Investment Banking Market Research
Investment banking research in South Africa has to work across two realities simultaneously — JSE-listed corporate activity and increasingly active private capital in sub-Saharan Africa. Deal teams need evidence that holds up in IC memos and fairness opinions, not market-sizing decks. The competitive edge now lies in primary customer and channel evidence that complements sell-side coverage rather than duplicating it.
Why Investment Banking Research Matters
- JSE delistings and take-privates have increased demand for rigorous commercial due diligence on companies where public analyst coverage is thinning.
- Sector thesis work for IPOs, rights issues, and M&A increasingly hinges on demand-side primary research, not just financial comparables.
- Cross-border Africa deals need local channel checks that Johannesburg-based researchers can run faster and more credibly than London or New York teams.
- ESG, B-BBEE, and transformation considerations now sit inside deal diligence scope, not alongside it, and require structured evidence.
- Activist and event-driven situations demand confidential primary research — customer, competitor, and channel — on tight timelines.
Our Investment Banking Research Services
Commercial Due Diligence
Demand, competitive, and channel analysis for buy-side and sell-side mandates across SA and sub-Saharan Africa, sized to IC and fairness-opinion standards.
Sector Thesis and Pitch Support
Primary-evidence-led sector work for origination teams — quickly turned, defensible, and designed to support client conversations rather than recycle public decks.
Customer and Channel Checks
Expert interviews, customer surveys, and distributor checks supporting IPO readiness, refinancings, and contested situations.
ESG and Transformation Diligence
Structured evidence on B-BBEE posture, climate exposure, and governance fit for investors increasingly scrutinising these dimensions.
Post-Merger Integration Research
Customer retention risk, employee sentiment, and channel stability tracking through integration milestones.
Vendor Due Diligence
Sell-side evidence pack preparation that anticipates buyer objections and stress-tests management assumptions.
How We Approach Research in This Sector
We run on deal timelines — scope tightly, work confidentially, and report in formats deal teams can drop into IC papers without reformatting. Senior researchers lead expert-interview programmes personally, and we maintain strict Chinese-wall and clean-team protocols when required. We assume signed NDAs, code names, and controlled distribution from day one.
Why Choose Meraki Research for Investment Banking?
- Deal-cadence delivery — we have run CDD in two- and three-week windows when required.
- Senior-led expert interviewing with CFO, channel, and regulator-level respondents across SA and key African markets.
- Independent of any banking, advisory, or investing arm — no relationships that compromise confidentiality or objectivity.
- Johannesburg-based access to JSE-listed corporates, industry bodies, and sub-Saharan channel networks.
What We Deliver
| Deliverable | Format | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial due diligence report | IC-ready PDF, data room workbook | 3-6 weeks |
| Sector thesis pack | Pitch-ready deck, supporting appendix | 2-3 weeks |
| Expert interview programme | Interview notes, thematic synthesis | 2-4 weeks |
| Vendor due diligence pack | Long-form report, data annex | 5-8 weeks |
| Channel check memo | Focused memo plus call transcripts | 10-15 working days |