Kevin Trudgeon
Head of Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions
Overview
Our M&A lawyers have long been a major driving force behind Werksmans’ impressive credentials as one of the leading powerhouses in South African commercial law. Known for “getting the deal done”, we have honed our M&A expertise through decades of experience.
We act for clients in a variety of sectors, including mining, retail, telecommunications, banking and insurance. The team has in-depth experience in both public and private corporate mergers, as well as private equity and international/cross-border transactions.
Our M&A lawyers’ ever-evolving knowledge base remains in step with changing economic and industry cycles, as well as legislative developments in fields, including black economic empowerment.
Takeovers, mergers and acquisitions
Our team has represented numerous South African and international clients engaged in takeovers, reverse takeovers, corporate mergers, acquisitions, restructuring, hostile bids, privatisations and empowerment transactions. Since corporate finance and securities laws feature prominently in many corporate transactions, we also advise on new listings/flotations, delistings and issues of shares.
We regularly deal with regulatory matters concerning the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), the Takeover Regulation Panel and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). All related areas of law, such as banking and finance, competition, employment, exchange control and tax, are handled in conjunction with our specialists in those areas.
Our services include takeovers, mergers and acquisitions in both private and public markets, black economic empowerment transactions and due diligence investigations. We also have expert knowledge on management/leveraged buyouts, private equity, privatisations, group restructuring and reorganisation, listings/flotations (primary, secondary and inward), stock exchange compliance and offers to the public, exchange control, and corporate finance and structuring.
Equity Capital Markets
Werksmans has a long and illustrious track record in relation to equity capital market (ECM) transactions for both domestic and foreign entities listed or seeking to list in South Africa. We advise key market participants such as financial institutions, corporates and governments, as well as first-time issuers and other new players in the capital markets. Our lawyers seamlessly engage with regulatory authorities and governmental agencies such as the competition authorities, the JSE and SARB, to name a few.
Werksmans provides an all-encompassing suite of services covering all areas of ECM transactions:
・ listings (whether primary or secondary)
・ rights issues
・ off-market disposals
・ category acquisitions and disposals
・ schemes of arrangements
・ general corporate actions undertaken by listed entities from time to time.
The ECM team prides itself on delivering pragmatic, legally sound advice that enables our clients to seamlessly navigate any complex legal framework to achieve their desired commercial objectives.
In the current uncertain economic climate, the team has demonstrated their unparalleled ability in assisting distressed entities.
