Recent recognition for its investment performance and conservation impact exemplifies the success of Amplify Investment Partners’ rethinking investment strategy to do well and to do good.
Amplify was recently recognised for both its investment performance at this year’s Raging Bull awards and for its conservation impact at the South African National Parks (SANParks) Kudu Awards.
The Amplify SCI* Wealth Protector fund won the Raging Bull’s best multi asset equity fund on a risk adjusted basis – the third consecutive year it has won a Raging Bull, reflecting its consistency delivering on its CPI + 3% benchmark and its clients’ expectations. Amplify’s entire range of independently managed unit trusts and hedge funds have performed strongly and continue to attract significant inflows.
The other side of these investment inflows is an allocated portion of the revenue to conservation projects as part of Amplify’s mandate of investing for a future, and for impact.
SANParks’ Corporate Contribution to Conservation Kudu Award is given to an organisation that has made significant contribution to conservation by providing land, funds, human resources, contributions and practical assistance to active conservation projects and research.
“We do not aim for, but appreciate the recognition, as it demonstrates the fulfilment of Amplify’s belief in rethinking investment in terms of how we invest and in terms of our impact on society,” says Amplify Investment Partners head Marthinus van der Nest. “We focus on longer term, meaningful returns and on providing a purpose to save for our future by investing in projects that we believe will have an impact, focused on conservation, job creation and youth education.”
Van der Nest says that investors increasingly indicate that they want to grow retirement savings and leave a legacy and make a meaningful impact, which is why Amplify has approached investing with the goal of making lasting and meaningful returns and contributing to initiatives that matter., focusing its support for sustainable development goal-related conservation and social upliftment around the Kruger National Park area.
This includes its support for SANParks conservation and its anti-poaching teams, ranger services, air services and environmental crime investigations unit that work tirelessly to protect rhino and other wildlife. Various initiatives by SANParks, supported by Amplify, have seen rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park decline by 70% since 2018 and by 45% from 2021 to 2022.
Among the causes of poaching is a combination of low education, and lack of jobs, which is why Amplify supports the Good Work Foundation, based close to the park in an area where youth unemployment is 70%, which is rethinking education to help future generations of marginalised communities reach their full potential through education and skills development.
Over 12 000 rural children and young adults go through Good Work Foundation’s learning programmes each week at six campuses in deep rural communities bordering the park, and in the Free State. Every year, over 420 young graduates from its learning academies are ready to go into the world of work, entrepreneurship activities, or on to university. Amplify has paid for 21 grants and 95% of students are placed in internship programmes and of those 70% have been retained.
Van der Nest says that at a time when there is so much economic pressure, investment considerations are increasingly including environmental, social and other societal issues. Amplify applies unique investment strategies to ensure returns and mitigate risk, which enables it to use some of its profits to do good as well as doing well.
