Africa investor (Ai) and BATSETA (South Africa’s Council of Retirement Funds), today announced its exclusive, invitation-only Ai CEO African Sovereign Wealth and Pension Fund Leaders’ Summit and Infrastructure Investment Awards, successfully concluded and hosted a series of dialogues that deepened African institutional investors’ commitment to co-investment partnerships, to address Africa’s $150bn per annum infrastructure deficit, at the One and Only Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Ai African Sovereign Wealth and Pension Fund Leaders’ Summit, held in association with Batseta, was opened by Hubert Danso, CEO and Chairman of Africa investor (Ai) and the Honorable Danny Faure, President of the Republic of Seychelles.

The Summit theme of “Asset Recycling, Re-Financing & Co-Investing”, built on last year’s key recommendation, which called for greater leadership from African and international asset owners to share their knowledge and expertise with public and private sector colleagues, to support African governments implement the African Unions’ 5% Agenda Initiative, which is an African institutional investor led, COMPACT, with African Heads of State, to create a more conducive environment to increase African institutional asset allocation to infrastructure, from approximately 1%-2% today of assets under management (AUM), to 5% of AUM, over the next 5 years (dubbed the 5% Agenda).

Hubert Danso, Ai CEO and Chairman and Anne-Marie D’Alton, CEO, Batseta, with the Honorable Danny Faure, President of Seychelles and his delegation.

The Ai Summit featured 30 authorative institutional investment leaders and infrastructure investor speakers, a Presidential keynote address, from the Honourable Danny Faure, President of the Republic of the Seychelles. A Keynote Working Lunch Dialogue on Investing in the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) from Ambassador, Yonov Fred Agah, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization and hosted Africa investor’s prestigious annual infrastructure investment awards.
In his opening remarks, Hubert Danso, CEO and Chairman of Africa investor (Ai) and Chair, CFA New York Asset Owners’ Advisory Council, stated, “We are naturally pleased to co-host this Summit with BATSETA, the continent’s leading Pension and Retirement Funds Council, whose members, represent over 70% of the pension and retirement funds assets on the entire continent, with a dedicated 5% Allocation for the rest of Africa.

Summit partners include: CFA New York Asset Owners Advisory Council, World Pensions Council, Trade & Development Bank, Africa50, PRI, SAVCA, EAVCA, GLIO, Pensions Africa, PAL Pensions.
Anne-Marie D’Alton, CEO Batseta, commenting on the partnership mentioned: We were delighted to continue our long standing partnership with Africa investor (Ai), as Ai represents a unique and action oriented platform, that accelerates African infrastructure co-investment partnerships, which is the critical missing link for South African pension and retirement funds looking to increase their allocations to the rest of Africa, especially into the infrastructure sector(s).

The Summit also hosted the prestigious annual Ai Infrastructure Investment Awards ceremony. The Ai Infrastructure Investment Awards are a unique platform for infrastructure investors, financiers, operators and governments, in Africa’s fast-growing infrastructure sector to gauge and compare their performance, achievements and investment success stories.

The prestigious, highly sought-after Ai Infrastructure Investment Awards formally recognize achievements across the main infrastructure sectors in Africa. The Awards reward the institutions and personalities driving transactions and improving the continent’s infrastructure investment climate.

The Special Africa investor (Ai) Presidential Investment Leadership of the Year Award, was presented President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

This Ai Award, recognized President Kagame’s, vision and transformative leadership at the African Union and his relentless drive to bring the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), to this Operational Phase. It also takes account of his domestic successes attracting investment to Rwanda, and his leadership and advocacy on technology and innovation for development, which is transforming the continent’s competitiveness, as a global investment destination.

The Special Ai Presidential Award, was conceived and designed to recognize outstanding political leadership that is positively impacting African private sector development and improving the continent’s attractiveness as an investment destination.

The 2019 Ai Infrastructure Investment Award Winners Were:

CATEGORY 1 – Ai Advisor of the Year
– Standard Bank
CATEGORY 2 – Ai Bank Arranger of the Year
– Afrexim Bank
CATEGORY 3 – Ai Social Infrastructure Deal of the Year
– Nedbank
CATEGORY 4 – Ai ICT/Telecoms Deal of the Year
– MTN Nigeria
CATEGORY 5 – Ai Transport Deal of the Year
– African Development Bank (ADB)
CATEGORY 6 – Ai Power Deal of the Year
– Nachtigal Hydroelectric plant, EDF
CATEGORY 7 – Ai Infrastructure Fund of the Year
– Actis
CATEGORY 8 – Ai African Project Development Financier of the Year
– Africa50
CATEGORY 9 – Ai Pension Fund Infrastructure Investment Initiative of the Year
– Kenya Pension Fund Investment Consortium
CATEGORY 10 – Ai Sovereign Wealth Fund Infrastructure Investment Initiative of the Year
– Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority
CATEGORY 11 – African Developer of the Year
– Themis Energy
CATEGORY 12 – Ai Regional Infrastructure Investment Initiative of the Year
– Trade Development Bank – TDB
CATEGORY 13 – Ai Presidential Investment Leadership of the Year Award
– President Paul Kagame, Rwanda
Awards data partners included DEALOGIC & ACURIS.

Pension Funds to meet in Livingstone Zambia for the 14th Annual PensionsAfrica Summit

Pension funds from across Southern, Central and East African regions will meet at the Zambian tourist destination town of Livingstone for The 14^th Annual Pensions Africa Summit  which will be hosted at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort-Livingstone, Zambia on the 25, 26 and 27 of June  2019 .  The summit brings together key stakeholders in the pensions and retirement industry, trustees, principal officers, financial services providers and regulators from the Southern, Central and East African regions to discuss latest developments in the pensions industry in the region.

The organisors of the event, AMC International has for the last decade kept a diligent finger on the pulse of Africa’s Pension funds industry, ensuring that trustees are constantly informed of transpiring developments and future trends across the Pension fund management and investment spectra. We have developed crucial networks with funds across the continent and with some of the leading minds and thought leaders in the industry and we are yet again excited to bring together all the major role players in the Pension Space for yet another 3-Days of fresh, relevant and though provoking presentations, informative discussions, fruitful networking, solution oriented content and educational workshops at the 14^th Annual Pensions Africa Summit 2019 to be hosted at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort, Livingstone, Zambia  on the 25, 26 and 27 of June  2019.

 Some of the  2019 Strategic insights will among others include the following:

 Once size doesn’t always fit all - Adjusting Africa’s Pension Funds’ Risk Management Framework for Contextualised Future Applicability

• Tracing the rate of reform across the continent – country focused case studies
• Innovation and Strategic Planning to Meet Members’ Needs
• Alternative Investing in Africa – Investing in Alternative asset classes for diversification and higher returns
• Beyond ticking boxes – Corporate Governance for Pension funds
• Fund Management and Crypto Currency
• Managing the inevitable interaction between man and machine in Fund administration – A focus on the increasing role of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning
• Special Opportunities Focus: Leveraging African Pension Funds for Financing Infrastructure Development
• Policy Development Review – Kenya’s Post-Retirement Medical Fund
• Addressing the impact of Improved Health-care and extended life expectancy on Current savings
• In with the new - Rules of effective communication strategies for Pension fund boards
• Focus – Shifting the landscape to accommodate micro-pensions in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Round Table – Making Private Equity Work
• Fire-side Discussion on Impact Investing- Can Pension Funds lead the way in sustainable Investing

Stakeholders in the pensions industry have been invited to take advantage of some the opportunities at the event and which include-Speaking, Delegate participation, Sponsorship as well as to join Panel session or participate through moderating some of the discussions.Additional opportunities include event branding, marketing and hospitality sponsorship. As an incentive, firms have been offered bulk registration deals including one free delegate for every three delegates booked.

To attend or registration forms kindly contact Steve on stevem@amc-intsa.com or call 011 019 2200