Founder Shareholder – BNF Trust

Infotech was founded in 1980 by Francois van Niekerk, a (then) 40-year old entrepreneur with R1000 worth of capital and the strong conviction that private business should be more rewarding than the rigid corporate landscape of the late nineteen-seventies. Equity was initially held by Mr Van Niekerk personally, who then formed the BNF Trust in 1982 as the vehicle to hold the Van Niekerk Family assets.

The BNF Trust owns 13% of Infotech.

Mergon Trust

In September 1980, Francois van Niekerk made a personal commitment to give a substantial part of his business proceeds to the cause of Christian Evangelism and poverty alleviation. In 1982, he founded a separate trust, the Mergon Trust, to formalize this commitment. An independent board of trustees was established to ensure future continuity and the unwavering application of the founder’s wishes and intent. Today, the Mergon Trust is actively supporting over 50 community organizations and has a diversified investment portfolio with a net asset value in excess of R300 million.

The Mergon Trust owns 28% of Infotech.

Employee Share Trust

Infotech has established a employee share incentive trust to allow senior personnel to share in the performance and benefits of the company. Employees are allowed to purchase and sell shares in Infotech via formal structure.

the Employee Share Trust owns 16% of Infotech.

Black Economic Empowerment

The shareholders of Infotech have taken a long term view on the future of the company and its place in the South African business landscape. Established business’ responsibility towards the economy within which it operates lies at the heart of the missions of the Mergon Trust. Furthermore, the principle that persons from the Black Business Community should own a significant stake in the economy is widely accepted and supported by the historical Infotech shareholders.

In a first step towards its ultimate goal of becoming a Black Owned Company (as per the definition of the ICT BEE Charter) Infotech shareholders have sold 28% of Infotech's ordinary shares to Lebo Masekela and William Makwinja.

The BEE interests in Infotech have been consolidated into one structure, Molalatladi Capital. Molalatladi Capital now owns 36% of Infotech.

Other

The remainder of the Infotech shareholders consists of individual members of the Infotech Management Team.