South Africa’s second new exchange, which also got a licence according to the 2 September announcement by the Financial Services Board (FSB), is 4AX, also known as 4 Africa Exchange. It plans to trade securities that are currently traded over-the-counter (OTC) and to go live early in 2017.
Speaking after the licence was issued, 4AX CEO Fay Mukaddam said in a press release: “We are delighted to have secured our licence. South Africa is a vibrant, growing market with enormous potential and we are confident that there’s a strong appetite for an additional licensed exchange to further develop and deepen the capital markets in the country.. 4AX can stand as a vehicle for diversity, which in turn, will drive real economic inclusion”. It will be an “empowered exchange” and will aim at retail investors but also attract institutional trading.
According to the background on its website: “A unique situation in South Africa has however created the need for 4AX. Previously, a number of South African companies issued shares and facilitated trading in the over-the-counter (OTC) market using unregulated OTC platforms. The current OTC market boasts a combined market capitalisation in excess of R30 billion ($2.2bn).
“As the OTC market expanded, the FSB recognised a need for greater regulation to protect shareholders and ensure a fair, orderly and transparent marketplace for issuers. The FSB determined that all operators of unregulated OTC platforms must cease operating or apply to become licensed exchanges under the Financial Market Act of 2012 (FMA). Board Notice 68 of 2014 reaffirmed the view of the Registrar that operators of exchange infrastructure should be licensed and that a proliferation of exchanges should not be allowed. This has caused significant upheaval in the market, for both issuers as well as shareholders.
“As a result of the regulatory amendments a substantial number of OTC companies are now in breach of the FMA. Faced with significant potential penalties under the FMA these companies have either stopped operating their OTC platforms or applied for extensions from the FSB, whilst searching for an alternative to unregulated OTC platforms. 4AX provide the solution.
Maponya Group has a 15% shareholding, other shareholders listed on its website include Global Environmental Markets Ltd, Capital Market Brokers which is a leading member of the Stock Exchange of Mauritius, independent fiduciary Intercontinental Trust Ltd, agricultural firm NWK, and investment banking firm Pallidus.
