The Allan Gray Podcast

At the end of 2025, the estimated size of South Africa’s savings pool stood at a substantial R15.8 trillion, yet the country continues to face a significant infrastructure investment shortfall. Some policymakers might view this dichotomy as evidence that Regulation 28, which governs how retirement funds may invest, should be adjusted to lower the offshore allowance and direct more savings towards local infrastructure. In the latest episode of The Allan Gray Podcast, portfolio manager Thalia Petousis, economist Sandy McGregor and ESG analyst Raine Adams argue that SA’s infrastructure underinvestment is not the result of a shortage of money, but the shortage of opportunity. The private sector continues to show a willingness to fund viable projects. They point to the roughly R350bn of capital that has been invested in the local Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme projects since 2022 – the same year that the offshore allowance was in fact increased. The discussion underscores that addressing the country’s infrastructure investment shortfall is less about changing Regulation 28 and more about making progress on the reform agenda, instituting sensible public policies, raising governance standards and increasing the number of opportunities worth investing in. Allan Gray website · Changing Regulation 28: A solution looking for a problem

Successful investing is often associated with making perfect decisions, yet even the most accomplished investors can be wrong from time to time. Long-term investment outcomes are driven less by perfection and more by ensuring that the best ideas are backed with conviction and time to influence long-term returns. In the latest episode of The Allan Gray Podcast, Mica Townsend, an investment specialist in our ManCo Distribution team, is joined by Allan Gray portfolio manager Tim Acker to discuss how position sizing shapes investment outcomes. Drawing on reflections across a range of our portfolio holdings, from AB InBev and Investec to Naspers and Prosus, they explore why managing downside risk, allocating capital to the most promising ideas and disciplined decision-making may matter more than achieving a perfect hit rate. Allan Gray website

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way investors access information and make decisions, yet the forces that drive markets remain remarkably familiar. In this episode of The Allan Gray Podcast, Allan Gray Institutional Clients manager Horacia Naidoo-McCarthy and Simon Skinner, director and head of Orbis’ Global Investment team, discuss the impact of AI on investing and market behaviour, the risks of false certainty and the enduring value of independent thinking. Allan Gray website · Investing through disruption: Lessons from history for the age of AI

Finding long-term compounders can feel a little like searching for a needle in a haystack. While a small number of businesses generate a disproportionate share of long-term equity market returns, identifying them is far more difficult than it appears in hindsight. In this episode of The Allan Gray Podcast, portfolio managers Siphesihle Zwane, Jithen Pillay and Pieter Koornhof discuss how Allan Gray searches for businesses with the potential to compound value over long periods of time. They explore why a great business is not always a great investment, what characteristics underpin enduring businesses, and why some of the best buying opportunities emerge during periods of uncertainty. Allan Gray website · Diamonds in the rough: A look at luxury

In an environment defined by ongoing change, investors may be tempted to reduce uncertainty by trying to predict what lies ahead. However, as forecasts are seldom accurate, investors may be better served by accepting that uncertainty is inherent and by preparing for a world that will continue to surprise. In the latest episode of The Allan Gray Podcast, Marise Bester, a manager in the ManCo Distribution team, hosts Allan Gray portfolio managers Varshan Maharaj and Kamal Govan to discuss the factors currently shaping markets and influencing investment decisions. They cover a broad range of themes, from the disconnect between South Africa’s sluggish economy and its strong market performance to how interest rates and inflation influence global markets. They also explore the underlying drivers of AI-related capital flows and delve into our approach to offshore allocation. Allan Gray website · Beyond the narratives: Investing through uncertainty · Lessons from the markets and the sea: Don’t get caught in the undertow