Skills development and Corporate Social Investment

Ukhamba

Ukhamba Holdings (Pty) Limited, our BEE partner that owns an effective 10,1% shareholding in Imperial, decided to facilitate the trading of its shares on an Over the Counter Platform (OTC) to allow our employees and beneficiaries in Ukhamba to monetise their value in Ukhamba. In order to facilitate this, Imperial shareholders agreed to alter the conversion profile of the deferred ordinary shares to equal predetermined conversions over 12 years. The estimated shareholder cost of the conversion was R70 million. As a result, 15 575 previously disadvantaged individuals who have been invested in Ukhamba for approximately nine years are now able to realise value by selling Ukhamba shares, via the OTC platform, to qualifying 100% black-owned entities or black individuals. Trading started on 15 November 2013.

Building a robust internal skills pipeline

We recognise that skilled people offer the business a powerful competitive advantage, particularly in a global environment of critical skills shortages, and skills development is therefore a key business driver across Imperial’s many diverse operations. We continue to invest in artisan and technician training and up skilling management to build a robust pipeline of talent and skills and in this respect we closely cooperate with the Department of Higher Education in the national government.

Investing in education

The development of a sustainable skills pipeline in South Africa requires investment in the education of the next generation.

To assist in achieving this objective, Imperial Holdings together with its empowerment partner Ukhamba, has made a strategic investment in the upliftment of education facilities and teaching in ten schools in the greater Gauteng area. We touch the lives of 10 000 previously disadvantaged children via this programme.

Leading corporate citizenship initiatives

Imperial also places strategic emphasis on establishing itself as a leading corporate citizen. A good example of this is in Imperial Health Sciences, where we uplift the communities we interact with daily, through Unjani Clinic-in-a-Box. The main aim of the Unjani project is to provide access to affordable primary healthcare in low-income communities.

The IMPERIAL I-Pledge road safety campaign has recorded 165 000 pledges from individuals in South Africa, pledging to improve their driving behaviour.

We also recognise the clear business case for responsible environmental stewardship, and continually seek ways to reduce our carbon footprint and consumption of scarce natural resources.

 

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