Dear Valued Clients,
As 2025 draws to a close, I would like to pause and connect with you, reflecting on our shared experiences and expressing my heartfelt appreciation for your partnership throughout the year.
This year has brought unique challenges. Shifting global political currents, especially in the United States, affected the business landscape for all of us. More locally, the persistent drought west of Port Elizabeth placed significant demands on your operations, and we deeply respect your resourcefulness and resilience in meeting these challenges.
Regulatory changes, including the ongoing requirements due to grey listing, have required us to refine our processes and remain agile in compliance.
The complications resulting from Foot and Mouth disease have especially impacted clients. This has highlighted the need for commercial agriculture to work together to drive the agricultural industry forward, manage and engage with government and mitigate the effect of issues such as this.
In addition, there is the need to navigate the transformative rise of artificial intelligence, which is changing not only our industry, but how we will deliver value to you – enabling us to devote more time to serving your needs in new and innovative ways.
Our commitment to you remains steadfast and at the very core of what defines Pinion SA and we hope we have achieved our goals of creating more time for you by lifting some of the compliance burden for you and created wealth through innovation.
None of this is possible without your collaboration, trust, and engagement. Your willingness to embrace new technologies, adapt to changing regulations, and continually develop new skills inspires us to keep pushing boundaries and raising standards.
Key Highlights of 2025
- The launch of Plan-It, Pinion SA’s new financial analysis and planning platform. Designed to help businesses interpret key performance indicators, streamline budgeting, and make informed strategic decisions.
- Successful hosting of the Pinion Agri Conference 2025 under the theme “Revisiting the Rules of the Game”, featuring a scenario planning workshop by renowned strategist Chantell Ilbury, leadership insights from sport, carbon and water in the Agri industry, all neatly wrapped up by the Pinion Advisory SA team.
- The Pinion Livestock Study Group has become a hub for knowledge exchange – helping sheep, cattle, and goat farmers optimize performance through data-driven insights and financial analysis. We have seen growth year on year across all business divisions. This is incredibly encouraging as it reinforces our conviction that our processes and philosophies around creating sustainable intergenerational wealth for our clients are delivering results.
- Significant investment in human capital in bringing top talent into the business as well as investment in skills development across all business divisions throughout the year. We trust this to drive the succession mindset within the group in always planning for what might lie ahead and look forward to seeing the results in 2026.
These initiatives, among many other, reflect our belief that continuous improvement is the cornerstone of resilience.
Personal Reflections: Lessons from the Road
On a personal note – two stories from the road with me and the trusty Silver Subaru Legacy.
In March I was travelling back from Cookhouse, with only enough time to make it just in time for a meeting, Oliphants pass got blocked by a truck which had overturned with Elephants on (yes real story). This forced me to take the scenic route over the mountain, on a 4×4 goat track, in a sedan. However, when I got back to the tar road there was no traffic at all and I arrived to do my presentation 2 hours late, with a cool story to tell.
Then 2.5 weeks ago I hit a kudu at 21.30 at night, writing Hugh’s favourite vehicle off, but with no scratch at all on me or the passenger in the car.
Apart from being an aspiring Subaru salesman, here is what I learnt from these experiences.
- Finding your way around obstacles can be greatly rewarding and lead to enjoyable new experiences. Lets embrace the obstacles we are faced with and enjoy the effects that change can have on our businesses. We look forward to facing these changes with you and helping navigate the unknown.
- Succession planning is critical, as you never know when it is going to be needed and you will find yourself hampered. This relates to both the people in your businesses and the depth of management and skills and having clear plans set in place should the worse case occur. Will’s, Letters of wishes, Family Charters, Next Generation planning. I encourage you to reach out and make sure everything is up to standard and up to date.
- We have a fantastic community within our business, and through our client base, which enables big events to have small effects. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives and businesses.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The year ahead promises exciting opportunities. Our focus will remain on:
- Deepening global collaboration to bring best practices to South Africa.
- Investing in technology and talent to drive innovation and efficiency.
- Expanding our advisory ecosystem to meet evolving client needs across agriculture and business sectors.
More than ever there is a belief that we have the resources and talent to continue to drive growth within our business, and more importantly in our clients’ businesses into the future. I look forward to another year of shared achievement and growth alongside our clients and staff.
Thank you again for your trust and partnership throughout 2025.
Wishing you a Blessed Christmas and a successful 2026.
Warm regards,
Llewellyn Collett
Chief Executive Officer
Pinion SA
Our offices will be closed from December 22, 2025, and will reopen on January 5, 2026.
Warm regards,
The Pinion SA Team
Disclaimer:
The information supplied herein should not be used or relied upon as professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact our office for specific and detailed advice. Any legal information presented is a precis of current legislation, is subject to change and should not be used as a substitute for detailed professional advice.
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