Public Statement and Policy on Impartiality
Impartiality lies at the heart of Pinnacle Rating Agency’s commitment to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and concomitant verifications.
Pinnacle Rating Agency base its impartiality policy on the underlying values of: objectivity, independence, freedom from conflict of interest,
freedom from bias, lack of prejudice, neutrality, fairness, open-mindedness, even-handedness, detachment and balance.
To ensure that impartiality is both maintained and can be demonstrated the following principles have been established:
- Pinnacle Rating Agency Certificates are only issued after review by an independent authorized and competent verification manager to ensure
that no interest predominate.
- Pinnacle Rating Agency does not have any relationships with companies that offer consultancy related to BEE or other services that can be constructed
as having an impact on the BEE verification provided by Pinnacle Rating Agency. Any proposed relationship between Pinnacle Rating Agency and any other company will
undergo a risk assessment by an independent risk assessor prior to the formalization of the relationship.
- Individuals employed by Pinnacle Rating Agency are required to document their current relationships and past relationships with all companies specifically
if they have provided consultancy in the past four years. Any situation past or present which may present a potential conflict of interest is
required to be declared by employees on the declaration form to be completed. Should there be a conflict of interest and it can be resolved without
compromising objectivity Pinnacle Rating Agency shall not provide the verification.
- All employees will be monitored annually to ensure, among other criteria that they remain impartial.
- Pinnacle Rating Agency shall in no way provide a verification that is simpler, faster or less expensive to the entity as a result of the entity making use
of a specific consultancy agency.
- Pinnacle Rating Agency shall provide accurate and not misleading information to the public.