www.dealmakerssouthafrica.com

​

DealMakers was first published in August 2000. The intention behind the publication has always been to record every transaction undertaken by all JSE-listed companies. The “sexy” area of attention in the corporate finance industry is in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) since this is where the big ticket projects are found.

​

It became increasingly clear, however, that other corporate finance business is also important – and, in periods when dealmaking declines, it is general corporate finance that provides the essential bread and butter underpin. These transactions – which include a wide range of activity such as financial restructuring, listings, share issues and repurchases, capital reductions and others – are collected and collated under the rubric General Corporate Finance. 

​

DealMakers is published quarterly, usually within six weeks of the end of the preceding quarter except in the case of the 4th Quarter outcomes which, together with the first three quarters, make up the calendar edition. This is published in February of each year and is released on the night of the Annual Gala Banquet (attended each year by 500 - 550 paying guests). The Annual edition includes the all-important rankings.

The rankings are classified by activity – corporate finance houses, and those providing essential services such as corporate law advisers, reporting accountants and sponsors. A further sub-division occurs between the value of deals/transactions executed and the number of these worked on.

​

Formal notification of deals involving unlisted companies is not a regulatory requirement, other than to the Competition Commission (this is public information) and efforts are then made to bring the level of information up to that applying to listed companies. In many cases, however, the firms concerned decline to release important information (especially concerning value).

Advisory parties submit their list of deals / transactions on a quarterly basis. All adviser’s claiming a deal in which their role is not stipulated on the company announcement, are required to submit proof of this in the form of a client confirmation letter confirming their role.

 

The Oval Table

Membership of the Oval Table, which is by invitation only, comprises five of the corporate finance players; four corporate law firms and one private equity firm; membership is held on a one-year cycle.

​

Current members include: BDO, Bowmans, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, ENSafrica, EY, Investec, Nedbank CIB, PSG Capital, Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Bank and Webber Wentzel. 

Representatives of the firms make up DealMakers' Editorial Advisory Board which meets half yearly.