ATIO has improved its black economic empowerment (BEE) status to Level 2, the second-highest level in terms of the Department of Trade and Industry's specifications.
The rating, done by verification agency Mazars, is in accordance with the ICT sectorial code. The ICT charter, more than a decade in the making, finally came into effect in the middle of 2012.
Its set targets require unlisted companies to be 30% empowered, and listed entities to sell 25.1% to black entities, with equity deals capped at R7.5 billion. The charter has also set a target of 10% of voting rights to be in the hands of black women.
The compliance target for enterprise development is 5% of after-tax profit, while socio-economic development contributions have a compliance target of 1.5% of after-tax profit. Although the requirements in terms of management control have been supplanted from the generic Codes of Good Practice, the targets for senior, middle and junior management - which excludes board level - have been increased.
ATIO says, in addition to the upgrade in its status, it has been recognised as a value-adding supplier.
The company, which is more than 50% owned by black stakeholders, says this contributed to the improvement in its rating. Firms that purchase from ATIO can now claim 312.5% of their spend towards their own empowerment certification, it says.
"Black economic empowerment has always been a priority for ATIO," says CEO Chris van der Sande. "We are committed to transformation through the staff equity and procurement strategies that form the foundation of our day-to-day endeavours."
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