By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Asset manager and banking group Investec announced that Richard Wainwright will step down from his current role of Chief Executive Officer of the company.
As part of the company’s succession plan, Wainwright will step down next year, with his successor due to be announced later. Wainwright will remain in an executive role thereafter, pending his retirement in 2025.
Former CE of Investec UK wealth division, Ciaran Whelan, who is also due to retire in 2025, will lead the Investec team that will be part of the integration committee of the recently announced combination of the company’s wealth and investment business in the UK and the Rathbones group.
Meanwhile, board members Khumo Shuenyane and Zarina Bassa will also step down, with Philip Hourquebie set to replace Shuenyane and Bassa’s successor still to be announced.
The announcement follows the release of Investec’s financial results for the year ended 31 March 2023, where it increased its dividend per share by 24%.
Dividends per share grew from 25 pence (R6.04) in 2022 to 31 pence (R8.46) in 2023.
The group said it achieved a robust financial performance over the financial year, despite the difficult macroeconomic backdrop.
Adjusted operating profit totalled £835.0 million (R20.1 billion) in 2023, up from £687.4 (R16.6 billion) in 2022.
Overall, headline earnings per share jumped 25.3%, increasing from 53.3 pence (R12.89) in 2022 to 66.8 pence (R16.15).
“The Group reported strong results in a challenging macro backdrop, with all our client franchises reporting growth in pre-provision adjusted operating profit. Our focused approach to support our clients and the diversified nature of our revenue streams underpinned the financial performance,” Fani Titi, Group Chief Executive, said.
“During the period under review, we returned approximately £780 million to shareholders, comprising ordinary dividends, the share purchase programme to optimise the SA balance sheet and the distribution of a 15% shareholding in Ninety One.”
“The strong capital generation across the Group allows us to maintain robust capital and liquidity levels, deliver improved returns to our shareholders, and support our clients, colleagues, and societies through an uncertain economic environment.”
Investec has warned that SA’s interest rates are likely to remain elevated for longer than expected as a weaker rand and the risk of sanctions due to Pretoria’s support for Russia add pressure on an already weak economy.
“Clearly, the economy in South Africa is under significant strain, given the forecast levels of growth of just 0.2% [for 2023],” Titi said.
“And the recent deterioration in the rand exchange rate will not help the fight against inflation given some of the unfortunate events around our perceived alignment as a country to Russia, and the possibility that that may lead to a level of sanctions. So we do expect that interest rates will remain higher for longer,” he said.