/ 8 March 2005

Investec to open office in Knysna

Niche banking group Investec will open an office in Knysna this week, to provide specialised services in the Garden Route area, announced Andy Vogel, Investec regional manager for the Eastern Cape.

The specialist investment banking group will offer a number of services from its private client division, including retail treasury, property financing and development, transactional banking, and growth and acquisition funding with a strong empowerment focus, as well as discretionary portfolio management, execution and advisory stockbroking services and wealth management services for high net-worth individuals.

“There has been considerable growth in the Knysna area, some of which Investec has already facilitated,” said Vogel. “We have a number of clients in the region and want to be able to service them closer to home rather than through the Port Elizabeth or Cape Town branches.”

Vogel said the Pezula resort estate development in Knysna, Pinnacle Point hotel and spa in Mossel Bay and Thesen Island are examples of the developments financed by Investec in the region.

“We hope to continue to facilitate growth in the region. Tourism and other sectors contributing to economic growth benefit the area greatly by fostering employment opportunities, increasing property valuations and attracting more business to the area,” said Vogel. — I-Net Bridge