D.Com. (Economics) / The objective of this dissertation was to examine the economic relevance of the actuarial. practice of investment Performance measurement and the valuation of the assets and liabilities of the South African private pension funds. South Africans are great contractual savers.

No abstract available. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, 2002.

M.Comm. (Investment Management) / Property investments have always been a major attraction to the private individual and the institutional investor. Pension funds were slow to venture into this market but in South Africa there was increasing activity in the property market by pension funds over the last eight to ten years. The main reason for this development can be attributed to the fact that inflation in South Africa caused salaries and wages to increase substantially and increased salaries and wages resulted in increased contributions to pension funds. Pension Fund Administrators were, and they still are, faced with ever-increasing cash flows which must be invested to meet long term commitments. Venturing into the property market, left pension funds at what could be termed the mercy of developers and Estate Agents. Standardisation of presentation of investment details and commonly used evaluation methods and procedures are lacking. Proper knowledge of legal and contractual requirements are being obtained from legal advisers, but the pension fund movement is not yet self supporting in any of these fields. This study is an effort to identify the legal aspects, contractual requirements, methods of property development and minimum requirements for evaluation purposes. Inherent in the requirements are those aspects worthy of special reference in relation to the decision making process. It may be said that property investment by the private individual is not different from that of the pension fund. This statement is, however, only partly true. The requirements for the decision making process depends on the objectives of the investor. The pension fund, for example, has a long term view and sustained growth in cash flow as well as capital appreciation of the investment over the long term is a major determinant.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Pension funds are large institutional investors in South Africa and hold some of the highest levels of investment, relative to gross domestic product, in the world. The South African stock market is also the largest stock market in Africa. Research has shown that pension funds can play an important role in developing stock markets. This assignment investigated the impact that pension fund investment has had on the development of the South African stock market. This question is particularly relevant in the light of the changing domestic pension policy environment and the need to better develop stock markets in Southern Africa and globally to generate economic growth. The Johansen cointegration approach was applied to evaluate the impact of pension funds on the development of the South African stock market. Stock market development was measured by its depth or market capitalisation, liquidity and volatility. The analysis shows that South African pension funds have improved the liquidity and reduced the volatility of the stock market. Pension fund investment in shares increased market capitalisation, while market capitalisation was reduced when the prime lending rate was included as a control variable. Total pension fund investment decreased market capitalisation, probably through the impact of interest rates on interest-bearing assets held in the portfolio.

Thesis (MTech (Human Resource Management))--Cape Technikon, 1999. / Although retirement planning is well known in most South African organizations it is an aspect that enjoys a low priority in the majority of organisations resulting in weak and insufficient retirement planning. The aforementioned together with a lack of sufficient retirement planning preparation within local authorities often leads to the formation of an incorrect perception when individuals retire. Aspects affecting retirement planning include the continued high inflation rate, affirmative action, political and economic uncertainty, the population explosion, unemployment and rationalization. It is therefore imperative that officials receive the necessary training and leadership for the expected success of retirement. An important shortcoming exists in this unique field to school and prepare officials and the importance of establishing an independent future after an active career becomes essential. The focus point for this investigation was to determine to what degree retirement planning is operational in local authorities. Secondly, the degree to which available information in connection with retirement planning is used to prepare officials effectively for the process was determined. Subsequently problems experienced with the application and implementation of a retirement plan for officials as well as obstacles that could hinder the process of successful timeous retirement planning was also looked at.

Pension fund investments have been under the spotlight lately, particularly on the back of the recent global financial and economic crisis that resulted in a significant reduction in pension fund assets across economies. Increased poverty levels and high financial indebtedness abound, as workers grapple with retrenchments, reduction in retirement benefits and reduced wages. This is causing a re-assessment of investment strategies of pension funds across the globe, and increasing support for the argument that, the traditional equity/government bond asset allocation is out - fashioned in a world of lower returns and wider choices. Pension funds by virtue of their size, can impact the society directly and/or indirectly through investments in companies that incorporate environmental, social and governance issues in their corporate behaviours, or in dedicated socially responsible investment funds or other forms of alternative investments. This study sought to provide a link between the investment patterns of pension funds and national economic development. An in-depth literature review was undertaken, and investments impacts were assessed by looking at published reports of select funds and corporations. Pension funds are an integral part of a nation‟s economy. This research work established the various dimensions in which pension fund investments can impact the socio economic development of a country, especially in developing countries, where there exists a huge infrastructural and economic gap among different sectors of the economy. Pension funds are workers capital, and therefore should be invested in a manner that will benefit workers, and these benefits cannot be restricted to mere financial benefits, it should be able to generate social, financial and environmental benefits, and in a sustainable way.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: On 1 July 2011 the revised version of Regulation 28, which governs the South African pension fund industry with regard to investments, took effect. The new version allows for pension funds to invest up to 25 percent compared to 20 percent, in the previous version, of its total investment in foreign assets. The aim of this study is to determine whether it would be optimal for a South African pension fund to invest the full 25 percent of its portfolio in foreign assets. Seven different optimization models are evaluated in this study to determine the optimal asset mix. The optimization models were selected through an extensive literature study in order to address key optimization issues, e.g. which risk measure to use, whether parametric or non parametric optimization should be used and if the Mean Variance model for optimization defined by Markowitz, which has been the benchmark with regard to asset allocation, is the best model to determine the long term asset allocation strategies. The results obtained from the different models were used to recommend the optimal long term asset allocation for a South African pension fund and also compared to determine which optimization model proved to be the most efficient. The study found that when using only the past ten years of data to construct the portfolios, it would have been optimal to invest in only South African asset classes with statistical differences with regard to returns in some cases. Using the past 20-years of data to construct the optimal portfolios provided mixed results, while the 30-year period were more in favour of an international portfolio with the full 25% invested in foreign asset classes. A comparison of the different models provided a clear winner with regard to a probability of out performance. The Historical Resampled Mean Variance optimization provided the highest probability of out performing the benchmark. From the study it also became evident that a 20-year data period is the optimal period when considering the historical data that should be used to construct the optimal portfolio. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Op 1 Julie 2011 het die hersiene Regulasie 28, wat die investering van Suid-Afrikaanse pensioenfondse reguleer, in werking getree. Hierdie hersiene weergawe stel pensioenfondse in staat om 25% van hulle fondse in buitelandse bateklasse te belê in plaas van 20%, soos in die vorige weergawe. Hierdie studie stel vas of dit werklik voordelig sal wees vir ‘n SA pensioenfonds om die volle 25% in buitelandse bateklasse te belê. Sewe verskillende optimeringsmodelle is gebruik om die optimale portefeulje te probeer skep. Die optimeringsmodelle is gekies na ’n uitgebreide literatuurstudie sodat van die sleutelkwessies met betrekking tot optimering aangespreek kon word. Die kwessies waarna verwys word sluit in, watter risikomaat behoort gebruik te word in die optimeringsproses, of ‘n parametriese of nie-parametriese model gebruik moet word en of die “Mean-Variance” model wat deur Markowitz in 1952 gedefinieer is en al vir baie jare as maatstaf vir portefeulje optimering dien, nog steeds die beste model is om te gebruik. Die uiteindelike resultate, verkry van die verskillende optimeringsmodelle, is gevolglik gebruik om die optimale langtermyn bate-allokasie vir ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse pensioenfonds op te stel. Die verskillende optimeringsmodelle is ook met mekaar vergelyk om te bepaal of daar ‘n model is wat beter is as die res. Vanuit die resultate was dit duidelik dat ’n portfeulje wat slegs uit Suid-Afrikaanse bates bestaan beter sal presteer as slegs die laaste 10-jaar se data gebruik word om die portefeulje op stel. Hierdie resultate is ook in meeste van die gevalle bevestig deur middel van hipotese toetse. Deur gebruik te maak van die afgelope 20-jaar se data om die portefeuljes op te stel, het gemengde resultate gelewer, terwyl die afgelope 30-jaar se data in meeste van die gevalle ’n internasionaal gediversifiseerde portefeulje as die beter portefeulje uitgewys het. In ’n vergelyking van die verskillende optimeringsmodelle is die “Historical Resampled Mean Variance” model duidelik as die beter model uitgewys. Hierdie model het die hoogste waarskynlikheid behaal om die vasgstelde maatstafportefeuljes uit te presteer. Die resultate het ook gedui op die 20-jaar periode as die beste data periode om te gebruik as die optimale portfeulje opgestel word.

Many South Africans may not have adequate retirement savings when they retire and this has the effect of a low income replacement ratio on retirement that may lead to a decrease in the standard of living of the retiree and in extreme cases the retiree becoming dependent on their family and the government. Owing to this trend of no or inadequate retirement savings, South Africa embarked on a retirement reform journey in 2004. The goal of this research is to determine whether the retirement reform mechanisms outlined by National Treasury would encourage individual retirement savings that should assist South Africans to achieve stability of income in their retirement. This research analysed the current retirement savings options and vehicles available for South Africans, the current tax incentives and disincentives and reviewed the proposed changes to tax incentives and disincentives during the accumulation phase of retirement savings and explained how these proposed tax incentives are harmonised for the accumulation phase of retirement. The research explained how National Treasury aims to limit pre-retirement withdrawals and how it intends to encourage the annuitisation of post-retirement benefits. The penultimate chapter of this research measured the effect (by making certain assumptions) of the changes proposed by National Treasury on the income replacement ratio of the retiree. Throughout the research comparisons were made between The OECD Roadmap for the good design of defined contribution pension plans and National Treasury’s proposals. This research did not directly address the effect of increased life expectancies on retirement savings or increases in youth unemployment and the effect that this may have on retirement savings. The effect of financial charges levied on retirement savings on the income replacement ratio of a retiree was also not explored. Furthermore, not all pension funds are regulated by the Pension Funds Act and how these pension funds can be brought within the purview of the Pension Funds Act was not investigated. Automatic enrolment of retirement savings for all employees in South Africa in retirement vehicles is a further research area that could be addressed.

Between 1980-2006, thousands of South African pension funds converted members from defined benefit to defined contribution structures. This research set out to answer the questions of why this phenomenon occurred and whether peculiar environmental circumstances influenced the outcome. The research framework identified various stakeholders in the retirement fund industry - government; regulator; pension fund adjudicator; ombudsman for long term insurance; trade unions; members; trustees; business; employers and service providers - and isolated the elements to be considered in the research. Industry experts were interviewed to obtain a macro view of the phenomenon and specific manifestations of the phenomenon were also considered in case studies. The purpose of the research was to develop a model for managers to assist them in dealing with environmental change. Qualitative research methodology was utilised and feedback from semi-structured interviews was categorised into several emergent themes. Within-case and cross-case analyses were conducted. Research results indicate that the conversion phenomenon occurred in two waves - one initiated in the 1980s and driven by the trade unions and a second in the 1990s, driven by employers, often at the advice of their consultants. Evidence of the start of a third wave also emerged. Results indicate that an environmental shock exerted a substantial influence on the course of events. Under these:  Various factors combined to drive organisational evolution (i.e. adaptation to the environment).  Adaptation speed was inappropriate and exceeded that which was required for sufficient thought.  Uncertainty and vacuum circumstances arose leading to consequences that require redress.  The power of the relative stakeholders changed and influenced the strategic outcome.  An imbalance in stakeholder interests arose and ethical factors became consequential.  Business acted to restore certainty for itself. Existing literature explained organisational behaviour in environments of competitive shock and high turbulence, but not in circumstances of environmental shock. A model emerged to assist managers to deal with environmental change, which was applied to an analysis of pension fund reform. It was also applied to the pension fund perspective on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment. This model may also be applied in analysis of land redistribution, sanctions and constitutional development. / Business Management / DBL

Between 1980-2006, thousands of South African pension funds converted members from defined benefit to defined contribution structures. This research set out to answer the questions of why this phenomenon occurred and whether peculiar environmental circumstances influenced the outcome. The research framework identified various stakeholders in the retirement fund industry - government; regulator; pension fund adjudicator; ombudsman for long term insurance; trade unions; members; trustees; business; employers and service providers - and isolated the elements to be considered in the research. Industry experts were interviewed to obtain a macro view of the phenomenon and specific manifestations of the phenomenon were also considered in case studies. The purpose of the research was to develop a model for managers to assist them in dealing with environmental change. Qualitative research methodology was utilised and feedback from semi-structured interviews was categorised into several emergent themes. Within-case and cross-case analyses were conducted. Research results indicate that the conversion phenomenon occurred in two waves - one initiated in the 1980s and driven by the trade unions and a second in the 1990s, driven by employers, often at the advice of their consultants. Evidence of the start of a third wave also emerged. Results indicate that an environmental shock exerted a substantial influence on the course of events. Under these:  Various factors combined to drive organisational evolution (i.e. adaptation to the environment).  Adaptation speed was inappropriate and exceeded that which was required for sufficient thought.  Uncertainty and vacuum circumstances arose leading to consequences that require redress.  The power of the relative stakeholders changed and influenced the strategic outcome.  An imbalance in stakeholder interests arose and ethical factors became consequential.  Business acted to restore certainty for itself. Existing literature explained organisational behaviour in environments of competitive shock and high turbulence, but not in circumstances of environmental shock. A model emerged to assist managers to deal with environmental change, which was applied to an analysis of pension fund reform. It was also applied to the pension fund perspective on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment. This model may also be applied in analysis of land redistribution, sanctions and constitutional development. / Business Management / DBL