Bright Tibane
Partner | Johannesburg
Contact
T: +27 11 669 9521
E: bright.tibane@bowmanslaw.com
Overview
Bright Tibane is a seasoned financial sector regulatory lawyer with specialized expertise across financial services, including asset management, securities, fund management, banking and domestic and international payment services. His practice spans emerging areas such as financial technology (FinTech) services, regulated lending, exchange control, and anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing compliance.
Bright is a trusted advisor to financial service providers, capital market participants (exchanges, brokers, custodians, and nominees), fund managers, payment service providers, regulated credit providers, banks, and fintech innovators. He provides strategic guidance on compliance, product distribution, and marketing requirements, as well as registration, licensing, authorizations, and regulatory exemptions. Bright’s well-established relationships with financial regulators enable him to streamline regulatory processes and advocate effectively for clients.
With in-depth exchange control expertise, Bright supports cross-border transactions, including cross-border loans, remittances and investments, ensuring seamless compliance with exchange control regulatory frameworks. He also plays a pivotal role in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating regulated agreements, such as brokerage, product distribution, investment mandates, and merchant acquiring agreements, helping clients achieve both legal and commercial objectives efficiently.
Experience
Bright has advised:
- Capitec Bank Limited in relation to its acquisition of Mercantile Bank Limited’s business, providing regulatory advice and assisting with regulatory steps.
- Grindrod Bank Limited and African Bank Limited by providing regulatory advice and assisting with regulatory steps in relation to their section 54 transaction (merger and transfer of business).
- Rand Merchant Bank in relation to the eligibility under current regulatory requirements and Basel IV of insurance policies as credit risk mitigation.
- Liquidnet Europe Limited in relation to reviewing and negotiating a brokerage agreement with Avior Capital Markets Pty Ltd.
- JSE Investor Services CSDP Pty Ltd in relation to, amongst other things, the interpretation and application of the Rules of Strate Proprietary Limited.
- Stonehage Fleming on inter alia application of the Collective Investment Schemes Control Act to alternative investment funds.
- Nomura in relation to application for approval of their foreign funds (UCITS) for distribution in South Africa.
- Meridiam in relation to reconsideration application and reinstatement of its financial services provider licence.
- Flutterwave in relation to reviewing and negotiating a merchant acquiring agreement with a local commercial bank.
- Gold One South Africa on foreign exchange controls and assist with application for regularisation of inward loans.
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
Education
- LLB from the University of Limpopo.
- LLM from the University of the Witwatersrand.
INSIGHTS
Overview
Bright Tibane is a seasoned financial sector regulatory lawyer with specialized expertise across financial services, including asset management, securities, fund management, banking and domestic and international payment services. His practice spans emerging areas such as financial technology (FinTech) services, regulated lending, exchange control, and anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing compliance.
Bright is a trusted advisor to financial service providers, capital market participants (exchanges, brokers, custodians, and nominees), fund managers, payment service providers, regulated credit providers, banks, and fintech innovators. He provides strategic guidance on compliance, product distribution, and marketing requirements, as well as registration, licensing, authorizations, and regulatory exemptions. Bright’s well-established relationships with financial regulators enable him to streamline regulatory processes and advocate effectively for clients.
With in-depth exchange control expertise, Bright supports cross-border transactions, including cross-border loans, remittances and investments, ensuring seamless compliance with exchange control regulatory frameworks. He also plays a pivotal role in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating regulated agreements, such as brokerage, product distribution, investment mandates, and merchant acquiring agreements, helping clients achieve both legal and commercial objectives efficiently.
Experience
Bright has advised:
- Capitec Bank Limited in relation to its acquisition of Mercantile Bank Limited’s business, providing regulatory advice and assisting with regulatory steps.
- Grindrod Bank Limited and African Bank Limited by providing regulatory advice and assisting with regulatory steps in relation to their section 54 transaction (merger and transfer of business).
- Rand Merchant Bank in relation to the eligibility under current regulatory requirements and Basel IV of insurance policies as credit risk mitigation.
- Liquidnet Europe Limited in relation to reviewing and negotiating a brokerage agreement with Avior Capital Markets Pty Ltd.
- JSE Investor Services CSDP Pty Ltd in relation to, amongst other things, the interpretation and application of the Rules of Strate Proprietary Limited.
- Stonehage Fleming on inter alia application of the Collective Investment Schemes Control Act to alternative investment funds.
- Nomura in relation to application for approval of their foreign funds (UCITS) for distribution in South Africa.
- Meridiam in relation to reconsideration application and reinstatement of its financial services provider licence.
- Flutterwave in relation to reviewing and negotiating a merchant acquiring agreement with a local commercial bank.
- Gold One South Africa on foreign exchange controls and assist with application for regularisation of inward loans.
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