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PAT U L A R I S K & M O N T I G N Y

Creating synergy in risk insurance

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INNOVATIVE Patula Risk has firmly rooted itself as a frontrunner in the corporate risk insurance industry across Southern Africa Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Stuart Parker atula Risk Swaziland has recently cemented its position in the risk insurance market, with two new profileboosting partnerships that will enhance the Swazi-Company’s ability to provide specialist insurance and risk services to the market. Started by three companies Montigny Investments Limited, Swaziland Plantations Limited (SPL) and MTI Investments - Patula Risk was borne out of their frustrations with existing service providers at the time. “The Company was created with the intention of looking after the specialist insurance requirements of its members, such as the three companies responsible for setting up Patula Risk, and to closely assess the sustainability of some of the market players in Swaziland,” confirms Doctor Mhlanga, the General Manager of Patula Risk. As part of this partnership, the founders have managed their growth risks by arranging their insurances with Travel Insurance Consultants (TIC), a subsidiary of Santam Insurance. Patula Risk will now market TIC’s products in

“Our partnership with Jardine Lloyd Thompson will further assist Patula Risk with the introduction and placement of the specialist products necessary to our clients, but not available from the local market; further enhancing the service of corporates and multinationals.” Formed off the back of Floxilinx Swaziland, further boosting its product (Pty) Ltd, Africa’s largest specialist offering. Forestry Insurance Brokerage, Further to this, partnering with the culminating offering focuses Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT), one exclusively on the corporate and of the largest and leading worldwide large private stakeholders in the agrifinancial service providers, will boost forestry and forest products industries. the Company’s competitive edge in As one of the founders of Patula Africa. JLT provides specialist services Risk, Montigny Investments Limited including insurance, reinsurance, is a Swazi-owned and operated, employee benefits-related advice, and fully-diversified timber Company, brokerage and associated services; and founded in 1997 by entrepreneur, Patula Risk will be able to draw from Neal Rijkenberg. It has grown from this wealth of experience on offer. a small family run business to one of “Most insurance consumers located the largest diversified private timber in Swaziland are complaining about owner-operators in Southern Africa. poor service, limited product choice Mhlanga continues: “Montigny and lack of innovation, and it is our serves approximately 40 percent main focus to challenge that,” explains of the regional wet-off-saw timber Mhlanga. “Our aim is to be pioneers in market, and has diverse timber-trading offering bespoke services that exceed interests in South Africa, Swaziland, the expectations of our clients. Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, Zambia

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and Japan. Swaziland Plantations Group on the other hand is situated closest to high value pine saw logs and they have been cutting both pine and eucalyptus in the industry over the years extracting maximum value from its raw materials.” Patula Risk Swaziland (Pty) Ltd is the bespoke independent insurance broking arm for Montigny & Partners, focusing on providing the innovative and specialised risk and insurance solutions to this growing business.

Sourcing expertise

The shareholders of Patula bring significant experience, depth of relationships and specialised skills to the Company. Patula Risk varies slightly in this area as a newcomer to an industry that is faced with an acute skills shortage, therefore preferring headhunting as opposed to placing adverts for positions. “All of our employees are highly qualified individuals, with both companies offering and enabling a work environment in which its workers can thrive,” adds Mhlanga. “Alongside learning opportunities from our highly skilled team leaders, the Group is not adverse to sending employees to South Africa when gaps in knowledge are identified.” The Company’s local emphasis continues with Patula Risk Swaziland being a primarily locally-owned business trading entity within the Swazi economy only. Directors of the Company have a wide local network which emphasises its intentions for meeting the risk and insurance needs of the local economy and clientele.

Swaziland Plantations (SPL): This operation has been running the longest out of all the other operations and has the highest labour rate per person. It is situated closest to the higher value pine saw logs and has been cutting both pine and eucalyptus for more than six years. SPL aims at extracting maximum value from its raw material and produces structural timber, furniture grade and knotty grade from its eucalyptus

Product evolution

Patula Risk is centrally focused on its business as a licensed insurance broking firm, undertaking its business as insurance brokers and risk management consultants. “We work closely with our clients to find cost-effective strategies to mitigate

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All of our employees are highly qualified individuals, with both companies offering and enabling a work environment in which its workers can thrive

and manage risks effectively,” explains Mhlanga. “Our main target market is the corporate commercial sectors, such as aviation, agriculture, construction, education, financial institutions, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, transport and entertainment, etc.” By centralising its focus on corporate clients in Swaziland, Patula Risk is perfectly positioned to act as an extension of any risk management team. Looking forward it aims to be one of the market leaders, not to mention the broker of choice in Swaziland for quality service offerings.

▶ All life assurance business including pensions ▶ All non-life insurance business including Marine and Aviation Care

Innovation

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Ezulwini Reinsurance Company Limited

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+268 2404 0396 | info@ezulwini-re.co.sz 7th Floor Mbandzeni House, Lot No.: 1/508 & 1/510 Smuts Street, Mbabane, Swaziland |

Good corporate citizenry

SWAZILAND AGRICULTURAL SUPPLIES

Suppliers of Agricultural & Veterinary chemicals, Vegetable, Pasture & Maize seed and Spray Equipment P.O. Box 102, Manzini, Swaziland / +268 25055288 / ian@sas.co.sz / gavin@sas.co.sz

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A passion for CSR and community engagement begins from the top down

Empowering the community

The Company has a very passionate history of committing substantial resources to both corporate social responsibility schemes and the aid of the less privileged. Playing an active role in these projects has and always will be vitally important to all the employees of the company. Bulembu Ministries Swaziland is perhaps one of the Company’s most exciting and successful projects to date, co-founded by Montigny’s founder. The old mining town of Bulembu has been completely transformed into a home for 350 destitute children with Montigny playing an active role in the village’s commercial enterprises, care, education and community healthcare. “The Wattle Growers Programme is a little different. Not only do we buy wattle from small-scale community growers, but turn the focus more onto empowering the community,” continues Mhlanga. “It demonstrates to them their ability to transform

“Not only do we buy wattle from smallscale community growers, but turn the focus more onto empowering the community”

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their traditional wattle jungles into manageable commercial plantations for future gain.” The Usutu Community Project engages with the local community through various social projects, school support initiatives, study scholarships, health clinics and sports events. The passion for corporate social responsibility schemes really begins from the top down in this Company; with the Executive Director of Patula Risk an ENACTUS Volunteer and business advisor to the University of Swaziland. ENACTUS is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to inspiring young people to improve the world through entrepreneurial action.

The highest level of quality service

From a business perspective at Patula Risk the central ideal of the Company remains to focus on engaging corporate clients; driven by a passion for both the business and the people it deals with.

PROVIDING ALL-ROUND BUSINESS INSURANCE

• PLANT AND MACHINERY COVER • WORKMAN’S COMPENSATION • BUILDINGS COMBINED COVER • PUBLIC LIABILITY COVER

Enriching communities by taking entrepreneurial action

“We always put the needs of our clients ahead of our own, enabling us to forge good relations in the market that we trade in,” says Mhlanga. “We are more passionate about service than making quick profits, and it is our philosophy that we grow with our clients and we have teams that are capable of delivering the highest level of quality service.” There is a true synergy between all of the Company’s organisations, including Montigny, Swaziland Plantations, MTI Investments & Patula Risk and it is that fact that is making the young Patula Risk such a success in the sector. “We expect our shareholders to receive their first return on investment from Patula Risk within three years, and not only that, the Company is well positioned to be in the top four in terms of market share,” concludes Mhlanga. “Over the following years, we hope that our brand will be both well known and trusted in the market, and our goal is to have partnered with 10 of the top 20 corporate clients in Swaziland.”

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PATULA RISK & MONTIGNY Portion of Ground Floor Sibekelo House Mbabane Swaziland T: +268 2404 7850 E: info@patularisk.co.sz