Aqrate
Management in Cape Town

AQRate Verification Services is a Broad-Based BEE verification brand consisting of 4 private companies with shared ownership, management, verification methodology, commitment to transformation and an ethos of "independent, credible, assurance".The brand came to be in June 2009 following an unbundling of shareholding in the National Empowerment Rating Agency (NERA) holding entity which saw two of the then three accredited verification agencies in the NERA group re-brand to AQRate (Pty) Ltd (previously NERA - Western Cape) and AQRate KZN (Pty) Ltd (previously NERA - KZN). AQRate Gauteng commenced business during June 2009. The previous NERA office in Limpopo also rebranded to AQRate.

AQRate is a group of private companies that strives to be the market leader in terms of service, quality, innovation and operational expertise. We were established in 2003 to meet the corporate sector’s need for a credible empowerment rating agency with national representation. We have a proud history in the industry, having been one of the founding members of Association of BEE Verification Agencies (ABVA). Our national presence affords us the market presence associated with a true market leader. The maintenance of this dual accreditation approval status talks to our commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and ethicacy. AQRate has distinguished itself as a leader in the verification of large corporate and listed entities and are regularly sub-contracted by the other accredited verification agencies. As such we have also been engaged by the JSE to oversee the methodology in the analysis of the black ownership in the Top 100 listed companies on the JSE. As part of phase 2 of this project AQRate have been tasked with verifying the methodology and findings of a pioneering study into the black ownership of mandated investments in South Africa. AQRate has also been commissioned to assist with the drafting of some of the sector codes and amendments thereto. The BEE Calculator App is an innovative, easy-to-user calculator which allows you to establish your B-BBEE score from your phone, tablet or computer. You now only need an Affidavit to confirm your business' annual turnover and black ownership status if you are an EME. Compiling an Affidavit for BEE purposes is however not always as straightforward as it seems. As a leader in the industry with respect to verification, we are very happy and satisfied with the service we have received from AQRate. They provide us with a clear verification plan and a complete list of activities to take place during the verification. It is the most accurate, independent and cost effective way for businesses to establish and present their BEE levels. At the end of the audit process the client will receive a B-BBEE Certificate. We offer BEE Verification Services to EME’s, QSE and Generic Businesses irrespective of the sector the business forms a part of. Each of these involve an audit of a business based on the BEE Codes of Good Practice. At the end of the audit process the client will receive a B-BBEE Certificate or in the case of EME’s and Black Owned QSE’s an affidavit with an accompanying letter of verification. Large Enterprises are businesses with an annual turnover in excess of R50 mil per annum.