Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr advised on 77 transactions, giving it a market share of 26.46% of the total number of M&A transactions recorded by DealMakers in 2011. Its nearest rival had 44 deals for the year. The value of M&A deals was R104.7bn and comprised 23,6% by value of all transactions. The law firm was also ranked number one by transaction flow (28 transactions) and third by transaction value (R29.8 billion) for general corporate finance.
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr advised Metorex in the acquisition of its shares by Jinchuan, a Chinese company, in a transaction valued at R9bn, which won 2011 Deal of the Year. The firm also advised shareholders, in the Actis-led management buyout of vehicle tracking pioneer, Tracker, a transaction which won 2011 Private Equity Deal of the Year.
Ian Hayes, national ead of the corporate and commercial practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, expressed the firm's delight over the rankings. "We are delighted by these significant accomplishments. We have retained our number one ranking in M&A deal flow for a third consecutive year and we have strengthened our position as a leading business law firm for corporate transactions nationally and cross border in Africa."
In January 2012, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr was named sub-Saharan Africa M&A Legal Adviser of the Year at the FT mergermarket European M&A awards. The firm also topped the 2011 mergermarket league table as the most active legal adviser in Africa with 31 deals, up from second place in 2010.
