Sanlam is a leading financial services group in South Africa with its head office in Bellville in the Western Cape.

Established in 1918, the Group demutualised in 1998 and Sanlam Limited then listed on the JSE Limited in Johannesburg and the Namibian Stock Exchange.

The Sanlam Group conducts its business through Sanlam Limited, the corporate head office and four business clusters.  The corporate head office is responsible for the Group's centralised functions such as strategic direction, financial and risk management, marketing and communications, Group human resources and corporate social investment (CSI).

The Life Insurance cluster consists of Sanlam Personal Finance (SPF) and Sanlam Employee Benefits (SEB).  SPF provides individual life insurance and personal financial services and products in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa, the United Kingdom and India.  SEB provides life insurance, investment and annuity products for group schemes and retirement funds.

During 2005, Sanlam acquired African Life Assurance Company and a controlling interest in Channel Life, which forms the bedrock of Sanlam's entry-level life market strategy.

The Short-term Insurance cluster, Santam, is the leading short-term insurance company in South Africa.  It is also involved elsewhere in Africa, Europe and the United Kingdom.

The Investment cluster, driven by Sanlam Investment Management and 11 other businesses, incorporates the Group's investment-related businesses in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Europe and Namibia. The cluster's services and products include asset management, other investment products, property asset management, collective investments, private client investment, stockbroking and investment administration. Sanlam Capital Markets in the Investment cluster provides risk management and structured product solutions and associated capital market activities for the South African savings industry, public sector enterprises and corporates.

The Independent Financial Services cluster invests in independent entities and intermediary business in the financial services industry.

Sanlam is a pioneer in transformation and the Ubuntu-Botho transaction in 2004 reinforced its position as a leading financial services group, underpinned by quality BEE leadership and a comprehensive strategy to ensure meaningful and broad-based participation across South Africa.

The Group is also actively involved in CSI programmes with a focus in the areas of education, HIV/Aids, economic development and social development.  Its CSI budget equates to 1% of its net operating profit.

On 31 December 2005 Sanlam had R353 billion of assets under management and administration.

The Group employs about 9 500 office staff and about 1 400 advisers.