Jersey Finance: Funds Focus on South Africa Roundtable

Based in Johannesburg, Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa’s primary focus is developing the strategy for Jersey Finance’s engagement in the South African market. She also plays a vital role in supporting the organisation’s wider activity across the continent.

Elliot re-joined Jersey Finance in November 2018 from Crestbridge where he managed their Management Company Services Group.

Elliot’s role is to help define Jersey’s product offering for funds as well as to oversee the strategy and execution of marketing Jersey as both a domicile and destination for Alternative Investment Managers and their funds.

Nienke is a member of the investment funds team in Jersey and specialises in cross-border investment and collective investment vehicles. She has acted for many international private equity managers, real estate investors and financial institutions on transactions with a Jersey nexus. Her practice includes advising on the establishment, regulation and launch of investment funds, negotiating and drafting a broad range of commercial agreements and advising on the sale and financing of structures holding international real estate (such as Jersey property unit trusts). A South African national, Nienke trained and practiced corporate and commercial law with leading African law firm ENSafrica in South Africa. She holds a BAccLLB degree from the University of Stellenbosch and an LLM in Commercial Law from the University of Edinburgh. Nienke joined Carey Olsen in January 2016.

Shelley joined SAVCA in 2016 as the Head of Regulatory Affairs focusing on leading SAVCA's engagement and advocacy efforts with regulators including National Treasury, SARS, SARB and the FSCA. Shelley's extensive experience in the financial services sector includes 6 years at Horizon Equity Partners, where she was responsible for all fund reporting, valuations and compliance. Shelley also spent 7 years at the Royal Bank of Scotland in London where she worked in a technical accounting and regulatory advisory role for the Investment Bank. Shelley was the Finance lead in the launch of RBS's GBP 1.1bn Private Equity fund in 2007, which paved the way for Shelley's career in private equity.

Shayne Krige is Co-Head of Investment Funds & Private Equity practice. He also forms part of the Banking & Finance and Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions practice areas. Shayne specialises in investment funds; private equity; and international transactions. His expertise covers the range of investment fund types – from asset and hedge funds to private equity funds – extending to corporate/mergers & acquisitions as well as corporate structuring. Shayne has acted for investment funds; fund managers and investors; and has assisted several South African clients to establish international funds.

Milton is a corporate, funds and banking and finance lawyer with previous experience at international law firms in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Singapore and China. Milton has broad experience advising financial institutions and sponsors, in relation to acquisition finance, cross-border finance, private equity, structured finance, debt capital markets, derivatives, hedge funds, high yield debt, and securitisation. Milton has funds experience and has advised both GPs and LPs in relation to the establishment of domestic and international funds and has assisted clients with the full spectrum of private investment funds, all major investment strategies and all stages of a private investment fund's life cycle.

Knife Capital is an independent growth equity investment firm focusing on innovation-driven ventures with proven traction. My goal is to prove that South African founders and the companies they build can compete on a global level. Simultaneously I want to prove that Venture Capital as an asset class in South Africa can work. Both goals require persistence, an understanding of the why and the how. I see myself as a business builder and a business partner, captivated by founders who have a deeper motivation and embrace the journey. I know that one needs an ecosystem to succeed, and I am trying to play my part in building that.

Simon is Global Head of Fund Services at Hawksford, responsible for the delivery and oversight of fund administration services. As part of the senior executive team, he helps shape the strategy of the business, while driving the growth and development of the funds service line. With more than 20 years’ experience, Simon has extensive experience across multiple alternative asset classes and is a qualified person for the purpose of acting as a director of regulated entities.