Cobus is the founder and CEO of Merchant Link International, a corporate finance boutique, focusing exclusively on private equity deal origination and syndication in Sub-Saharan Africa, with deep sector expertise in Renewable Energy, Impact, Agriculture and Infrastructure.

 

Cobus qualified as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa and worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Cape Town in Global Risk Management Services for 7 years. Concurrently with his career in finance, he managed to represent Western Province, the Stormers and the Springbok rugby team, until he moved to London in 2003 to join professional rugby club, Saracens. He achieved various accolades during his rugby career, including being named in 1999 IRB Rugby World Cup Team of the Tournament and representing the World XV, Southern Hemisphere and Barbarians Rugby in several matches.

 

In 2011 he joined Templewood Merchant Bank, an independent private merchant bank where he was involved in Financial, Strategic, Investment and Advisory services to UK companies and a diverse group of International Investors. As Principal for Africa he was responsible for all deal origination and syndication for Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

This skill set and merchant banking experience inspired Cobus to start Merchant Link International focusing exclusively on private equity deal origination and syndication in Sub-Saharan Africa for the transformation of the continent and the people.