It has been a busy fortnight on Sens, with global giants adjusting their stakes, insiders making calculated moves, and A2X welcoming its first international broker. Here’s what caught our eye.
Major shareholder movements
The world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, adjusted holdings in two JSE secondary-listed UK entities.
For Shaftesbury Capital, BlackRock landed on a 5.72% total voting rights stake. This comprises 4.98% directly held voting rights and 0.74% via financial instruments — notably 0.42% in securities lending and 0.32% in contracts for difference (CFDs).
Similarly, in Primary Health Properties, BlackRock reported a position of 6.34% from May 20. This includes 4.9% of voting rights attached to shares and 1.44% through financial instruments (1% securities lending; 0.44% CFDs).
Closer to home, Coronation Fund Managers trimmed its stake in Bytes Technology Group. On May 21, it notified a dip from 10.99% to 9.91% in voting rights, effective the previous day.
Meanwhile, US-based Capital Group scaled back slightly in mining conglomerate Glencore, reporting a fall to 4.91% from 5.19%.
Peresec Prime Brokers has edged up its stake in RMB Holdings, now holding a 5.02% beneficial interest.
On May 21, Sesfikile Capital disclosed that it now holds 5.75% of Octodec Investments’ issued ordinary shares, held on behalf of clients.
Insider dealings
Lighthouse director Des de Beer continued his buying streak through Delsa Investments, purchasing 165,619 shares on May 20, valued at about R1.4m. He is a beneficiary of the trust that owns Delsa.
Over at MTN, company secretary Mateboho Rantofi sold 13,135 shares at R121 each, amounting to R1.59m, on May 2.
At Spear Reit, executive director Quintin Rossi and associates executed a series of modest on-market purchases: Evlah Investments, a company linked to Rossi, picked up 3,700 shares across two days. Additionally, two of Rossi’s minor children, who hold indirect nonbeneficial interests, each acquired 1,500 shares. Though the amounts are small, insider buying in a real estate investment trust suggests a degree of confidence in long-term fundamentals.
UBS plans to operate across the full spectrum of A2X listings, covering about 175 equities and ETFs spanning multiple sectors
A2X
In a noteworthy step for South Africa’s capital markets, UBS South Africa will begin trading on A2X in the second quarter of 2025, becoming the first international broker to do so.
UBS plans to operate across the full spectrum of A2X listings, covering about 175 equities and ETFs spanning multiple sectors. UBS describes the move as part of its global commitment to innovation, liquidity access and market efficiency. For A2X, the addition signals growing international credibility and a potentially broader shakeup in local trading dynamics.
The top five traders on A2X this past week are led by Prosus, with a value of R435.9m (17.25% market share), followed by Richemont with R202.8m (11.63%), Remgro with R36.4m (10.21%), Aspen Pharmacare with R40.7m (8.45%) and Glencore with R63.4m (8.23%).
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