Allan Gray is an

investment management Investment management (sometimes referred to more generally as financial asset management) is the professional asset management of various Security (finance), securities, including shareholdings, Bond (finance), bonds, and other assets, such as r ...

firm headquartered in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

, established with the objective of offering a range of investments. In addition to its primary location, the firm has expanded its operations to include offices in

Botswana Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory part of the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the sou ...

Namibia Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country on the west coast of Southern Africa. Its borders include the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south; in the no ...

, and

Eswatini Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa on all sides except the northeast, where i ...

, reflecting its broader geographic reach within the region. It also works in collaboration with sister companies, Orbis Investment Management and Allan Gray Australia, to leverage global investment insights and strategies. Allan Gray caters to a diverse clientele, which encompasses both

institution An institution is a humanly devised structure of rules and norms that shape and constrain social behavior. All definitions of institutions generally entail that there is a level of persistence and continuity. Laws, rules, social conventions and ...

al and individual

investor An investor is a person who allocates financial capital with the expectation of a future Return on capital, return (profit) or to gain an advantage (interest). Through this allocated capital the investor usually purchases some species of pr ...

s, along with insurance companies,

trusts A trust is a legal relationship in which the owner of property, or any transferable right, gives it to another to manage and use solely for the benefit of a designated person. In the English common law, the party who entrusts the property is k ...

, foundations, and foreign institutions.

History

Allan Gray Investment Counsel was established in October 1973 by Allan W.B. Gray, securing its first client the following year. To expand its global investment capabilities, the founder initiated Orbis Investment Management in 1989, focusing on international investment opportunities. The company underwent a rebranding in 1992, adopting the name Allan Gray Limited. Continuing its expansion, Allan Gray Limited inaugurated its first international office in

Windhoek Windhoek (; ; ) is the capital and largest city of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level, almost exactly at the country's geographical centre. The population of Windhoek, which ...

, Namibia, in 1996. Two years later, in 1998, the company broadened its product offering to include retail investment options, catering to a wider range of investors. Further extending its presence in the region, the firm opened an office in

Gaborone Gaborone ( , , ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Botswana, largest city of Botswana, with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its metropolitan area is home to 534, ...

, Botswana, in 2004.

Operations

Allan Gray conducts its investment operations across the

African continent Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

, managing a diverse

portfolio Portfolio may refer to: Objects * Portfolio (briefcase), a type of briefcase Collections * Portfolio (finance), a collection of assets held by an institution or a private individual * Artist's portfolio, a sample of an artist's work or a ...

of assets. The firm has a workforce of over 1,000 employees, indicating its significant scale and capacity for comprehensive investment management services. Its main office is located in the Silo District of the

V&A Waterfront The V&A Waterfront, often referred to as The Waterfront and The V&A, is a mixed-use suburb in Cape Town, South Africa, featuring upmarket residential apartments, a major shopping mall, a marina, and multiple large hotels. The Waterfront sit ...

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

, a notable area for its blend of commercial and

cultural Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...

spaces.

Investment offering

Allan Gray provides a variety of investment products designed to meet the needs of retail investors, including a selection of

unit trust A unit trust is a form of collective investment constituted under a trust deed. A unit trust pools investors' money into a single fund, which is managed by a fund manager. Unit trusts offer access to a wide range of investments, and depending on ...

s. The firm's current portfolio for retail investors encompasses unit trust investments, tax-free savings accounts, opportunities for offshore investments, retirement

annuities In investment, an annuity is a series of payments made at equal intervals based on a contract with a lump sum of money. Insurance companies are common annuity providers and are used by clients for things like retirement or death benefits. Examples ...

, preservation funds, living annuities, and endowment policies. For institutional investors, the company offers investment opportunities in unit trusts, life pooled portfolios, and segregated portfolios. These options are tailored to suit the varying requirements of different types of institutions and the scale of their investments. Additionally, Allan Gray facilitates group savings plans for employers. This is achieved through the Allan Gray Umbrella Retirement Fund and the Allan Gray Group Retirement Annuity, designed to assist in the provision of retirement benefits.

Social investment

Allan Gray participates in social investments primarily through the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation and E Squared, which are dedicated to the education and financial support of emerging entrepreneurs. The foundation receives an annual donation calculated as 5% of the pre-tax profits from Allan Gray Proprietary Limited, along with a $150 million endowment from Allan W.B. Gray. Additionally, E Squared holds a 20% stake in Allan Gray Limited, a structure intended to allocate resources towards entrepreneurial development and education.

Ownership

A controlling interest in Allan Gray is held in perpetuity by Allan & Gill Gray Foundation. Other shareholders include past and present employees and E Squared. Allan & Gill Gray Foundation is designed to exist in perpetuity to ensure that the distributable profits are ultimately devoted exclusively to

philanthropy Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

and to promote the commercial success, continuity and independence of the Allan Gray business.

References

{{Major asset management companies Financial services companies established in 1973 Financial services companies of South Africa Investment management companies of South Africa Companies based in Cape Town Asset management companies