Broadridge and Strate Partner to Enhance Proxy Voting Efficiency in South Africa

To create a better proxy voting experience and further extend the proxy voting process in South Africa, global Fintech leader, Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc., and Strate, South Africa's principal central securities depository and central collateral platform, have completed the integration of their respective end-to-end vote processing solutions.

This collaboration represents a shared strategic commitment to drive greater levels of shareholder engagement by both institutional and retail investors – at both national and international levels.

"We are excited to launch our fully digital South African voting service, supporting the growing desire of investors globally who want to exercise their corporate governance entitlements in this very strategic market," said Demi Derem, General Manager of International Investor Communication Solutions, Broadridge. "Our successful collaboration with Strate represents another critical step in linking leading providers at the heart of financial infrastructure with our network of global investors to enable seamless investor voting and engagement."

Broadridge's extensive user community, including global and domestic banks and brokers, custodians, wealth managers and local agents, can now use the service, delivered in collaboration with Strate and the Central Securities Depository Participants (CSDPs), to streamline processes and achieve operational efficiency throughout the proxy voting lifecycle in South Africa, while also supporting their compliance obligations under South Africa's Companies Act.

"As a pioneer in digitization in South Africa, Strate partners with leading global technology providers to collaborate on digitally innovative solutions, which is why we are proud to have worked with Broadridge on our e-Voting solution," said Gregory Naicker, Strate Head of CSD Services. "Through digital innovation we integrate and connect critical players in the financial market ecosystem, leading to integrity and trust in our markets."