Cape Town, and the Western Cape region as a whole, is considered by the JSE as a major centre for global and local institutional investors, listed companies, product houses and corporates with many important head offices sited in the area. It is also the home base for 10 of the JSE’s Top 40 listed companies, an increase of two since the bourse opened its Cape Town hub a year ago.

At the time of the official opening, JSE Director of Capital Markets Donna Nemer shared the strategy behind the expansion, which she said was to enhance JSE services and relationships with all of its stakeholders, predominantly because Cape Town is the second-largest economic hub in SA, and it has been identified as an increasingly important investment destination and gateway to the continent.

‘From Simmons Street to Hollard Street, Diagonal Street and Gwen Lane, the JSE has helped South African companies raise capital for [more than] 130 years. Opening an office in Cape Town reinforces the exchange’s commitment to contribute to the growth of the South African economy, while building and strengthening our relationships,’ she said.

Effectively, and with the recent appointment of Allan Allison as the Cape Town office Representative, the strategy is elevated and being expanded on, given the growth in JSE services.

Allison joins the JSE team from African Harvest Fund Managers/Cadiz Asset Management, where he was head of dealing for 12 years.
‘He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of financial markets, well cultivated relationships and more than 25 years of experience working at both local and international companies,’ says Nemer.
‘We are delighted that someone with his depth and breadth of market experience and expertise on the buy-side has joined the JSE team, proudly flying our flag as a Capetownian while servicing our clients,’ she says.

In his new role, Allison will oversee the operations of the Cape Town office, ‘including member firms, buy-side, listed companies, product houses as well as other stakeholders in the Western Cape’, according to Nemer.
‘He will also be working very closely with our team at the head office in Sandton, to ensure the continued success of the satellite office and raise the bar on client engagement and alignment,’ she says.
‘The final consumers of many of the JSE products are ultimately the buy-side, which is predominately Cape Town based, and my forte,’ says Allison.

Under Allison’s direction, one of the most recent inroads made by the dedicated Cape Town team is the enhancing of the JSE’s relationship with the Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA).
‘We have agreed that we will continue to work together to find solutions.’
It’s not just meetings with clients but special issuer-sponsored events that are planned too.
‘Events such as these serve two purposes,’ says Allison. ‘The issuer will have access to members and asset managers to promote their businesses, and we will be able to promote our Cape Town facilities as a venue of choice.’

By Kerry Dimmer
Images: Gallo/Getty images