Having been recognised earlier this year by Mergermarket and Thompson Reuters* as leading legal advisers in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Webber Wentzel re-affirmed its market leading position at the 17th DealMakers Annual Gala Awards walking away with:

• Legal Adviser of the Year 2017 - M&A by Deal Value (South Africa);
• Legal Adviser of the Year 2017 - M&A by Deal Value (Africa);
• Legal Adviser of the Year 2017 - M&A - by Deal Value (BEE);
• Legal Adviser of the Year 2017 - M&A - by Deal Flow (BEE);
• Legal Adviser of the Year 2017 - M&A - by Deal Value (unlisted deals); and
• Legal Adviser of the Year 2017 - M&A - by Deal Flow (unlisted deal).

Webber Wentzel also acted as adviser on the Private Equity (PE) Deal of the Year and M&A Deal of the Year and was involved in all three deals shortlisted for PE Deal of the Year, and on two of the four transactions shortlisted for M&A Deal of the Year. This is the 7th consecutive year that Webber Wentzel has advised on the PE Deal of the Year.

Since the inception of the DealMakers Awards in 2000, Webber Wentzel has advised on M&A deals valued at excess of ZAR176 trillion.

Christo Els: "Despite M&A activity dropping in 2017, we have seen a number of high value deals across the continent. In the coming year we are likely to see an increase in deal activity as investor sentiment lifts and more activity in the financial services and mining sectors as a result of regulatory changes and improved market returns. It is a great honour to receive these awards and a real testament to the fact that our clients trust us with their most important key transactions in South Africa and across the continent".

*Mergermarket and Thompson Reuters are international ratings agencies that track listed and unlisted M&A transactions globally.