RMB Corvest and Umoya Capital Partners invests into pharmaceutical sector

A private equity consortium comprising RMB Corvest and Umoya Capital Partners have, alongside management and Calibre Capital, invested in Brunel Laboratoria (Pty) Ltd.  The deal broadens Brunel’s BEE empowerment, while extending RMB Corvest’s portfolio in the fast-growing healthcare sector.

Brunel is a pharmaceutical brand owner and distributor, with a portfolio of products spanning the scheduled and complementary medicine, health supplement and dispensary consumable segments.  The business has been operating in South Africa for over 40 years and has a well-established consumer base. The business’s brands include Mist Alba, Famucaps, B.Co, Multivit, Hot Toddy and Elev8 among a range of others.

RMB Corvest was attracted by Brunel’s brands and distribution capabilities, which provide barriers to entry that position it well in a growing market. The business is led by an impressive management team as demonstrated by its success over many years.

“The business has a strong track record in its chosen markets with several tangible growth opportunities that we believe the new shareholders will help unlock. It complements the exposure RMB Corvest’s portfolio already has to the healthcare industry, which has seen strong growth and provides an attractive underpin to the investment thesis for both ourselves and Umoya Capital Partners.” says Geoff Wilmot : RMB Corvest.

“Our interactions with Brunel management, prior to the deal, allowed us to see the management team as driven, while being very knowledgeable regards their operations and industry,” says Menzi Khoza: RMB Corvest. “We believe that it augers well for our partnership, particularly as they already have experience with a PE partner.”

Brunel CEO, Paul Jonker says: “We look forward to working with our new partners, leveraging off their expertise while continuing with the solid platform laid out by the existing management team. We are confident that this new partnership will drive growth opportunities and hence add significant value to our business and our long-term market strategy.”