. Saab’s local aeronautics business focuses on the marketing and sales of all aeronautics products and services, programme components and support for its Gripen Fighter System supplied to the South African Air Force.

With more than 800 employees across two campuses in Pretoria and Cape Town, the Company represents the second largest of Saab’s workforces worldwide out of the 40 countries in which it operates, with the local team researching, developing, producing, exporting, maintaining and upgrading world-standard technologies.

Saab is the first South African defence company to embrace transformation in support of government’s equity and empowerment goals by creating partnerships with locally owned companies.

Further information on this strategic investment can be found on www.saab.com/region/saabafrica.

Sygnia Ltd (Sygnia) is an innovative fintech company based in South Africa and was listed on the main board of the JSE in October 2015. Sygnia provides asset management, stockbroking and administration services as well as a wide range of savings products to institutional and retail clients. All that Sygnia does is supported by leading-edge technology platforms.

Sygnia manages and administers assets on behalf of more than 600 domestic and international institutional clients, and more than 6 000 individual clients. The integrity of these relationships is at the core of its business. Sygnia’s principal geographic focus is South Africa, where it has been operating in its current form since November 2006.

Sygnia’s main services include asset management, transaction management, investment administration, liability administration, stockbroking and digital financial advice.

The primary institutional clients span both the private and public sectors and include retirement funds, umbrella funds, life insurers, third-party multi-managers, endowments and other special purpose funds. The primary retail clients include individual members and beneficiaries of retirement funds, as well as the wider individual savings market.

SYGNIA AT A GLANCE

• R228bn in assets under management and administration
• R27bn in unit trusts since launch in 2012
• Over 900 institutional clients (domestic and international)
• Over 14 000 individual clients
• Offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban
• Over 220 employees
• Market disruptor business strategy
• Focus on innovation through technology
• Most cost-effective savings products in South Africa, with fees starting at 0.35% (excluding VAT) per annum (global balanced funds range)

Further information on this strategic investment can be found on www.sygnia.co.za.