Linklaters

We were recently placed in the top tier in 2007/8 Chambers Global for both General business law – Africa and Projects and Energy: Africa Global.

In addition, we have the leading South African practice amongst international law firms, benefitting from brand recognition by South Africa’s commercial, governmental and financial institutions that is unmatched by any other firm in its breadth and depth.

We have experience in almost every Sub-Saharan African country and have supported clients across Sub-Saharan Africa for over 20 years including numerous landmark transactions across a broad area of work including M&A (in, into and out of Africa), capital markets and projects.

Although each transaction is different, we understand that the most effective way of doing business in the region is achieved through the correct balance of sector/transaction expertise, legal understanding and linguistic ability. Our Sub-Saharan Practice draws together experts from our different European offices (mainly London, Paris and Lisbon) that bring the right blend of expertise for advising on deals in African countries, with English, French and Portuguese legal and linguistic traditions.

Our experience of doing deals in the region spans across all key sectors including financial services, mining, telecoms, infrastructure and energy and ensures that we have a thorough understanding of the commercial and competitive pressures within our clients’ industries.

Recent significant transactions include advising

• International and Commercial Bank of China on its 20% strategic stake in South Africa bank, Standard Group Limited. This is the first significant Chinese investment into a South African financial institution and the largest outbound foreign direct investment made by any Chinese company to date
• the lenders on the financing of the 2100 MW Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Power Station, Mozambique (winner of the IJ Online Power Deal of the Year award 2007)
• Sappi on its €750 million acquisition of paper mills from M Real and related rights issue
• Kumba Iron Ore Limited, part of the Anglo American group, on the establishment of a joint venture with two Guinean project companies holding iron ore exploration permits in the Republic of Guinea
• the lenders on the multisourced project financing of the US$867 million, 250MW Bujagali Hydroelectric Power Project on the Victoria Nile in Uganda
• MTC (Zain) on its 65% acquisition of Vmobile, Nigeria including its US$250m capital injection and its US$1.5bn bridge financing
• the GAVI Fund in relation to the International Finance Facility for Immunisation
• Anglo American and Mondi on the demerger of Mondi from Anglo American and listing of Mondi on the LSE and the JSE by way of a dual company structure
• the lenders on Sonangol’s financings, including its recent US$3 bn term loan facilities
• the lenders on the financing of Afren’s Okoro Setu oil project, Nigeria