News Releases
BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), has hired a well-respected team of professionals based in London, U.K., to broaden the firm's capabilities in serving smaller quoted companies on the Official List and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
BMO Capital Markets has also applied for membership on the London Stock Exchange and is awaiting final approval.
The team will focus on companies in the resources, energy and technology sectors that are listed or have intentions of listing on the London Stock Exchange or AIM, one of the fastest growing stock exchanges in the world.
The new group will be headed by Jamie Strauss, who joins BMO Capital Markets as Managing Director of UK Equity Products. He will be responsible for developing and managing an AIM/LSE business as well as continuing as a specialist mining salesman. Prior to joining BMO Capital Markets, Mr. Strauss was a founding partner of Hargreave Hale, where he spent five years building an institutional mining specialist sales and research team. In a relatively short period of time, that team became known in the UK mining investment market for its early focus on the uranium investment opportunity and in raising finance for a large number of mining companies in both the UK and overseas. Prior to 2000, Mr. Strauss served in the sales group of Soci�t� G�n�rale, where he focused on UK and European equities with a keen interest in the mining world. Mr. Strauss is of the Strauss family who founded Strauss Turnbull, a well-known resource-focused investment banking firm acquired by Soci�t� G�n�rale in 1992.
Other members of the team include:
- Kelly Carter, who joins as Vice-President, with responsibility for sales and trading coverage. Prior to joining the team at Hargreave Hale, Ms. Carter was a sales-trader at Soci�t� G�n�rale Strauss Turnbull in London.
- Additionally, BMO will be expanding and developing research capabilities on mining and companies listed on AIM with the hiring of Sacha Borthwick, as a Director and Mining Analyst. Mr. Borthwick during his 10 years in mining research at Hargreave Hale and Soci�t� G�n�rale developed a first rate reputation in UK financial markets.
- Ed Sterck, will work with Mr. Borthwick as an Associate. Mr. Sterck has a BSc (Hons) from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College in London. Prior to working in mining research Mr. Sterck was a financial futures trader.
“We are delighted to have such a talented and specialized group join us,” said David Fleck, Global Co-Head, Equity Products, BMO Capital Markets. “With the addition of Jamie and his team, BMO Capital Markets is developing a presence on AIM/LSE by providing thoughtful research on a growing number of AIM-listed companies. This is complemented with insightful stockbrokerage services on all AIM-listed securities and will be followed with selective corporate brokering service offering as well as active market making services.”
“As a recognized leader in mining industry research, sales and trading, we are well-positioned to give investors direct exposure to companies in every sector,” said Jacques Vaillancourt, Managing Director and Head of European Operations, Equity Products, BMO Capital Markets in London. “With institutional trading teams in London, across Europe, New York, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, we have the international breadth to execute on behalf of clients in any market. As a member of BMO Financial Group, we are able to draw on the resources of one of North America's largest financial institutions to provide clients with the liquidity they need.”
BMO Capital Markets intends to complete its AIM strategy as it is actively looking to expand its global investment banking group by adding additional mining professionals in London.
About AIM
The Alternative Investment Market (AIM) exchange has, during its short history, become one of the world's fastest growing and dynamic stock exchanges. Since its launch in 1995, over 2,500 companies have chosen to join AIM. The majority of those companies are focused in four broad industry groups, all of which are a part of BMO Capital Markets core capabilities: Metals & Mining, Energy, Health Sciences and Technology.
About BMO Capital Markets
BMO Capital Markets is a leading underwriter of equity issues for mining companies globally. Since 2000, BMO Capital Markets has advised on 36 major Metals & Minerals M&A transactions totaling US$20.8 billion.
BMO Capital Markets has been a trusted advisor to Metals & Minerals companies for almost 100 years. As a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), the firm is able to leverage the financial strength and capabilities of one of North America's leading financial services organizations. With dedicated Metals & Minerals sales specialists in New York, Toronto and London, BMO Capital Markets provides investors with easy, efficient access to the best ideas in specific sectors such as coal, base metals, zinc, nickel and other precious metals.
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