SAIY Asset Management (“SAIY”) and SAIY Financial Group (SFG) are registered and authorised Financial Services Providers (“FSPs”) and are required, in terms of the Section 3 of the General Code of Conduct, to ensure that there is no conflict of interest between the FSPs (and the representatives of the FSPs) and their clients.
SAIY is an independent asset management firm. SFG is a financial markets intermediary. While there is no cross ownership between the entities each company shares directors and shareholders. Businesses within the SAIY stable were built on the basis of honesty and integrity. We manage our clients’ investments and with due care, skill, and diligence and at all times do so in the best interests of those clients. It is our vision to “change the face of investments”, to be transparent, fair, and objective in all our endeavours. Our interests are fully aligned achieving the best possible outcome for our clients.
In order to ensure ongoing compliance with the Code, and to clearly communicate our position on conflict of interest, SAIY and SFG have adopted this conflict of interest policy. This policy has been developed by our Head of Risk and Compliance, has been adopted by all employees and is publicly available on our websites (www.saiy.co.za/www,saiyfg.com)
Each responsible person at SAIY is required confirm and acknowledge that they have declared all potential conflicts to the Head of Risk and Compliance Philippa Owen. It is company policy to avoid potential conflict, where this is not possible, the Head of Risk and Compliance will work with the externally appointed compliance officer (Alwie Carstens of Masthead) to mitigate the conflict and to ensure clear and adequate disclosures.
On a quarterly basis, responsible persons at SAIY complete a detailed Fit and Proper declaration, confirming ongoing adherence to the Code.
SAIY (and its representatives) is committed to acting in the best interests of our clients. We strive to avoid all conflict of interest in our business. Where we are unable to avoid a conflict, we will take all necessary precautions to ensure that any actual (or potential) conflict of is mitigated and disclosed to our clients.
Our conflict of interest policy is available on our website www.saiy.co.za and www.saiygf.com .
The purpose of this conflict of interest policy is therefore to:
The primary responsibility for the identification of a conflict rests with the representatives, employees, and individual members of the governing body of SAIY. While a conflict is usually associated with financial interests, conflicts may arise when a person’s personal interest conflicts with their professional obligations.
In order to try and identify possible conflicts, this policy requires the following questions to be asked:
If the answer to all of these questions is “no”, then there is no conflict of interest associated with the financial service. If the answer to any one of the three questions is “yes”, the representative must proceed to answer the following additional questions:
If the answer to any one of these questions is “yes”, an actual or potential conflict of interest will have been identified. Where a potential conflict has been identified the situation needs to be escalated to SAIY’s Head of Risk and Compliance in order for guidance to be given on how to avoid, mitigate or disclose the potential conflict. The Head of Risk and Compliance will escalate as needed to the externally appointed compliance officer, and written guidance will be provided to the representative.
Records of potential conflict of interest, and guidance provided will communicated to management and be kept on file for compliance purposes. Failure to declare a potential conflict situation adequately and timeously may result in disciplinary measures being taken against the employee involved.
SAIY has adopted a clear remuneration structure that ensures the alignment of interests of employees, representatives, and directors with the interests of the business and it’s clients. SAIY will not offer any financial Interest to its employees outside of the scope of the remuneration structure. Should a situation arise whereby a potential financial interest does/may fall outside the scope of the existing remuneration structure, the Head of Risk and Compliance will seek management approval and sign off prior to updating the remuneration structure. The remuneration structure is outlined in the remuneration policy.
In the appointment of third party service providers, SAIY will conduct a thorough and objective due diligence of competing service providers and will appoint the selected service provider for a maximum of one year. Service levels will be monitored, and service level agreements reviewed annually. Neither financial nor non-financial interests of SAIY representatives in an appointed third party will be tolerated.
In relation to the delivery of fair outcomes for clients, SAIY’s remuneration structure is designed to ensure that all clients are treated fairly in line with the company’s Treating Customers Fairly (“TCF”) Policy.
Contracts held with third parties in order to assess whether the contractual relationship in any way influences the SAIY’s ability to render fair and unbiased financial services towards its clients, to be objective towards clients and to act in the best interests of the client;
All relationships where an ownership interest exists between SAIY and a third party. The purpose of the review is to assess whether the relationship in any way influences SAIY’s ability to render fair, unbiased, and objective financial services towards its clients;
Ownership interests held by SAIY (and related entities) and held in SAIY (and related entities) and a list of SAIY associates (third parties) is attached as an annexure hereto;
Non-compliance with the provisions of this policy, the Code, and the Acts may lead to disciplinary action and dismissal, and representatives may be debarred from operating within the financial services industry in the event of dishonesty.
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