By The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has further strengthened its position as Africa’s premier marketplace with the listing of three new Actively Managed Exchange Traded Funds (AMETFs) on its Main Board.
The fresh additions—comprising offerings from Ninety One and EasyETFs—push the exchange’s total exchange-traded product count to 145, with a combined market capitalisation surpassing R273 billion.
The newly introduced funds include the Ninety One Top Choice SA Equity AMETF (91SAEQ), the Ninety One Global Strategic Equity Feeder AMETF (91GEQ), and the EasyETFs SA Equity Best Ideas AMETF (BEST).
These listings highlight the ongoing evolution of the JSE’s AMETF segment, which has expanded steadily since exchange regulations were amended in 2022 to accommodate active management structures.
Broadening Active Strategies
The expansion caters to a growing investor appetite for dynamic, strategy-driven portfolio management that moves beyond traditional index tracking.
- Ninety One Top Choice SA Equity AMETF (91SAEQ): Designed to target long-term capital growth, this fund provides investors with a concentrated portfolio built around Ninety One’s highest-conviction domestic equity selections, focusing heavily on prime value-creation opportunities within South Africa.
- EasyETFs SA Equity Best Ideas AMETF (BEST): Spearheaded by Easy Asset Management under the leadership of Chief Investment Officer Shaun Krom—who brings over two decades of institutional market experience—this fund marries quantitative analysis with rigorous fundamental research. The strategy employs thematic research, macroeconomic insights, and proprietary weighting to navigate shifting market conditions while reflecting the broader domestic risk-return profile.
- Ninety One Global Strategic Equity Feeder AMETF (91GEQ): Serving as a global counterweight to the domestic offerings, this feeder fund channels capital primarily into the Ninety One Global Strategic Equity Fund. It aims to secure long-term capital growth alongside a steady income stream by tapping into quoted equities across international markets.
Industry Leadership Perspectives
Adèle Hattingh, Specialist Securities Manager at the JSE, emphasized that the new listings underscore a broader industry trend toward product innovation. “It is encouraging to see issuers bringing differentiated investment approaches to the market, spanning both South African and global equity exposure,” Hattingh noted.
Ninety One’s Lead for Active ETF Strategy, Trinisha Chanka, pointed to the firm’s deep bench of specialists as a core differentiator. “These AMETFs are our best equity ideas, locally and globally. They come from our 50+ equity specialists… That adds a layer of judgement which, combined with our in-house technology, is where our edge lies”.
Meanwhile, EasyEquities CEO Charles Savage stressed that the collaboration reinforces the platform’s core objective of broadening market access. “The launch of the EasyETFs SA Equity Best Ideas AMETF builds on that commitment, combining institutional investment expertise, disciplined stock selection and active management in a single, accessible JSE-listed product”.
As the JSE continues to celebrate its 139-year legacy, the continued maturation of the AMETF framework signals a robust future for product diversity, giving institutional and retail participants sophisticated tools to navigate both local and international economic currents.
