Deal of the Year

DealMakers Annual Gala Awards

At the end of each year, DealMakers calls on the corporate finance industry to submit their nominations for Deal of the Year.

With the assistance of the independent panel, and taking into account the number of nominations each deal has received, a shortlist of 3 - 5 deals is announced. 

These deals are then evaluated by the Independent Panel and they select a winner based on a variety of criteria, including but not limited to:

The transformational aspects of the deal   |   The execution complexity   |   The deal size   |   The potential value creation of the deal 

2019 Deal of the Year 

Gold Medal sponsored by

Acquisition of Pioneer Foods by PepsiCo

The R23,63 billion transaction, one of PepsiCo’s largest acquisitions outside the US, is a vote of confidence in the South African economy. PepsiCo intends to use SA as a hub for expansion throughout Africa. Through PepsiCo’s global footprint, Pioneer Foods will have access to new markets and the opportunity to improve its ability to compete more effectively on the African continent and beyond.

Watch the interview with Brunswick's Rob Pinker at the event

Other nominees for 2019 were:

Acquisition of Clover Industries by Milco Consortium

The R4,8 billion all-cash offer by the global investment consortium with strong local partners, aims to deliver and unlock growth, impacting not only the local dairy industry but also on the dairy industry across Africa. Milco is a key differentiator in today’s challenging business environment with access to international brands and know-how, connections and operating experience in sub-Saharan business. 

The local advisers on the transaction were: Rand Merchant Bank, Nedbank CIB, Werksmans, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Bernadt Vukic Potash & Getz, ENSafrica, Herbert Smith Freehills South Africa, Webber Wentzel and PwC.

​

Impala Platinum’s acquisition of North American Palladium

The acquisition of the Canadian-based primary platinum group metal producer valued at R11,4 billion, is in line with Implat’s strategy to reduce costs and streamline operation in order to improve its competitiveness in the global market. The transaction minimises the Group’s reliance on SA for the bulk of its revenues.

​

The local advisers on the transaction were: Macquarie Advisory and Capital Markets South Africa, Nedbank CIB, Baker McKenzie and Webber Wentzel.
 

Naspers’ unbundling and listing of Prosus

The two-step transaction by Naspers, one of several over the past few years, formed part of its strategy to reduce sum of the parts (SOTP) discount. The unbundling and listing of Prosus on the Euronext Amsterdam and the JSE (with an opening market capitalisation on the JSE of R1,95 trillion) created the largest consumer internet company in Europe, providing a significantly broader set of investors with direct access to its unique portfolio of high-growth international internet assets. 

The local advisers on the transaction were: For the unbundling - Morgan Stanley, Investec Bank, Webber Wentzel and Glyn Marais. For the listing – Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup Global Markets, Investec Bank, Webber Wentzel, Glyn Maris and PwC.

2018 Deal of the Year 

Sam Riley - Ansarada, Neal Froneman - Sibanye-Stillwater, Ingrid Johnson - Old Mutual, Itumeleng Mahabane - Brunswick and Marylou Greig - DealMakers

The Managed Separation of Old Mutual Plc

Advisers to the Deal

Gold Medal Award

Other Nominees for 2018:​

Sanlam's acquisition of the remaining 53.4% stake in SAHAM Finances

2017 Deal of the Year 

Vodacom acquisition of an indirect 34.94% stake in Safaricom

Arie Maree (Ansarada), Marina Bidoli (Brunswick), Sainesh Vallabh  (Vodacom), Nadya Bhettay (Vodacom), Colin Coleman (Goldman Sachs), Neal Froneman (Sibanye-Stillwater), Willem Baars (Goldman Sachs) and Till Streichert (Vodacom)

Advisers to the deal:

Financial Advisers: Goldman Sachs; UBS

​

Independent Expert: Deloitte

​

Sponsors: Nedbank CIB

​

Legal Advisers: ENSafrica; Webber  Wentzel; Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr

​

Reporting Accountants: PwC  

Gold Medal Award

Other Nominees for 2017:​

Barclays sell down of Barclays Africa

Distell restructure

Firstrand's acquisition of Aldermore

2016 Deal of the Year 

Acquisition by Sibanye Gold of Stillwater Mining

Advisers to the deal:

Financial Advisers: Citigroup Global Markets; HSBC Bank plc; Quinsele Resources; BofA Merrill Lynch

​

Sponsors : JPMorgan 

​

Legal Advisers: ENSafrica; Linklaters; Jones Day; Hollard & Hart

​

Reporting Accountants: KPMG

Arie Maree (Ansarada), Bryony Watson (Sibanye Gold), Charl Keyter (Sibanye Gold) and Marina Bidoli (Brunswick)

Gold Medal Award

Other Nominees for 2016:​

Bidvest / Bidcorp unbundling

Pick 'n Pay pyramid unwind

Merger of new Europa Property Investments and Rockcastle Global Real Estate

2015 Deal of the Year 

Samuel Pearson (Standard Bank), Neal Froneman (Sibanye Gold), Natalie Di-Sante (Standard Bank) and Stephen Dearing (Ansarada)

Acquisition by Anheuser-Busch InBev of SABMiller

Advisers to the deal:

Financial Advisers : Standard Bank; Deutsche Bank; JPMorgan; Goldman Sachs International; Lazard; BNP Paribas; Merrill Lynch International; Robey Warsaw; JPMorgan Cazenove; Morgan Stanley

​

Sponsor : JPMorgan

​

Legal Advisers : Bowman Gilfillan; Webber Wentzel; ENSafrica; Freshfields Bruckhause Deringer; Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Clifford Chance; Linklaters; Hogan Lovells International; Hogan Lovells US; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

Gold Medal Award

Other Nominees for 2015:​

Acquisition by Sibanye Gold of Aquarius platinum

Reverse takeover by Mediclinic of Al Noor Hospitals 

Acquisition by Sibanya Gold of the Amplats Rustenburg operations

Acquisition by Oceana of Daybrook Fisheries

2014 Deal of the Year 

Acquisition by Woolworths of David Jones

Financial Advisers:

Rothschild, Standard Bank

​

Sponsor:

Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Bank

​

Legal Advisers:

Webber Wentzel, Linklaters, Gilbert + Tobin

​

Reporting Accountant:

Ernst & Young

Advisers to the deal:

Arie Maree (Ansarada), Ian Moir (Wooloworths), Daryl Wray (Cell C) and Charl Keyter (Sibange Gold)

Gold Medal Award

Other Nominees for 2014:​

Standard Bank's disposal of a 60% stake in Standard Bank Plc to ICBC

Growthpoint's acquisition of Acucap

Vodacom's acquisition of Neotel

Exxaro Resources' acquisition of TCSA

Sun International's acquisition of an additional stake in Monticello

Northam Platnuim's BEE deal

Steinhoff's acquisition of Pepkor

Creation of Coco-Cola Beverages Africa