What a year it has been… and we are only approaching the second half of February 2026.
With business activity picking up and renewed momentum building across parts of the South African economy, there is rarely a dull moment when you are running an investor communications and design agency in South Africa. Between capital market developments, stakeholder engagement shifts and the evolving media landscape, the pace has been steady — and occasionally surprising.
Each month, we look at developments shaping investor communications in South Africa and the broader capital markets environment. Our goal is simple: to share observations that help our stakeholders refine and sharpen their B2B communications strategies.
Here are some of the themes and developments we are tracking in February 2026.
Aimia to Debut on the JSE
February began on a positive note with confirmation that diversified investment holding company Aimia Inc. will take up a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
The company, which has its primary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange, is expected to debut on the JSE’s Main Board on 24 February 2026. Market estimates place its capitalisation at approximately R3.4 billion at listing.
The rationale is telling. Aimia has highlighted the strength of its South African shareholder base as one of the motivating factors behind the secondary listing. That decision speaks to a broader trend: capital is increasingly global, but investor communities often remain regionally anchored.
For investor communications professionals, secondary listings present unique strategic considerations. Messaging must resonate across jurisdictions while maintaining consistency in governance disclosure, reporting standards and stakeholder expectations.
In short, listings are no longer just financial events; they are reputation events. Find out more about this development here.
Actively Managed ETFs Continue to Gain Traction
Another notable capital markets trend in early 2026 is the continued growth of actively managed exchange-traded funds (AMETFs).
Following the January listing of the Cartesian Capital AMETF, both Amplify Investment Partners and Satrix have introduced additional actively managed ETF products during February.
The growth of AMETFs reflects increasing investor appetite for strategies that combine the liquidity and transparency of ETFs with active portfolio management.
According to publicly available data from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, there are now more than 120 ETFs listed on the exchange, with total market capitalisation exceeding R250 billion. Fixed income mandates in particular continue to attract interest as investors balance yield opportunities against macroeconomic uncertainty.
For communications professionals in the asset management space, this evolution presents a challenge: educating investors about product differentiation in an increasingly crowded ETF landscape.
Clarity, not jargon, is becoming the competitive advantage.
What Our Digital Channels Reveal About Investor Communications
As a consulting agency advising on stakeholder engagement and B2B communications, we rely heavily on data to inform our thinking.
Our website search data for February reveals a consistent set of interest areas:
Heartwood Properties
Impact reports
Fabricio Bloisi
BizNewsTV
The recurring search interest in “Impact Report” underscores the continued rise of ESG and integrated reporting as core elements of investor communications strategy. Stakeholders are no longer satisfied with financial performance alone; they want measurable impact narratives supported by credible data.
Perhaps the most interesting corporate development during the month involves Heartwood Properties, currently listed on the Cape Town Stock Exchange (CTSE), which has announced plans to pursue a secondary listing on A2X Markets.
This move reflects the increasingly competitive nature of South Africa’s exchange ecosystem. Alternative exchanges are no longer fringe players — they are becoming credible platforms for liquidity, price discovery and investor reach.
Are You Investing in EGC?
During a recent engagement with a JSE-listed industrial business, the conversation turned to Employee Generated Content (EGC).
EGC is gaining traction as a strategic communications lever. Authentic employee voices; when aligned with governance frameworks — can strengthen brand credibility, humanise corporate narratives and deepen stakeholder trust.
Our CEO, Marc Ashton, together with Content Lead Emma Montocchio, recently unpacked this theme in an article for The Media Online.
The underlying question is simple: are you intentionally incorporating employee advocacy into your communications strategy, or is it happening by default?
In an era of social amplification, intentionality matters.
SME Capital Access: Kudos to the JSE and Western Cape Government
One initiative deserving recognition is the SME Rise Capital Matching programme led by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in partnership with the Western Cape Government.
The programme has reportedly engaged close to 2,500 SMEs nationally over three years, with over 1,000 from the Western Cape. Through capital matching initiatives, SMEs in the province have accessed over R36 million in funding, with additional capital reportedly in the pipeline.
The associated SME Rise Accelerator Programme, implemented in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), has also supported revenue and employment growth among participating SMEs.
“Launched as a programme to bolster the provincial economy, the SME Rise Capital Matching has provided a comprehensive support ecosystem for businesses. Over the last three years, the initiative engaged close to 2,500 SMEs nationally, with over 1,000 businesses hailing from the Western Cape. These businesses represent various sectors including Engineering and Construction, Manufacturing, Retail and Wholesale, Hospitality, Business Services and Agriculture, all of which are key sectors identified to drive economic growth in the Western Cape.
Through the Capital Matching, SMEs in the Western Cape received over R36 million in funding, with a further R40 million currently in the pipeline. Meanwhile, through its partnership with Western Cape Government and Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) at a national level, the SME Rise Accelerator Programme has supported participating SMEs in scaling their operations, resulting in revenue growth from R3.26 billion to R4.54 billion to date. The programme has also contributed to job creation, with participating SMEs increasing employment from 4,364 to 5,436, a 24.6% jobs increase.
The SME Rise Capital Matching programme’s impact is a contributor to the Western Cape Government’s G4J strategy, which aims for a R1-trillion inclusive economy growing at 4% to 6% per annum by 2035.”
Programmes such as these recognise an important truth: capital markets require a pipeline of investable businesses. Supporting SME growth today strengthens tomorrow’s listing pipeline.
It is a strategic, long-term view of market development; and one that deserves acknowledgment.
Raging Bull Awards: Recognising Performance Excellence
Within the asset management community, few accolades carry as much weight as the annual Raging Bull Awards.
While the industry’s larger brands typically dominate headlines, it is encouraging to see boutique and alternative managers receiving recognition. Firms such as the ones listed below have demonstrated that performance leadership is not confined to scale.
- Long Beach Capital,
- OysterCatcher Investments,
- Raven Funds,
- Methodical Investment Management
- Ranmore Fund Management
Awards season always provides a useful reminder: credibility in asset management is earned over time; and communicated carefully.
See the full list of winners below:
Crisis Communications and Schools: Lessons in Stakeholder Trust
One of the most high-profile stakeholder management issues currently dominating headlines involves Roedean Schooland King David Schools.
The situation has generated significant media exposure and has reportedly resulted in senior leadership resignations.
Without speculating beyond publicly available information, the incident raises broader communications questions. If conversations are being recorded, was this disclosed? How did the recording reach the media? And what are the long-term implications for stakeholder trust?
In an age where digital permanence is assumed, transparency is no longer optional. Organisations must review their stakeholder engagement protocols carefully — especially in sensitive environments such as education.
Trust, once eroded, is difficult to rebuild.
Ready to Elevate Your Investor Communications in 2026?
With economic activity showing renewed signs of life, new listings reaching the JSE and capital markets evolving rapidly, many organisations are reassessing their B2B communications strategies.
Investor communications in South Africa is no longer confined to annual reports and SENS announcements. It now encompasses ESG reporting, digital engagement, multi-exchange listings, employee advocacy and crisis preparedness.
If you are looking for a partner to help refine your stakeholder engagement strategy in 2026, we would welcome the opportunity to engage.
Contact us today!