Ninety One, Africa’s largest independent private asset manager, has acquired more than 5% of Remgro, the investment company controlled by billionaire Johann Rupert and his family, strengthening its position as a major shareholder in one of South Africa’s largest investment groups.
- Ninety One has acquired over 5% of Remgro’s shares, strengthening its position as a significant shareholder in the investment group.
- Remgro, controlled by billionaire Johann Rupert, manages a diversified portfolio spanning healthcare, financial services, food production, energy, telecommunications, consumer businesses, and more.
- Ninety One’s investment comes amid strong financial performance, with assets under management rising 31% to £171.8 billion and a return to net client inflows in 2026.
- The transaction reflects the growing influence of African asset managers in key business groups, with Ninety One’s move adding institutional strength to Remgro’s established presence.
Remgro disclosed the deal through a Stock Exchange News Service (SENS) announcement on August 17, 2026, saying clients of Ninety One South Africa had acquired a beneficial interest in its ordinary shares.
“Following the acquisition, Ninety One now holds 5.0156% of the issued ordinary shares of the Company on behalf of its clients,” Remgro said.
The shares are held on behalf of Ninety One’s clients and do not represent a direct ownership stake by the asset manager itself.
Remgro said it had, in line with the Companies Act and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Listings Requirements, filed the required notices with the Takeover Regulation Panel and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission.
The acquisition gives Ninety One a significant position in Remgro, which has built a diversified portfolio across healthcare, financial services, food production, energy, telecommunications and consumer businesses.
Remgro: Johann Rupert’s diversified investment empire
The group is closely associated with billionaire Johann Rupert, whose family has shaped its growth over several decades. Remgro was founded in 1948 by Anton Rupert and later evolved into a diversified investment company under the leadership of his son, Johann Rupert.
With an estimated net worth of about $16 billion in 2026, Rupert built his fortune through luxury brands, global investments and diversified businesses, including interests linked to Richemont, the global luxury goods group behind brands such as Cartier and Montblanc.
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Ninety One returns to growth
The investment comes as Ninety One records stronger financial performance after a period of pressure on assets under management and client flows.
For the financial year ended March 31, 2026, Ninety One’s assets under management reached £171.8 billion, representing a 31% increase from £130.8 billion in the previous financial year.
The growth was partly driven by a strategic agreement with Sanlam that added £18.3 billion to Ninety One’s assets under management.
Under the agreement, Ninety One became Sanlam’s primary active investment manager for single-managed local and global products, while gaining access to Sanlam’s distribution network in South Africa.
Sanlam also became an anchor investor in Ninety One’s international private and specialist credit strategies.
During the year, Ninety One returned to positive net client flows, recording £2.8 billion in net inflows compared with £4.9 billion in net outflows in 2025.
Revenue increased by 9% to £763.3 million, while net revenue rose by 9.35% to £650.2 million. Profit after tax increased by 2.27% to £153.5 million.
Ninety One chief executive Hendrik du Toit said the company was benefiting from improving demand for emerging market investments.
“Ninety One is a resilient and robust business with positive momentum. The demand recovery for emerging markets is visible, and our offering is competitive,” he said.
“We are in a stronger position than a year ago. We are investing through the cycle in talent and technology to be future fit.”
The Remgro transaction adds Ninety One as a significant shareholder in one of South Africa’s most established investment groups, as the asset manager expands its exposure to major companies through institutional investments.
