According to Mergermarket, South Africa saw the announcement of 110 M&A deals adding up to a total of US$ 16.07bn in 2011, exactly equalling 2010’s total value, though with a 27.9% increase in terms of deal count. The Energy, Mining and Utilities sector was the most active sector with US$ 5.7bn-worth of deals announced in 2011, accounting for 35.8% of all South African deals for the year.

Ian Hayes, Director and National Practice Head, Corporate and Commercial, commented on the firm's number 1 ranking, "Our team is delighted to have been recognised as Mergermarket's South African Legal Advisor of the year after a very successful year working on a large number of M&A transactions.

Hayes said some of the more notable M&A transactions the team advised on in 2011 included, “The acquisition of the V & A Waterfront by the Public Investment Corporation and Growthpoint Properties; the acquisition by Johannesburg-based Steinhoff of French furniture company Conforama; the R5.9bn rights offer by Brait to its shareholders on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the JSE and the subsequent acquisitions by Brait of a R5bn stake in Pepkor and a R1bn stake in Premier, and Arcelik's acquisition of leading white goods manufacturer, Defy Appliances.”

Hayes added, "These Mergermarket awards, together with being ranked 1st in M&A deal flow in the South African DealMakers M&A awards for 2010, and in both deal flow and deal value for the 1st 3 quarters of 2011, shows the strength of our client base and underscores our client's confidence in the capabilities of our team."