This Privacy Policy describes how Histonet (Pty) Ltd t/a PRAVATA (“PRAVATA”, “we”, “us” or “our”) collects, uses, stores, processes and protects personal information when you use our website, communicate with us, or make use of our business valuation and transaction advisory services.

This Privacy Policy applies when you:

visit our website at www.pravata.co.za, or any other website operated by PRAVATA which links to this Privacy Policy;
request or obtain business valuation, financial analysis or transaction advisory services from PRAVATA;
provide financial, commercial, corporate or other information to us in connection with our services;
submit an enquiry, lead form or contact request;
communicate with us by email, telephone, social media or other means; or
otherwise engage with PRAVATA.

PRAVATA provides professional services relating primarily to private company and business valuations, financial analysis and transaction advisory services. In providing these services, clients may provide us with financial statements, management accounts, corporate information, ownership information, forecasts, transaction documents and other financial and commercial information.

We recognise the importance of protecting personal and confidential information and process personal information in accordance with applicable South African data protection legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”), where applicable.

1. PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

enquire about our services;
request a quotation or valuation;
become a client;
submit information through our website;
provide documents or information for purposes of a valuation or transaction;
communicate with us; or
otherwise engage with PRAVATA.

Depending on the circumstances, this information may include:

names and surnames;
telephone numbers;
email addresses;
physical or postal addresses;
job titles and occupations;
company and business information;
shareholder, director or beneficial ownership information;
identification information where reasonably required;
billing and payment information;
financial information;
financial statements and management accounts;
transaction information;
information contained in agreements and corporate documents; and
other information reasonably necessary for us to provide our services.

Business and Financial Information

Our services may require clients to provide commercially sensitive financial and business information.

This may include:

annual financial statements;
management accounts;
financial forecasts and budgets;
asset and liability information;
revenue and expenditure information;
shareholder and ownership information;
information concerning customers, suppliers and employees;
transaction documents;
financing information; and
other information relevant to a business valuation, financial analysis or transaction.

We will process such information only insofar as reasonably necessary for the provision of our services, our legitimate business purposes, or as otherwise permitted or required by law.

2. INFORMATION AUTOMATICALLY COLLECTED

Certain information may be collected automatically when you visit or use our website.

This may include:

your Internet Protocol (IP) address;
browser type;
device information;
operating system;
referring website or URL;
pages viewed;
dates and times of visits;
approximate geographic location; and
information regarding your interaction with our website.

This information is primarily used for website operation, security, analytics, performance monitoring and marketing purposes.

We may also use cookies and similar technologies as described below.

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We may process personal information for purposes including:

providing business valuation and transaction advisory services;
preparing valuation reports, financial analyses and related professional deliverables;
assessing and responding to enquiries;
preparing quotations and proposals;
communicating with clients and prospective clients;
administering our client relationships;
processing payments and issuing invoices;
maintaining appropriate business and financial records;
improving our services and website;
analysing website usage and marketing performance;
conducting marketing and advertising activities where permitted;
preventing fraud and protecting our systems;
complying with legal and regulatory obligations;
establishing, exercising or defending legal rights; and
performing any other purpose for which you have provided your consent or which is otherwise permitted by law.

We will only process personal information where we have an appropriate legal basis for doing so.

4. BUSINESS VALUATION AND ADVISORY INFORMATION

PRAVATA’s services frequently require the analysis of confidential financial and commercial information.

Information supplied for purposes of a valuation or advisory engagement may be used to:

analyse the financial performance of a business;
perform valuation calculations and financial modelling;
normalise financial information;
assess assets, liabilities and working capital;
conduct market and comparable-company analysis;
prepare financial forecasts;
assess transaction structures;
prepare valuation reports and supporting schedules; and
provide related transaction advisory services.

PRAVATA will take reasonable measures to ensure that information supplied to us is used only for legitimate purposes connected with the relevant engagement or otherwise as authorised by the client or permitted by law.

We do not sell personal information.

We may disclose personal information to third parties where reasonably necessary for the operation of our business or provision of our services.

These third parties may include:

website hosting providers;
cloud storage and information technology providers;
accounting and invoicing service providers;
payment service providers;
analytics providers;
advertising and marketing platforms;
professional advisers;
consultants and contractors;
regulatory or governmental authorities where required by law; and
other service providers reasonably necessary for our business operations.

Where appropriate, we require third-party service providers to process information in accordance with applicable privacy and data protection requirements.

We may also disclose information:

Business Transfers

In connection with a merger, acquisition, restructuring, financing, sale of assets or similar corporate transaction involving PRAVATA.

Legal Requirements

Where disclosure is necessary to comply with applicable law, a court order, regulatory requirement or lawful request from a competent authority.

Protection of Rights

Where reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property or legitimate interests of PRAVATA, our clients or other persons.

6. THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS

PRAVATA may use third-party platforms and service providers in operating its business, including services relating to:

website hosting;
analytics;
advertising;
customer communications;
cloud storage;
document processing;
payment processing;
accounting and invoicing; and
information technology.

These providers may process certain information on our behalf to the extent necessary to provide their services.

Where personal information is transferred outside South Africa, we will take reasonable measures to ensure that the transfer complies with applicable data protection requirements.

7. COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

We may use cookies, pixels, web beacons and similar technologies to operate and improve our website.

These technologies may be used to:

maintain website functionality;
understand how visitors use our website;
measure website traffic;
monitor website performance;
remember preferences;
measure advertising performance; and
provide relevant advertising.

Third-party analytics and advertising providers may also use cookies or similar technologies in accordance with their respective privacy policies.

You may generally control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain functionality on our website.

8. GOOGLE ANALYTICS AND ADVERTISING

PRAVATA may use Google services, including Google Analytics and Google Ads, to understand website usage, measure advertising performance and market our services.

These services may collect information concerning your interaction with our website and may use cookies or similar technologies.

Where remarketing or similar advertising functionality is used, you may be shown PRAVATA advertisements after visiting our website.

You can manage advertising preferences through the relevant Google advertising and privacy settings.

PRAVATA may maintain profiles and conduct advertising through social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

When you interact with PRAVATA through a third-party social media platform, that platform may independently process information in accordance with its own terms and privacy policies.

PRAVATA does not control the manner in which these third-party platforms independently process your information.

10. INFORMATION SECURITY

We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal and confidential information against:

loss;
unauthorised access;
misuse;
alteration;
disclosure; and
destruction.

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Although we take reasonable measures to protect information under our control, users should exercise appropriate caution when transmitting confidential or sensitive information electronically.

11. RETENTION OF INFORMATION

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for:

the purpose for which it was collected;
the provision of our services;
maintaining appropriate business records;
complying with legal, tax, accounting or regulatory requirements;
resolving disputes; and
establishing, exercising or defending legal rights.

Where information is no longer reasonably required, we may securely delete, destroy or de-identify it, subject to applicable legal requirements.

12. INFORMATION RELATING TO MINORS

PRAVATA’s services are intended primarily for businesses, business owners, investors, professional advisers and other commercial parties.

We do not knowingly solicit personal information from children under the age of 18.

If we become aware that personal information relating to a minor has been collected without an appropriate lawful basis, we will take reasonable measures to delete or otherwise appropriately deal with such information.

13. DIRECT MARKETING

Where permitted by applicable law, we may use contact information to communicate with clients and prospective clients regarding PRAVATA’s services.

You may opt out of marketing communications at any time by:

using an unsubscribe mechanism contained in an applicable communication; or
contacting PRAVATA and requesting that marketing communications cease.

Opting out of marketing communications will not prevent us from sending communications reasonably necessary for an existing client relationship, engagement or service request.

14. YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you;
request access to your personal information;
request correction or updating of inaccurate information;
request deletion or destruction of information where legally permissible;
object to certain processing;
withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
lodge a complaint regarding the processing of your personal information.

Certain rights may be limited where we are required or permitted by law to retain or process the relevant information.

15. SOUTH AFRICAN DATA PROTECTION RIGHTS

PRAVATA processes personal information subject to applicable South African data protection legislation, including POPIA.

If you are dissatisfied with how we process your personal information, you may contact PRAVATA using the details provided below.

You may also have the right to lodge a complaint with:

Information Regulator (South Africa) General enquiries: enquiries@inforegulator.org.za POPIA complaints: POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za PAIA complaints: PAIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za

16. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES

Our website may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties.

PRAVATA is not responsible for the privacy, security or content practices of third-party websites.

We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party websites you access.

17. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

changes to our services;
changes to our business practices;
technological developments; or
changes to applicable legal or regulatory requirements.

The latest version will be made available on our website and the date of the latest revision will be indicated at the beginning of this Privacy Policy.

18. CONTACT US

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, the processing of your personal information, or wish to exercise any applicable privacy rights, please contact:

Histonet (Pty) Ltd t/a PRAVATA

Website: www.pravata.co.za

Email: info@pravata.co.za

South Africa

Privacy Policy