Jan 10 (Reuters) - Rand Merchant Investment Holdings Ltd RMIJ.J :
* JSE: RMI - VOLUNTARY ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING AUSTRALIAN BUSHFIRES AND SALE OF YOUI NEW ZEALAND'S INSURANCE PORTFOLIO
* RAND MERCHANT INVESTMENT - YOUI'S CURRENT ESTIMATE OF GROSS LOSSES RELATED TO BUSHFIRES FROM NOV TO 8 JAN 2020 RANGES A$25 MILLION & A$40 MILLION
* RAND MERCHANT INVESTMENT HOLDINGS - YOUI'S EXCESS OF LOSS REINSURANCE COVER FOR CATASTROPHE EVENTS IS EXPECTED TO COVER A PROPORTION OF LOSSES
* RAND MERCHANT INVESTMENT - DEPENDING ON HOW LONG BUSHFIRES CONTINUE, C.A$80 MILLION ATTACHMENT POINT MAY BE REACHED RESULTING IN A RECOVERY FROM TREATY
* RAND MERCHANT INVESTMENT- RMI OWNS 89.1% OF OUTSURANCE HOLDINGS; OUTSURANCE OWNS AN EFFECTIVE INTEREST OF 84.5% IN YOUI HOLDINGS PTY
* RAND MERCHANT INVESTMENT - DISCONTINUANCE OF YOUI NEW ZEALAND INSURANCE OPERATION WILL RELEASE SURPLUS CAPITAL OF CIRCA A$47 MILLION AVAILABLE TO YOUI
* RAND MERCHANT INVESTMENT- YOUI ESTIMATES ABOUT A$45 MILLION-A$60 MILLION IN NET NATURAL PERILS LOSSES TO DATE INCLUDING ESTIMATED LOSS FROM BUSHFIRES