BMB Group

The BMB Group (formerly Brunei Merchant Bank) is an advisory and asset management platform for ruling families and Forbes 500 investors. In 2015 the firm refocused its business to provide capital and specialist advice exclusively for Forbes 500 families.[1] The company works only with ultra high-net-worth investors in private off-market initiatives.[2] providing specialist advice in the form of business development and strategic advisory services, with a focus on emerging markets of Asia, Latin America, CIS and the Middle East.[1]The firm is co-chaired by HH Prince Abdul Ali Yil Kabier a scion of the Brunei Royal family. [3] The CEO of BMB is Mr Rizmi Niyas. The Vice Chairman of BMB was former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Moeen Qureshi. Mr Qureshi invited advisors to the group that included Chris Patten, Ratan Tata, Toyoo Gyoten, Bill Cohen and Henry Kissinger as speaker.

Rayo Withanage

In an investigative report, Euromoney described BMB as "one of the world’s most exclusive financial institutions. The group calls to mind an era when courts of Asian empires were the global centers of money, technology, culture and power. Its growing number of investors are drawn from eastern ruling families with vast riches gleaned from the long term growth demand for commodities."[4] The firm was founded in 2006 by prominent financier Rayo Withanage,[4] originally an attorney and strategist who developed a successful career as a direct investor.[5] Mr. Withanage, who was named in the Financial Times 100 rising stars of finance.[6] Though Mr Withanage remained a majority shareholder of BMB, he resigned as CEO to lead Philantech which develops media & technology companies that are systemically transformative in achieving the global sustainability goals. [7]

BMB and its affiliates have invested upwards of US$12 billion[4][8] around the world in the areas of private equity,[9] real estate,[10] natural resources,[4][11] wealth management,[10] hospitality[12][13][14] and philanthropy.[15][16] BMB is headquartered in the corporate tax haven of Bermuda.[2]

In 2008 BMB invested to acquire a 50% interest in EMP Global which was a pioneer in emerging markets private equity. EMP was founded in 1992 by Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Moeen Qureshi and former treasurer of the World Bank, Mr Donald Roth.The partnership raised over USD7 Billion for private equity funds focused on Asia, South America, Middle East and emerging Europe.[17][18][19]

BMB acquired Deutsch Bank’s subsidiary business in Islamic finance which advised on over $20 Billion in transactions.BMB Islamic was an early pioneer in Islamic finance. BMB advised the Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Organization of Islamic Countries on the setup of a global Zakat fund to manage Islamic philanthropic money.[20][3]Dr Humayon Dar was the CEO of BMB Islamic.

In 2015 BMB invested in the creation of Scepter Partners, a standing syndicate of sovereign investors and ultra-high net worth families. Scepter was managed by veteran investment banker Anthony J Steains and the former Blackstone Advisory Partners Asia team. The formation of Scepter’s merchant banking division created one of the most experienced merchant banking specialists focused on family offices and sovereign wealth.[21]

In 2015 Scepter bid $5.1 billion for the Australian oil and gas company Santos Limited.[22] Scepter returned again in partnership with a consortium of investors led by Harbour Energy to offer $14.4 billion for Santos, but were unsuccessful.[23] Scepter spun out the Scepter investment corporation today which is owned by HH Prince Bahar Bolkiah, a scion of the Brunei royal family.[24]

• Official website