Alexforbes grows AuM to R733bn

Alexforbes saw assets under management (AuM) and administration grow 22% to R733 billion for the year ended 31 March 2026, supported by favourable markets and exceptional new business, particularly in retail and platform assets.

Normalised profit rose 22%, while annualised institutional new business revenue increased 27% to R184 million. Retail new business flows were up 39% to R36.5 billion.

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Normalised headline earnings per share were flat at 69 cents per share.

A final cash dividend of 33 cents per share has been declared which, when added to the interim dividend of 24 cents per share, amounts to a total annual dividend of 57 cents per share.

The total annual dividend is up 4% year on year.

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Chief executive Dawie de Villiers notes that the group has taken “practical steps to build a more relevant and adaptable business”.

Alexforbes is expanding its retail capability, deepening advice-led relationships and using technology to improve efficiency and relevance.

As part of that strategy, the group has established a formal artificial intelligence capability with governance structures in place and has already deployed solutions across client servicing, analytics, risk management and operations.

Alexforbes’s results come against a backdrop of improving sentiment towards South Africa following Fitch’s recent upgrade of the country’s sovereign credit rating to BB from BB-, with a stable outlook.

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“South Africa doesn’t fall short on potential, it falls short on consistency,” according to De Villiers.

“We’ve got the depth, the talent and the willingness to do a lot better. But too often we lose ground because we don’t stay disciplined or follow things through. The opportunity is there; it comes down to staying focused and getting the basics right over and over again.”

Outlook

Looking ahead, Alexforbes expects the operating environment to remain volatile but sees opportunities for progress.

“The next phase, for us and for South Africa, is really about doing the basics well and doing them consistently,” De Villiers notes.

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