ABOUT
THE SIMAH GROUP

With over R1,5 billion in premium volume, Simah has a significant footprint in South Africa, networks across Africa and strategic partnerships to service international clients in offshore markets.

Origins of the
Simah Group

The Simah Group was officially formed in 2022 with the amalgamation of:

Simah Risk Solutions (formerly Bay Union Corporate Risks)

Simah Risk Advisors (formerly Indwe Risk Solutions)

Acuideas (the specialist administration business serving independent brokers)

Peter Olyott, Gavin Searle, and Steyn McDowall were shareholders, in the initial transaction facilitated with African Rainbow Capital Financial Investments (ARC) between the Indwe & The Simah Group.

At the end of 2022, ARC expressed an interest to divest having facilitated the transaction which presented Simah with the opportunity to investigate various opportunities in the B-BBEE space.  Simah partnered with Invequity through the Dash Private equity Fund, and is a 51% Black Owned group, of which 33.38% is Black Woman Owned and is a proud level 1 B-BBEE contributor. 

Invequity uniquely harnesses the rules for Private Equity Funds in the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Codes of Good Practice to allow their partners, proudly including The Simah Group, the opportunity to achieve their Black Ownership objectives while substantially moving the needle for early-stage South African businesses operating in key sectors including Education, Technology, and Agriculture that greatly impact economic inclusion and growth in the South African economy.

For further detail on Invequity’s product offering, visit www.invequity.co.za.

 

Simah’s Specialist Divisions

Whilst each division of the Simah Group has its own area of deep specialisation, each is also able to leverage broad cross-sectoral experience.

Simah Risk Solutions (Authorised FSP No. 280) offers customised solutions for large commercial and corporate clients through specialised risk placements, considered advice and holistic operational and strategic risk management services.

Simah Risk Advisors  (Authorised FSP No. 13223) offers state-owned and government client market segments specialised risk management advisory services and commercial insurance.

Acuideas (Authorised FSP No. 46696) provides insurance administration and advisory support for independent brokers, as well as product development and training for a range of different markets.

Our partners

Key partnerships add to the range of products and solutions offered by Simah. Because we are exceptionally well-networked, we have access to international capacity and facilities, including Eikos Simah Risk Group (ESRG), the Allied Africa Broker Network and the broker platform, Acuideas.

Simah is also supported by specialist partners when it comes to:

Employee benefits
& medical aid

Aviation

Marine hull

High net worth
personal insurance

Credit & debit management solutions

Crisis response

Forestry & plantations

What we do Industry expertise Opportunities

Our Executive Leaders

Steyn McDowall
 Executive Director

Read More About Steyn

Steyn
McDowall

Managing Director, Simah Risk Solutions | Simah Risk Advisors

An executive known for his exceptional skill in insurance, risk and fraud management, and for his expertise when it comes to large and complex risk placements, Steyn McDowall was Managing Director of corporate broking and risk management advisory business Lyme Street Risk. In this role, he developed and managed the rollout of the Riskonnect Insurance and Risk platform within the Steinhoff Group. In 2019, together with his team, Steyn joined Indwe Risk Services, SA’s largest black-owned and controlled risk advisory business, as an Executive Director.

Gavin Searle
Executive Director

Read More About Gavin

Gavin
Searle

Managing Director, Simah Risk Holdings

Gavin Searle has solid expertise in business and risk consulting. He was part of the senior management team responsible for the strategic direction of Alexander Forbes’s retail and wholesale clients in the SA market before relocating to the UK. Here his responsibilities included handling global clients and UK-based corporates, as well as leading specialist risk engineering and risk finance units. On his return to SA in 2000, Gavin consulted to private equity partners, managing the sale of GlenRand MIB to AON. In 2010 he launched Bay Union Corporate Risk, a niche corporate-focused business with a remarkable reputation for client-centricity, considered advice and effective risk management.

Suhana Kohlöffel-Neerahoo
Non-Executive Director

Read More About Suhana

Suhana
Kohlöffel-Neerahoo

Non-Executive Director, Simah Risk Advisors

“‘I AM’ are the two most powerful words, for what you put after them shapes your reality.” Suhana is an admitted attorney responsible for the service, operations, risk and compliance, pre- and post-investment governance, and support for Invequity. Suhana is a graduate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she received her Bachelor of Arts and LLB degrees. Furthermore, she obtained her certifications in Risk & Compliance Management from the University of Johannesburg and the University of Cape Town. She has been a practicing attorney since 2008 with experience in diverse applications and sectors of the law, operations, risk, governance, and compliance management and serves on multiple company boards. She avidly supports women entrepreneurship, inclusive growth, employment, and youth development.