JSE delistings: ASISA-commissioned study challenges popular narratives
Research finds that mergers and restructuring drive nearly half of JSE delistings and highlights that the determinant of listing activity is economic growth.
#AssociationforSavingsandInvestmentSouthAfrica
Investors pull R16.5bn from local equity funds despite 42% ALSI rally
Multi-asset and interest-bearing portfolios dominated inflows in 2025 as South African investors continued to favour diversification.
Retail hedge funds overtake qualified investor funds as industry hits R216bn
Retail investors are increasingly shaping South Africa’s hedge fund industry, driving inflows and pushing retail portfolios into the lead for the first time.
Affordability pressures to drive innovation as insurance gap hits R50 trillion
The Insurance Gap Study finds SA’s life and disability shortfall has swelled to R50.4 trillion, with the average earner holding only 39% of the cover their dependants would need.
Huge shortfall in critical illness protection leaves most income earners exposed
ASISA’s research shows formally employed South Africans face a major liquidity risk: R4 trillion in earnings versus only R1.1 trillion in critical illness cover.
Treasury urged to retain tax relief for manager-initiated unit trust transactions
ASISA says further consultation is needed to avoid negative consequences for investors and the collective investment schemes market.
Slight increase in life insurance policies in first half of 2025
Recurring-premium risk policies grew modestly, while the number of endowment policies and retirement annuities declined, ASISA statistics show.
ASISA report: ownership gains, management equity lags, new targets raise pressure
The misalignment between the FSC benchmarks and stricter government employment equity targets is set to increase the transformation pressure on life offices and asset managers.
Average living annuity drawdown rate drops below 6% for the first time since 2011
Strong market returns and rising balances have prompted many retirees to reduce withdrawals – a trend ASISA encourages annuitants to maintain.
Life insurers pay out R39.5bn, with 95.6% of death claims honoured
Policies subject to underwriting had the highest payout rates in 2024, reflecting lower fraud and non-disclosure and the value of comprehensive risk assessment.
Life insurers pay a record R639 billion in 2024
Sales of recurring-premium savings policies continued to improve, while lapses of risk policies declined.
Retail hedge funds surge as industry hits record growth
A decade after the introduction of hedge fund regulations, retail investors are driving strong growth, with RHFs attracting R11.84 billion in net inflows in 2024.
ASISA rejects proposed ‘dualistic nature’ of CIS portfolios
ASISA warns that reclassifying collective investment scheme portfolios as profit-making schemes will undermine years of established investment policy.
Revised unit trust fund classifications: early impact in focus
The new SA Multi Asset SA High Equity category is expected to gain traction over time, despite slower uptake in the early stages.
Life offices and asset managers surpass B-BBEE ownership targets
Challenges remain with the representation of black people in executive director roles, ASISA’s latest transformation report shows.
CIS industry sees R42.3bn in net inflows as investor confidence rebounds
Assets under management grew to a R3.8 trillion, up 13.7% year-on-year, supported by strong equity market performance.
Average living annuity drawdown rate lowest in five years
The marginal decrease in the average drawdown rate is noteworthy because it occurred in an environment of rising living costs, says ASISA.
