Aprio:
Strategic Financial Communications
Global
The
story
Strategic
is the business,
Communications
not the share price
A introduction to Aprio
• Aprio is an independent, 100% South African-owned company focused on
financial communication programmes and reputational enhancement
campaigns
• Aprio has a team of highly experienced specialists that have the necessary
resources to support clients’ communication requirements
• Aprio’s key resources are based in Johannesburg and Cape Town
• Aprio’s financial market relationships are unmatched in the mining
environment, particularly after Aprio was active on numerous
transactions/programmes. Including:
– Xstrata’s (Aprio) proposal to merge with Anglo American;
– ArcelorMittal’s (Aprio) dispute with Kumba Iron Ore (ongoing);
– Xstrata’s (Aprio) proposed merger with Glencore (ongoing).
• Aprio acted for Walmart when it acquired its majority shareholding in Massmart;
and Aprio profiled the Manufacturing Circle in its media and government
communication initiatives
• Aprio was recently selected by Impala Platinum and Edcon to re-define and
implement their communication campaigns, and Aprio currently advises Bidvest
in terms of its media strategy around its current and proposed acquisition
program
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Strategic Communications
Our media focus
Access to Aprio’s extensive media/opinion former network
•Manage the media strategy:
•Draft media releases and Q&A’s; and
•Manage media invites, interviews and queries
•Manage all other media interactions.
•Op-eds (and other opinion pieces);
•One-on-ones; and
•Media releases, etc.
•Provide media clippings service with analysis
•Logistics
•Identify key issues and tailor messaging
•Develop briefing notes and Q&A’s for key engagements
•Other.
•Identify speaking opportunities; and
•Manage updates to website
Strategic Communications
Our IR focus
Aprio provides dedicated IR support ensuring seamless coordination between the media and IR agendas
Building in-house IR capacity
•Train new in-house professionals on best practice & regulation
•Confirm financial reporting timetable
•Contribute to roadshow documentation
•Ensure high quality of IR materials, including Annual Report
•Develop best practice IR website
•Develop investor friendly CSR strategy
Maintaining Relationships and Information Flow
•Manage investor/analyst database
•Manage interaction between management and analysts/investors
•Manage site visits to operations
•Facilitate/manage information flow between sell-side and media
•Detailed analyst/investor feedback
•Distribute all SENS and media announcements
•Peer group monitoring
Strategic Communications
Aprio / Africa Practice relationship
Aprio has an alliance with Africa Practice that provides strategic information and access in various
African countries. We advise governments and industry; we help them to identify opportunity, manage
risk and overcome critical communications challenges.
Strategic Communications
Team profiles
Julian Gwillim, Aprio: Johannesburg
Julian was previously involved with a large South African conglomerate, the Anglovaal group for 24 years on internal communication, public relations and investor
relations programs, as well as corporate action processes. He has project managed or worked on various transactions, which include: the split of Anglovaal’s mining
and industrial assets; the listing of Avgold; the sale of Avgold to Harmony; the merger with African Rainbow Minerals; and the IPO of TEAL on the Toronto Stock
Exchange. During and after the IPO he was based in Toronto to start-up and manage TEAL’s investor relations and media program in North America and Europe
(specifically London). Julian founded Aprio, which has advised on some of the largest South African corporate transactions over the last few years. Julian has extensive
knowledge and experience of managing a company’s target investor and media stakeholders.
Tracey Peterson, Aprio: Johannesburg
Tracey Peterson has more than 20 years’ experience and has the capability of providing a full and varied range of services in communications, employee well-being
and social development. She has a broad range of communications skills, including media relations, internal communications, publications/writing and stakeholder
engagement. Tracey spent many years internally at De Beers, and she also worked in-house at Gold Fields. Beyond the communications discipline, Tracey has
experience in managing HIV and Aids in the workplace, having designed, implemented and managed the award-winning programme at De Beers. Tracey also managed
the Corporate Social Investment programme for De Beers, while being accountable for the broader social responsibility of the company in South Africa. Tracey has
contributed, in terms of conceptualising and designing the strategic concept, message formulation and writing, of numerous annual reports, sustainable development
reports and, more recently, integrated annual reports for a number of companies and non-profit organisations.
Rio Matlhaku, Aprio: Johannesburg
Rio began working in public relations in 2001 at Beachhead Media & Investor Relations, which later became Financial Dynamics (and is today known as FTI
Consulting). His forte over the last decade has been working closely with the South African financial media – across numerous sectors and all outlets including print,
broadcast, radio, online, etc - and he also has wide-ranging communication and public relations experience. Rio has worked on accounts such as Alexander Forbes,
Discovery Group, the Financial Planning Institute, Nedbank, Assupol Life, Airports Company of South Africa, Blue Catalyst and Samancor Chrome. Rio was also
responsible for the media work relating to the re-launching of the South African Competition Commission. Rio now works closely on ArcelorMittal, Hosmed, the
Manufacturing Circle, among other clients.
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Strategic Communications
Team profiles
Del-Maree English, Aprio: Cape Town
Del-Maree was previously a managing partner of a communications company, Communications Services, subsequently establishing its financial PR department:
international clients included Guinness PLC, Seagram and CNN International. Del-Maree has worked with clients across a wide range of industries, including
consumer/retail (Famous Brands, Italtile Ltd, KWV Holdings, McCarthy Retail and Rainbow Chicken), banking and insurance (Santam Ltd and Saambou Ltd),
construction (Ceramic Industries), mining (Royal Bafokeng Holdings and JCI Ltd), petrochemicals (Sasol) and parastatals (SAA Cargo and Spoornet). More recently, DelMaree has worked on Walmart’s acquisition of South Africa’s Massmart; Italtile’s acquisition of Ceramic Industries; and the IPO on the JSE of BK One in December
2011.
Di Munro, Aprio: Johannesburg
Di has worked for a number of years advising large multi-national companies (including MTN, Sanlam, Sasol and Absa) and parastatals on financial communications,
investor relations and issues management. She has experience across a wide variety of industries with her most recent projects being in the financial and mobile
phone sectors in Sub Saharan Africa and managing a public affairs project for a business coalition, Private Investors for Africa. Di was also intimately involved with the
Telkom IPO. She has worked as both an independent consultant and was also a partner of the UK based communications firm, Brunswick. Prior to this, Di worked in
investment banking as a financial analyst.
Thomas McLachlan, Aprio: Johannesburg
Thomas has had extensive experience in financial journalism, having worked with media brands including London’s Financial Times Group as well as local brands
Sunday Times and Business Day. He has covered numerous corporate action situations for the FT’s specialist investor media product MergerMarket and its subsidiary
dealReporter. During this time he was responsible for covering various sectors of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and built up a significant base of professional
advisory contacts as a result. He also appeared on numerous television and radio shows including CNBC and 702 for his insights into the structure of large-scale
mergers and acquisitions. Prior to this, he was Media Editor at Business Day, one of SA’s foremost business publications, covering the listed and unlisted media sector
(including the advertising industry). Following his career in Journalism and prior to joining Aprio, Thomas ran a successful freelance financial writing business, compiling
integrated annual reports as well as other strategic written content
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Strategic Communications
Team profiles
Lydia du Pessis, Aprio: Cape Town
Lydia has 16 years’ experience in investor relations across various industries, but with specific emphasis on the financial services industry. Lydia assists clients with
strategic input on the subject of investor perceptions and communication strategies; production of annual, interim and quarterly financial publications and
sustainability reports; managing relations with financial analysts and shareholders; measuring perceptions of analysts and fund managers; maintaining investor
relations websites and organising results events, road shows and investor days. Lydia has significant experience in positioning companies as corporate brands and
investment propositions and in establishing management credibility, building a long term, diversified shareholder base and providing quality financial disclosure.
Vanessa Hillary, Aprio: Johannesburg
Vanessa has ten years’ experience in internal and external communications and Investor. She has a solid understanding of the banking and financial industry, having
previously worked in Standard Bank’s Investor Relations, Strategy and Investment Banking divisions. She has also worked at Deutsche Bank’s Corporate Broking
division.
Michelle Bartkunsky, Aprio: Johannesburg
Michelle has, since 2006, worked in both Public Relations and a research positions. While working in the public relations field, Michelle has worked with a variety of
clients such as Wesiziwe Platinum, Nestle South Arica, the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa, Business Process Outsourcing and Call Centre Industry
Association, ContactinGuateng, the Concrete Manufacturers Association, the Nepad Business Foundation and Business Unity of South Africa, amongst others. She has
extensive experience in writing editorial such as newsletters, corporate brochures, press releases and articles. Michelle also compiled the Wesizwe Platinum
sponsored community newspaper, entitled, the Ledig Sun for two years, while working on the Wesizwe Platinum account. Michelle has also worked closely with the
media and within the community in Ledig, which is situated near Rustenburg. Michelle holds a BA in Corporate Communications and a BA Honours in Corporate
Communication Management.
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Strategic Communications
References
Clients
• Edcon – Debbie Millar – (+27 83 212 0839)
• Walmart – Kevin Gardner (USA, +1 479 721 9698)
• Biomin – Jan van Niekerk (+27 83 309 6720)
• ArcelorMittal - Nicola Davidson (London, +44 207 543 1162) / Themba Hlengani (+27 83 440 0158)
• Chamber of Mines – Vusi Mabena (+27 82 465 5758)
• Impala Platinum – Alice Lourens (+27 82 498 3608)
• Sibanye Gold - James Wellsted (+27 83 453 4014)
Other
• Sam Forbes (Deutsche Bank) (+27 829 020 736)
• Muneer Ismail (Deutsche Bank, Head of Equities) (+27 82 445 6063)
• Allan Seccombe (Business Day, Resources Editor) (+27 11 280 5663)
• David Pleming (Rated Analyst and Fund Manager) (+27 82 857 2538)
• Songezo Zibi (Financial Mail, Associate Editor) (+27 79 699 5060)
• Avishkar Nagaser (BofA Merrill Lynch) (+27 72 397 9935)
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Strategic Communications
Client base
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Client
Description
Communication activity
Comment
Walmart
World’s largest retail
company
Media oversight and investor relations support for
the acquisition of a majority shareholding in
Massmart (Massmart remains listed on the JSE).
Included support and facilitation in terms of
government lobbying and messaging.
Walmart contract has ended (no conflict).
Financial, social, consumer and government
related work program, and some crisis
issues. Covered a wide variety of
stakeholders
ArcelorMittal Group and
ArcelorMittal South
Africa
World’s largest steel
producer
Group: media interactions for Africa (listed
internationally).
South Africa: media direction/oversight and IR
support (listed on the JSE). Includes government
lobbying support and messaging.
International media exposure; very active
SA media and other stakeholder program,
with significant deal-related, crisis,
sustainability/social and financial initiatives
Xstrata
One of the world’s largest
diversified mining company’s
South Africa only: media direction/oversight
Mining and significant deal-related advisory
work
EDCON
Established South African
retail company with brads
such as Edgars, Jet,
Boardman's
Comprehensive stakeholder engagement
programme
Focused on retail media, but cross-over with
investor audience as well
Bombardier
Transportation
Global leader in the rail
industry
Media oversight in South Africa and government
lobbying messaging and support
Active SA media and other stakeholder
program, with crisis, sustainability/social
and consumer initiatives
BIDVEST
International services,
trading and distribution
company operating on four
continents.
Media advice on corporate transactions that the
company is currently negotiating
Focused on SA media to ensure that
Bidvest’s strategic messaging is better
understood
Chamber of Mines of
South Africa
South African member body
for all mining companies
All aspects related to the external communication
process
Media and a variety of other stakeholders
targeted
Strategic Communications
Client base
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Client
Description
Communication activity
Comment
TOTAL South Africa
One of the world’s largest
petroleum company’s
All aspects related to the external
communication process (near in-house unit)
Media and a variety of stakeholders
targeted in program, involving crisis,
sustainability, social and consumer
aspects
The Manufacturing
Circle
Large group of South African
manufacturing companies
All aspects related to the external
communication process: government lobby for
a more conducive operating environment
Media and other stakeholders, as well as
the lobbying support
Gold Fields
Fourth largest international gold
producer
Special projects in South Africa (listed on the
JSE)
Various marketing and media activities
African Rainbow
Minerals
South African diversified mining
company
Investor relations support
Chairman and CEO’s messaging
BK One
Private equity vehicle
All media and investor relations activities
resulting in a successful IPO in December 2011
Significant engagement with Private Client
departments within financial institutions
Impala Platinum
World leading platinum mining
company
Active media and investor relations program
Contract in conjunction with Meropa.
Trans Hex
South African diamond mining
company
All media and investor relations aspects
Mainly media
HOSMED
South African medical aid
company
Media profiling
Ongoing media program
Strategic Communications
APRIO
Oxford Corner, 32A Jellicoe Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg,
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 880 0037 | www.aprio.co.za
Julian Gwillim
+27 (0) 82 452 4389
Tracey Peterson
+27 (0) 83 408 7173
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Strategic Communications