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Our media releases
All our latest press releases are available in Adobe Reader PDF format for ease of reading or printing.
2018
Business confidence stuck at low levelsThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) jumped by 11 points from 34 in the fourth quarter of 2017 to 45 in the first quarter of 2018. An increase of such magnitude is rare: since 1975, the BCI rose by 11 points or more on only 15 occasions. If sustained, the first quarter rise implies a much-improved economic growth performance this year and next, relative to 2017’s 1.3% GDP expansion.  Read more |
2017
Business confidence stuck at low levelsThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) essentially flatlined at 34 in the fourth quarter. While this is an improvement on the seven and a half-year low of 29 in the second quarter, sentiment... Read more |
Business confidence stuck at low levelsThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) essentially flatlined at 34 in the fourth quarter. While this is an improvement on the seven and a half-year low of 29 in the second quarter, sentiment... Read more |
Private equity consortium invests into supplier of corporate and promotional apparelJohannesburg [9 October 2017] - A private equity consortium comprising RMB Corvest, RMB Ventures and Ethos Mid Market Fund have, alongside management, acquired 100% of Kevro, Africa’s largest value-add supplier of corporate and promotional apparel... Read more |
South Africa falls from top position and Nigeria drops out of the top 10.Rand Merchant Bank’s seventh edition of Where to Invest in Africa presents some interesting changes in its ratings of the continent’s most attractive investment destinations. Read more |
Clarification on survey report: “Political views in a post-downgrade, post-Gordhan SA"Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), through its Global Markets Research Team, regularly publishes reports to its clients and can confirm it compiled a report reflecting the views of five independent political analysts, which was circulated to its clients on 13 April... Read more |
Business confidence fails to inspireThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) increased by a minuscule two points to 40 in the first quarter of 2017. This means only four out of every 10 respondents were satisfied with business conditions. Since 2008 the BCI has only been above the neutral 50 mark on four occasions - a pattern consistent with an economy continuously treading water... Read more |
South Africans can now hold their cash in dollarsRand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, has listed an innovative new product on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), which will enable companies and individuals to hold unlimited quantities of cash in US dollars. US Dollar Custodial Certificates (DCCs), listed on the Exchange Traded Funds sector of the JSE on 24th January, are easily tradable, dollar-denominated investment instruments which have no exchange control implications... Read more |
2016
RMB Corvest disposes of its interest in Kwikot to ElectroluxElectrolux today (10th November 2016) announced it has agreed to acquire South Africa’s leading water heater producer, the Kwikot Group, from private equity company RMB Corvest and other parties for a total enterprise value of R3,18 billion... Read more |
New RCS investment holdings domestic medium term note programme guaranteed by BNP Paribas - maiden bond issuance oversubscribedOn 24 October sole lead arranger, Rand Merchant Bank (a division of FirstRand Bank Limited), announced the successful placement of ZAR750 million in notes under RCS Investment Holding Limited’s (RCS) recently launched BNP Paribas guaranteed capital markets programme... Read more |
Business confidence recovers in the third quarterAfter falling for seven consecutive quarters, the RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) rose by 10 points to 42 in the third quarter. This still means that only four out of ten respondents were satisfied with ... Read more |
Debmarine Namibia takes ownership of N$ 2,3 billion diamond exploration vesselOn Monday (25th July 2016), the Namibian marine diamond mining giant Debmarine Namibia took ownership of the SS Nujoma, the sixth ship in its fleet of diamond mining and exploration vessels, from... Read more |
FirstRand announces membership of global clearing house LCHA subsidiary of FirstRand Limited (FirstRand), FirstRand Securities Limited, has become a member of the interest rate derivatives clearing service SwapClear, one of the clearing platforms provided... Read more |
Business confidence drops furtherAfter remaining unchanged at 36 in the first quarter, the RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell to 32 in the second quarter. Besides an 11-point drop over the past year, confidence is... Read more |
SingularityU South Africa Global Impact Competition winner Nick Walker aims to work towards establishing a stem cell bank for HIV resistant cells.Nick Walker, the winner of a 10-week course at Singularity University in Silicon Valley, California, hopes to use his winning concept to start a stem cell storage bank in collaboration with... Read more |
SINGULARITYU South Africa announces winners of the first Global Impact Competition in South Africa, organised locally in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank.Johannesburg, 6 April 2016 – Earlier tonight SingularityU South Africa announced Nick Walker as the winner of the first Global Impact Competition (GIC) in South Africa for his work on creating... Read more |
Business confidence stable at a low levelThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) was unchanged at 36 in the first quarter of 2016. This means that around two thirds of the 1750 respondents surveyed remained unsatisfied with... Read more |
Time to win 10 weeks at Singularity University in Silicon Valley, California, is running outJohannesburg, 29 February 2016 – Time is running out to enter the Singularity University Global Impact Competition (GIC), which has as its first prize an invitation to participate in the 10-week Summer 2016... Read more |
Rand Merchant Bank partners with Singularity University to launch the Global Impact Competition in South AfricaJohannesburg, 11 February – Singularity University, a benefit corporation whose mission is to educate, inspire and empower leaders to apply exponential technologies to address humanity's greatest challenges, has announced a new partnership with... Read more |
RMB Westport launches new Africa property development fundAfter the success of RMB Westport’s first African real estate development fund, which closed in August 2012, the property development and investment group announced the first close of... Read more |
2015
RMB structures a unique export guarantee facility with ECIC South AfricaRand Merchant Bank (RMB) has structured a unique export guarantee facility with the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC), paving the way for similar products between... Read more |
Actis, RMB Westport and Paragon sell Nigeria’s Ikeja City Mall to Hyprop and AttackLondon, South Africa (17 November 2015): Actis, a leading emerging markets investor, RMB Westport, a notable sub-Saharan Africa real estate investment management and development... Read more |
RMB launches world-first Krugerrand productFor the first time in South Africa, investors can directly own and take delivery of physical gold via custodial certificates... Read more |
RMB's Where to Invest in Africa 2015/16 report — Agriculture and energy offer some of the most attractive investments in AfricaRand Merchant Bank's Where to Invest in Africa 2015/2016 report launched:
Agriculture and energy offer some of the most attractive investments in Africa.... Read more |
RMB/BER Business Confidence Index 1Q15 — Business confidence drops marginallyThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) continued to decline, falling by a further six index points in the second quarter. At 43, business confidence is now back at levels that prevailed during the first half of 2014 when the economy received a strong blow from the platinum sector strike. A growing majority of respondents clearly regard current business conditions as unsatisfactory.... Read more |
A new Nigerian government increases opportunities for the private sectorThe swearing in of Nigeria’s new president Muhammadu Buhari last week has led to renewed optimism regarding economic progress in the country and new opportunities for the private sector, particularly in infrastructure development, consumer and financial services sectors ... Read more |
RMB/BER Business Confidence Index 1Q15 - Business confidence drops marginallyThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell by just 2 points to 49 in the first quarter of 2015. This means respondents are about evenly split between those that are satisfied and unsatisfied about prevailing business conditions. The survey was conducted between 2 February and 4 March, and it covered 2900 firms in the building, manufacturing, retail, wholesale and motor trade sectors ... Read more |
2014
RMB/BER Business Confidence Index 4Q14 — Business confidence improves furtherThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) increased by another five points to 51 in the fourth quarter. This is the first time since early 2013 that confidence is back in net positive territory (if only just). A reading of 51 indicates that slightly over half of the respondents are satisfied with prevailing business conditions ... Read more |
RMB Ventures and Bopa Moruo invest in One Digital MediaRMB Ventures, the private equity subsidiary of FirstRand Limited, and Bopa Moruo, an independent, black-owned private equity firm, have invested in digital signage company One Digital Media, alongside management. RMB Ventures and Bopa Moruo facilitated a management buy-out from the previous majority shareholder ... Read more |
RMB's initial signing of financing agreements for Cenpower Gas-Fired Power Station in GhanaOn Friday 3 October, FirstRand Bank Limited’s investment banking division, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), commence the signature of the financing agreements for Ghanaian Kpone Independent Power Producer (KIPP) Cenpower Generation Company’s $900-million, 350MW gas-fired power station to be located in Tema, Ghana ... Read more |
RMB Morgan Stanley announces new CEO as Chris Meyer steps downRMB Morgan Stanley today announces that effective end October 2014 Chris Meyer will be stepping down as CEO and Matthew Rattray, currently deputy CEO, will be appointed to replace him ... Read more |
RMB's Where to Invest in Africa 2014/2015 — A Guide to Corporate Investment shows East Africa as a hotbed of activity and investment opportunitiesRand Merchant Bank’s (RMB) fourth annual Where to Invest in Africa 2014/15 — A Guide to Corporate Investment shows a less favourable year for Africa’s investment attractiveness ratings ... Read more |
RMB/BER Business Confidence Index 3Q2014 — Business confidence improves in the third quarterThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) increased by five points to 46 in the third quarter ... Read more |
RMB Joburg Indaba announcement imminent(Johannesburg 2 September 2014) Following a decade of over-exuberance, the mining industry is now picking up the pieces, and is in full re-structuring mode ... Read more |
Rand Merchant Bank arranges commodity and working capital facilities for Tanzanian commodities trading companyRand Merchant Bank (RMB) has arranged a US$200m working capital facility for the MeTL Group (MeTL) ... Read more |
The FirstRand Gold Bond: Investors can now invest directly in gold without the associated costsInvestors can now have direct exposure to gold, without storage or administrative costs ... Read more |
Business Confidence Index 2Q2014 — Unchanged business confidence points to another weak quarter of economic activityThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) remained unchanged at a low 41 points in the second quarter of 2014 ... Read more |
Business Confidence Index 1Q14 — Business confidence edges lowerThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell by two points to 41 in the first quarter of 2014 — a move that more than offset the one point increase in the previous quarter ... Read more |
2013
2012
Rand Merchant Bank commits in excess of R10bn to financing renewable energy projectsRand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, committed in excess of R10bn from its own balance sheet to closing five of the largest renewable energy projects in Round One of the Department of Energy’s (DoE) Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme ... Read more |
RMB to further build out its franchise in Nigeria following the granting of an investment banking licenseRMB today confirmed that through its parent FirstRand Bank Limited, it has secured an investment banking license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which required an initial capital investment of US$100 Read more |
Outlook uncertain despite stable business confidenceThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) was little changed in the fourth quarter, declining by only one point to a level of 46. Still, this means that slightly more than half of the respondents remain downbeat about prevailing business conditions ... Read more |
JD Group successfully raises R1 billion in its debut corporate bond issuanceYesterday JD Group successfully completed its debut bond issuance for R1 billion.The notes were issued off JD Group Limited’s recently registered R8 billion note programme with the JSE Interest Rate Market ... Read more |
RMB Ventures invests in GrapetekRMB Ventures, a private equity house and subsidiary of FirstRand Limited, has led a management buy-out of Grapetek, the leading manufacturer of table grape preservation sheets, which it markets globally under the Uvasys brand ... Read more |
Fitch Affirms RMB Structured Insurance & RMB Financial ServicesInsurance Limited's (RMBSI) National Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) rating at 'A+(zaf)' and international IFS rating at 'BBB'. Fitch has also affirmed Ireland-based RMB Financial Services Limited's (RMBFS) IFS rating at 'BBB'. The Outlooks are Stable ... Read more |
RMB Westport says west is bestRMB Westport recently raised US$250-million for its Real Estate Development Fund aimed at developing real estate assets in west Africa. This unprecedented amount of committed investor capital is earmarked to supply Africa’s current strong demand for high-grade retail and commercial property ... Read more |
RMB Ventures invests in The Studio 88 GroupRMB Ventures, a private equity investor and subsidiary of FirstRand Limited, has purchased a Read more |
Where to Invest in Africa — Second report launched by RMBInvesting in Africa: a new report South Africa is still Africa’s top investment destination but its lead is Read more |
Business confidence recovers partiallyThe RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) rose by six points from 41 in the second quarter to 47 in the third quarter of 2012. This only partially neutralises the big fall in the second quarter when confidence dropped by 11 points from 52 in the first quarter ... Read more |
Rand Merchant Bank launches the RMB MidCap Exchange Traded Fund7 August 2012 — Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has launched South Africa’s first mid-cap Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) which will be listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), on Wednesday 15th August ... Read more |
RMB's growth strategy in Kenya supported by opening of FirstRand representative office2 May 2012 — RMB today confirmed that the official opening of the FirstRand representative office in Kenya tonight will strengthen its strategy to market products and services to corporates and parastatals based in Kenya ... Read more |
Land Bank raises R500 million in corporate bonds — 22 March 2012On Tuesday (20 March), Land Bank successfully completed a R500-million corporate bond issuance following a well-received inaugural bond issuance of R1.2-billion in October 2010 ... Read more |
Business confidence increases across the board — 8 March 2012After a notable decline in the second half of 2011, the RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) jumped by 14 points to a level of 52 in the first quarter of 2012 ... Read more |
2011
Hyprop placement exceeds expectations — 25 November 2011The sale of a large tranche of units, in listed property group Hyprop, exceeded expectations when they were bought via an "accelerated bookbuild placement" on global markets ... Read more |
Business confidence increases across the board — 8 March 2012After a notable decline in the second half of 2011, the RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) jumped by 14 points to a level of 52 in the first quarter of 2012 ... Read more |
Business Confidence Index results Q411:Flat business confidence better than it seems — 23 November 2011After falling from 55 index points in the first quarter of the year to 39 in the third quarter, the RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) eased by one point to 38 in the fourth quarter ... Read more |
Rand Merchant Bank wins derivative awards — 10 October 2011Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has been voted as the overall category winner for Interest Rates in the Risk South Africa Derivatives Dealers Awards survey 2011, where market participants are invited to vote for the best derivatives traders in South Africa ... Read more |
RMB opens in Namibia — 15 September 2011Investment banking arm of FirstRand Bank Limited, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), has opened in Namibia on 14 September 2011. RMB Namibia offers a full suite of investment banking products and services to the Namibian market ... Read more |
Denny Mushrooms bought by an RMB Ventures-led private equity consortium — 13 September 2011A consortium consisting of key management members, RMB Ventures and pan-African Private Equity Fund 1 have concluded a management buy-out of Denny Mushrooms. Denny is Africa's leading producer and marketer of fresh mushrooms ... Read more |
Business confidence drops back further — 6 September 2011After declining by seven points to 48 in the second quarter, the RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell by a further nine points to 39 in the third quarter of 2011 ... Read more |
Where to invest in Africa: countries companies should choose — 15 August 2011The case for investing in Africa has been widely made. The continent is booming and offers a largely untapped market. But Africa has many economies with differing populations, wealth and operating conditions. Africa offers both the best and the worst ... Read more |
SANRAL raises R300m in fourth successful bond auction in 2011 — 6 July 2011The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), had total bids to the value of R702 million and issued R300 million in July in its fourth bond auction of 2011. The auction was 2.3x oversubscribed ... Read more |
Business confidence declines in the second quarter — 7 June 2011The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) moderated by seven index points from 55 in the first quarter to 48 in the second quarter of 2011. An index level just below the neutral 50 mark means that around half of the respondents surveyed are satisfied and the other half dissatisfied with prevailing business conditions ... Read more |
SANRAL raises R300 million in third bond auction for 2011 — 1 June 2011The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), in its third bond auction for 2011, had total bids to the value of R1 267 million and issued R300 million. The auction was more than 4 time oversubscribed ... Read more |
Rand Merchant Bank launches Coal Exchange-Traded Note — 5 May 2011Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has launched its second commodity Exchange-Traded Note (ETN), the RMB Coal ETN, which is listing on the JSE Limited on 5 May 2011 ... Read more |
SANRAL raises R350 million in second bond auction for 2011 — 6 April 2011The South African National Roads Agency Limited ('SANRAL'), in its second auction for 2011, had total bids to the value of R537 million and issued R350 million as anticipated ... Read more |
Edcon successfully places ZAR1.01 billion Super Senior Secured Notes due 2016 — 4 April 2011On Monday (4th April), Edcon raised R1.01-billion through the issue of super senior secured notes under its newly established ZAR2.5 billion Domestic Medium Term Note Programme registered with the JSE Limited (Interest Rate Market) ... Read more |
Business confidence increases sharply — 8 March 2011The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) jumped from 44 points in the fourth quarter of 2010 to 55 in the first quarter of 2011. An index number in net positive territory ... Read more |
Sanral's first bond auction for 2011 — 2 March 2011The South African National Roads Agency Limited (‘SANRAL’), in its first auction for 2011, had total bids to the value of R2118 million and issued R750 million as anticipated ... Read more |
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