2021 DealMakers Awards glory for ENSafrica

ENSafrica’s role in some of the most significant M&A and general corporate finance transactions across Africa in 2021 was recently recognised at the prestigious DealMakers Gala Awards, which were held on 22 FEB 2022.

ENSafrica was key legal advisor to the following winning deals:

Catalyst Private Equity Deal of the Year: for our role in advising on Acorn Agri & Food’s acquisition of Ascendis Animal Health. After extensive engagement and negotiations, with two preferred bidders, heightened by the processes of restructuring, recapitalisation and time constraints the holding company was under, this ZAR770-million deal was concluded in July 2021.
Brunswick Deal of the Year: for our role in Vodacom’s acquisition of 55% stake in Vodafone Egypt. The ZAR41-billion share and cash deal for a controlling stake in Egypt’s largest network operator from Vodafone will generate clear benefits for all parties involved. Vodacom will expand its reach beyond its key markets, scale its multi-product strategy to a largely unbanked population, and benefit from attractive synergies in big data capabilities.

We were also ranked in the top three for deal value and deal flow for M&A, and transaction value and transaction flow for General Corporate Finance.

ENSafrica’s Chairman Michael Katz, who was recently lauded with the Chambers Africa Lifetime Achievement Award, said, “2021 was a very exciting and active year for M&A in Africa: a hopeful sign of innovation, opportunity and investor confidence on the continent. We’re honoured our clients chose ENSafrica as their advisors in these highly influential transactions.”

“Being chosen by clients to assist them on transactions that can change the course, not only of their business, but potentially, entire industries, is incredibly humbling,” added ENSafrica’s CE Mzi Mgudlwa, CE of ENSafrica. “We are sincerely grateful to our clients for their support and trust.”

In addition, Lydia Shadrach-Razzino, Executive and Head of ENSafrica’s private equity practice, was the recipient of the Ince Individual DealMaker of the Year Award. Lydia's career extends over 20 years advising on major cross-border transactions, including RMB Ventures in the acquisition of the Bluff Meat Supply Group and Capitalworks in the disposal of the Much Asphalt business. She represents the first woman to be awarded the prestigious DealMaker of the Year Award.

“Lydia has distinguished herself with her formidable depth of experience and reputation in the private equity market. Her tenacious and determined spirit to be among a leader in her field continues to inspire and motivate us all at ENSafrica. We are very proud of her efforts and client focus,” said Mgudlwa.