Tiaan De Wit

Partner, Johannesburg

Biography

Overview

Tiaan De Wit is a Partner in Firm's Global Mergers & Acquisitions Practice based in Johannesburg and Cape Town. 

Tiaan advises on public and private mergers and acquisitions, equity capital market transactions and major corporate actions, including initial public offerings, unbundlings, rights offers, placements, schemes of arrangement, mandatory and voluntary offers, and listings and delistings on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), the Cape Town Stock Exchange and other global stock exchanges. He has experience advising clients in the private equity, gambling, hospitality, real estate, agribusiness, retail, infrastructure and financial services industries, among others. 

Bars and Courts
High Court of South Africa
Education
BCom Law
University of Stellenbosch
LLB
University of Stellenbosch
Languages
English
Afrikaans

Experience

M&A:

Representation of Maitlantic 10 (Pty) Ltd and Clearance Cantara Master Fund Limited on the acquisition of control of Emira Property Fund Ltd for ZAR 3.2 billion.

Representation of Hosken Consolidated Investments Ltd and Niveus Investments Ltd on the restructure and disposal of its entire alternative gambling and betting business to Tsogo Sun Holdings Ltd for approximately ZAR 4 billion.

Representation of Tsogo Sun Gaming Ltd and Southern Sun Limited in relation to the corporate separation of the two entities, the termination of management agreements and the subsequent acquisition by Southern Sun Ltd of two hotels from Tsogo Sun Gaming Ltd.

Representation of Southern Sun Ltd in relation to the disposal of its interest in Southern Sun Ikoyi (the owner of its Nigerian hotel) to Kasada Hospitality Fund LP, for approximately USD 30.4 million.

Representation of Truworths International Limited on the acquisition of The Office retail business in the United Kingdom for ZAR 5.5 billion.

Representation of I Group Consolidated Holdings (Pty) Ltd in relation to the delisting of EPP NV and offer by Redefine Properties Ltd to shareholders of EPP, a subsequent share swap transaction for shares in a portfolio of properties situated in Poland and the acquisition of further shares in such portfolio with an aggregate value of approximately EUR 100 million.

Representation of Tsogo Sun Gaming Ltd in relation to its acquisition of all of the shares in and claims against Emerald Safari Resort and Casino from existing shareholders, including Metropolitan Gaming.

Representation of Tsogo Sun Hotels Ltd (now Southern Sun Limited) in relation to its offer to all other shareholders of Hospitality Property Fund Ltd in share swap transactions, pursuant to which Hospitality Property Fund Ltd was delisted from the JSE.

Representation of Hosken Consolidated Investments Ltd in relation to the disposal of its bus and other passenger transport businesses to La Concorde Holdings Ltd for a purchase consideration of ZAR 2.2 billion.

Representation of KWV Holdings Ltd and KWV South Africa (Pty) Ltd in relation to its disposal of its “KWV” business, including liquor, properties and interests in various local and foreign subsidiaries, to the Vasari Group of companies for an aggregate consideration of ZAR 1.75 billion.

Representation of I Group Consolidated Holdings (Pty) Ltd in its acquisition of a 30% interest in Accelerate Property Fund Ltd.

Representation of Lewis Group Ltd in relation to its acquisition of the “Beares” and “Ellerines” stores (and businesses associated therewith) located in South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland from Ellerine Holdings Ltd (in business rescue).

Representation of Ironman Holdings and its subsidiary, Cape Epic (Pty) Ltd, in relation to the acquisition of the Wines2Whales mountain bike business.

Representation of a Hong Kong based group in relation to an acquisition of a major travel business in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Representation of Deneb Investments Ltd in relation to the disposal of its Winelands Textiles business, including all factories, employees and assets.

Representation of Golden Arrow Bus Services (Pty) Ltd in relation to various acquisitions of businesses in the transport industry, including all of the shares of Table Bay Rapid Transport (Pty) Ltd (operating the MyCiti bus transport lines in Cape Town, South Africa), Sibanye Bus Services (Pty) Ltd, Eljosa Bus Services (Pty) Ltd and Alpine Truck and Bus (Pty) Ltd.

Representation of U Reit Collins (Pty) Ltd in relation to the subscription for shares to hold a 25% interest in Collins Property Group (a subsidiary of Tradehold, which is listed on the JSE) for an aggregate consideration of approximately ZAR 833 million.

Representation of the developers of the Whale Coast Village Mall on the acquisition of the property and subsequent development of the Mall.

Representation of JPMorgan Securities South Africa Proprietary Limited in relation to its disposal of the shares in and claims against JPMorgan Administration Services Proprietary Limited to Sanlam Investment Holdings Limited and Old Mutual Investment Group (South Africa) Holdings Proprietary Limited.

Equity Capital Markets:

Representation of Montauk Holdings Ltd (MNK) and Montauk Renewables, Inc. (MRI) on MNK’s delisting from the JSE, MRI’s primary listing on Nasdaq and secondary listing on the JSE and its underwritten primary and secondary IPO.

Representation of Castleview Property Fund Ltd on the acquisition of a significant property portfolio from I Group Consolidated Holdings (Pty) Ltd constituting a reverse listing on the JSE; and further private placement of shares with an aggregate value of approximately ZAR 6.1 billion.

Representation of Gaia Fibonacci Fibre REIT 1 in relation to its placement and listing of its B preference shares on the Cape Town Stock Exchange. 

Representation of Niveus Investments Ltd in relation to its listing on the main board of the JSE.

Representation of Seardel Holdings Ltd in relation to its ZAR 1.3 billion rights offer.

Representation of Emira Property Fund in relation to its delisting and subsequent amalgamation into Emira Property Fund Ltd, as well as its new listing on the main board of the JSE.

Representation of Niveus Investments Limited and Hosken Passenger Logistics and Rail Ltd in relation to the distribution in specie of Niveus shares in’ Hosken Passenger Logistics and Rail Ltd, simultaneously with the listing of its shares on the JSE.

Representation of Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited and Niveus Investments Ltd in relation to the scheme of arrangement whereby HCI would acquire for all of the shares in Niveus Investments Ltd from shareholders, followed by a delisting of Niveus’ shares on the JSE.

Representation of Seardel Investments Ltd (which became E-Media Holdings Limited) in relation to the acquisition of the e-Media group for approximately ZAR 3.3 billion, and the subsequent unbundling of its shares in Deneb Investments Ltd with a separate listing thereof on the JSE.

Representation of Montauk Holdings Ltd in relation to its listing on the main board of the JSE.

Representation of Hosken Consolidated Investments Ltd in relation to various specific buy-backs of shares.

Agri-business:

Representation of Agristar Processing in relation to the development of one of the largest macadamia processing factories in the world.

Representation of Marquis Macadamias in relation to the establishment of a joint venture with Marquis Marketing, an Australian nut processing and distribution business, forming the largest tree nut distribution operation globally.

Advising Agristar Holdings in relation to the acquisition of numerous Macadamia farming operations.

Advising the owners of the iconic Klein Constantia wine estate on the disposal of the farm and business associated therewith.

Advising GAIA Venture Capital and GAIA Private Equity on the acquisition of interests in various agri-businesses in Southern Africa, ranging from tree nut farms, blueberries, citrus fruit and avocados.

Speaking Engagements

Lecturer at Stellenbosch University of the Advanced Company Law module for final year students, focused on fundamental transactions and minority protections