Jurisdictions worked in: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, UK, USA and Zimbabwe.

Mining and resource sector

Charles has advised:

• Yamana Gold Inc. on the USD 6.7 billion (approximately ZAR 104 billion) combination of Yamana and Gold Fields Limited by way of a share exchange.
• African Rainbow Minerals on its ZAR 3.5 billion acquisition of the Bokoni Platinum mine from Atlatsa Resources and Anglo American Platinum.
• Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd in relation to its acquisition of AngloGold’s South African assets and related liabilities, which included Mponeng, the world’s deepest mine, for approximately USD 300 million (ZAR 4.44 billion), with USD 200 million to be paid at closing and the balance as deferred consideration – Energy and Natural Resources Deal of the Year, African Legal Awards 2020.
• Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd in relation to its USD 300 million acquisition of the Moab Khotsong mine, the Great Noligwa mine and related infrastructure from AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. – Energy and Natural Resources Deal of the Year, African Legal Awards 2018.
• Chevon on its USD 1 billion disposal of its downstream assets in South Africa and Botswana;
• African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) on the restructure of its joint venture arrangements with Glencore in respect of ARM Coal Proprietary Limited’s participation in the Glencore Participating Coal Business and the Goedgevonden Coal Mine.
• Lanxess Proprietary Limited (along with its parent company, Lanxess Deutschland GmbH) on the disposal of its 74% shareholding in its South African chrome ore mining company to Chrome Production Holdings (a supplier of chrome fine ores), and on the sale of its chrome chemicals business to Brother Enterprises in China.
• Orion Mine Finance on its proposed royalty financing and ultimate convertible loan note financing of the Bushveld group and its gold, palladium and platinum stream financing of Ivanhoe Mines.
• Orion Resources in respect of its acquisition of an equity interest in Blyvoor Gold Capital Proprietary Limited and related gold streaming, offtake and equity arrangements.
• Rio Tinto in relation to the South African aspects of its acquisition of Riversdale Mining Limited for USD 4 billion, and the subsequent sale to the Menar Holding Group of its equity interest in Zululand Anthracite Colliery Proprietary Limited.
• Puma Energy in its acquisition of various retail focused petroleum businesses, including in South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
• Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation plc in its ZAR 2.2 billion acquisition from Mvelaphanda Resources Limited of 12.2% of the issued share capital of Northam Platinum Limited.

Other sectors

Charles has advised:

• Ardagh in its approx. ZAR 10 billion acquisition of the Consol Glass group, including its silica sand mining operations – M&A Deal of the Year, IFLR Africa Awards 2022.
• Tata Communications in respect of the proposed ZAR 7 billion disposal of Neotel to the Vodacom Group, and the subsequent proposed sale of Neotel to Liquid Telecommunications and Royal Bafokeng Holdings.
• Peermont Global Group in relation to the proposed acquisition of the group by Sun International, and its previous raising of ZAR 5.3 billion of new debt and the associated recapitalisation and restructuring of the hospitality and gaming group.
• Schneider Electric in relation to its ZAR 850 million sale of Conlog, a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of pre-paid electricity meters and related applications.
• Old Mutual Plc in the aborted negotiations related to the acquisition by HSBC of control of Nedbank Limited.
• Simon Property Group Inc. (the then largest real estate firm in the United States listed on the New York Stock Exchange), in the proposed acquisition of LSE and JSE listed Capital and Counties Properties Plc (formerly Liberty Properties).