Exchange Listed Companies
Harmony Gold Mining has acquired Eva Copper Project and the surrounding exploration tenements in Australia from TSX-listed Copper Mountain Mining. The deal, which sees Harmony paying an upfront cash consideration of US$170 million (c.R3 billion) plus a contingent payment of up to a maximum of US$60 million (c.R1,1 billion), will lower the company’s risk profile. The acquisition will add 1.7818 billion pounds of copper and 260,000 ounces of gold to Harmony’s Mineral Reserves and will extend its diversification into copper – a future-facing metal critical to the energy transition.
Motus has released further details on the proposed acquisition by its UK-based subsidiary of family-owned business Motor Parts Direct for a purchase consideration of £182 million (R3,64 billion). The acquisition is aligned to Motus’ international growth strategy to reduce dependency on vehicle sales and strengthen its integrated business model by focusing on the aftermarket parts business.
Anglo American is to form a renewable energy partnership in South Africa with EDF Renewables, a subsidiary of the French utility group. The new jointly owned company, Envusa Energy, will develop a regional renewable energy ecosystem designed to meet Anglo’s operational power requirements in South Africa and support the country’s broader just energy transition.
Vunani Capital (Vunani) is to acquire a 50% stake in Verso Group, a financial services company specialising in wealth management and Section 13B retirement fund administration. Verso, predominantly Western Cape based, also has offices in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Gqeberha and East London. The acquisition is in line with Vunani’s strategy to expand its financial services activities, particularly in niche markets both in South Africa and across the continent.
Aveng has, via subsidiary Aveng Africa, disposed of Trident Steel to a consortium for R700 million. Trident Steel Africa, a vehicle established for the purpose of the acquisition is owned by consortium members Ambassador Enterprises, a US-based private equity firm, Joseph Investments, Arbor Capital Investments and Trident Steel management. Aveng will provide R210 million in the way of funding to a separate company in order to subscribe for 30% of the equity in the purchaser, thereby retaining a 30% stake in the business, which will be specifically reserved for B-BBEE participation for a period of one year post closing. The business was seen as falling outside the ambits of infrastructure development, resources and contract mining which, going forward will underpin Aveng’s long-term strategy.
+OneX (Reunert) has acquired South African Azure solutions provider EUCafrica as part of its strategy to build end-to-end digital transformation solutions for enterprise clients.
Consortium parties, Old Mutual Life and African Infrastructure Fund 4 (managed by Old Mutual’s African Infrastructure Investment Managers), Bauta Logistics and Mokobela Shakati are to acquire Oceana’s Commercial Cold Storage Group – trading as CCS Logistics. The purchase consideration payable for the Southern African cold storage provider is R760 million. The transaction will enable Oceana to allocate capital to opportunities aligned to its strategic objectives in the global fish protein sector.
Grand Parade Investments (GPI) has acquired and on sold two properties in relation to the settlement of a dispute with Gumboot Investments. The properties, based in Cape Town and Gauteng were acquired from Gumboot Investments for a transaction consideration of R66,5 million. These were on sold to Karez Trading for R44 million, generating a loss of R22,5 million for GPI – the cost attributed to the indemnity provided by GPI on behalf of its subsidiary Mac Brothers which was placed under voluntary liquidation in April 2022.
Europa Metals has announced the signing of a letter of intent for an option and joint venture arrangement with Denarius Metals, in terms of which, Denarius will have the right to acquire up to an 80% ownership interest in Europa Metals’ wholly owned Toral Zn-Pb-Ag Project in Leon Province in Northern Spain. The farm-in transaction involves the granting of a two-stage option (to acquire 51% and 29%) in return for funding of certain planned expenditure for an aggregate consideration of up to US$6 million.
Pan African Resources has announced the closing of the deal in which it acquired the Mogale Gold and Mintails SA Soweto Cluster assets out of provisional liquidation. The R50 million deal was first announced in November 2020.
Two companies reported the termination of deals announced
The US$4,7 billion deal announced in August 2021 between Prosus and Indian digital payment provider BillDesk failed to fulfil certain conditions precedent by the long stop date of 30th September 2022.
Conduit Capital’s intention to acquire 51,769,633 Trustco shares for N$93,7 million, first announce in August 2021, did not fulfil the conditions precedent resulting in the lapse of the share sale agreement.
Unlisted Companies
Cape Town-based venture capital firm HAVAÍC has concluded its third investment in Kenyan fintech company Tanda. The investment will enable Tanda to invest in key strategic partners, accelerate product development and scale in Kenya and East Africa over the next 15 months.
Cars.co.za, the local online car marketplace, has entered into agreement with Sun Exchange to buy into an off-grid solar power project providing off-grid solar power plus battery storage for Karoo Fresh, a commercial farm in SA’s Karoo district.
Talk360, an international voice calling app which is building a single payment platform to be launched in 2023 combining all local African currencies and payment methods, has raised a further US$3 million in seed round funding adding to the US$7 million raised in May 2022. Investors in the round include Allan Gray E2 Ventures, Kalon Venture Partners, E4E Africa, Endeavor and existing lead investor HAVAÍC.
DealMakers is SA’s M&A publication
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