BMO Capital Markets has hired a well-respected team of professionals based in London, UK, 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, Strauss was a founding partner of Hargreave Hale, where he spent five years building an institutional mining specialist sales and research team. Strauss is of the Strauss family who founded Strauss Turnbull, a well-known resource-focused investment banking firm acquired by Société Générale in 1992.

Other members of the team include Kelly Carter, who joins as vp, with responsibility for sales and trading coverage. Prior to joining the team at Hargreave Hale, Carter was a sales-trader at Société Générale 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. Borthwick during his 10 years in mining research at Hargreave Hale and Société Générale developed a first rate reputation in UK financial markets.

Ed Sterck will work with Borthwick as an associate. Prior to working in mining research, 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, in a news release. “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.”

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.

AIM has 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.