Johannesburg - Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in South Africa dropped 61% in 2009, independent M&A intelligence service Mergermarket said on Friday.
2009 saw a total of 85 deals valued at $6.8bn in South
Africa, a decrease of 61% by value and 42% by volume
from 2008.
In 2008, there were 146 deals with a total value of $17.4bn.
Only two mega-deals were recorded in 2009 compared to seven in
2009.
There was also a drop in total deal value from $9.3bn to
$2.2bn.
2009 saw South Africa's lowest M&A activity by value since 2003 and by volume since 2005.
"This was exacerbated by the collapse of the proposed $24bn tie-up between telecom giants MTN in South Africa and
Bharti Airtel in India due to regulatory concerns," Mergermarket
said in a statement.
The most active industry by value for the full year in South
Africa was again the energy, mining and utilities sector, with a
total value of $2 billion and 12 announced deals, representing 30% of the market by value and 14 percent by volume.
Mergermarket said the financial services industry saw the most
transactions, with 21% of overall deal announcements.
"South Africa's outbound M&A activity took place mainly on its
home continent with 47% of all acquisitions having
Africa-based targets, though this accounted for only 16% of outbound investment."
Investments in European targets accounted for 60% of
total outbound M&A and represented 41% of acquisitions by
South African companies.
According to Mergermarket, UBS Investment Bank took the lead in
the financial adviser value tables advising on four deals with a
total value of $2.7bn.
The Swiss bank was followed by Goldman Sachs, which advised on
three deals with a value of $1.9bn.
"Both firms jumped four spots from their 2008 rankings.
"Deutsche Bank and Deloitte jumped ten and 34 places
respectively from 2008 rankings, claiming third and fourth
position," Mergermarket said.
It said South Africa's Standard Bank, which advised on seven
deals with a total value of $906m, topped the financial
adviser volume table, an improvement of three places from 2008.
In the legal advisor league tables, South African law firm
Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs ranked first by value and third by
volume, having advised on 18 transactions with a total value of
$2.7bn.
DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer followed with 20 deals worth $1.5bn.
"Werksmans maintained its status as the most active firm in the
region with 22 deals valued at $981m.
Looking ahead, Mergermarket said it expected 2010 to be " a
tough one" for the local M&A scene.
"Increasing unemployment figures have taken a substantial number of paying customers out of the economy affecting sectors such as retail and manufacturing.
- Sapa