Renewed investor interest fuels M&A boom in SA

RENEWED investor interest in renewable energy, IT, mining, as well as finance, is shoring up South Africa’s robust mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity amid rising regulatory scrutiny guided by public interest concerns.

- TAWANDA KAROMBO

The country’s advanced financial sector and stability in the regulatory sector is also helping restore some certainty to investors seeking M&A deals in the country, Yashin Kandielall, head of M&A at Standard Chartered South Africa told Business Report in an interview this week.

“The country has seen notable activity in financial services, telecommunications, and consumer goods. Recognising regulatory scrutiny, influenced by public interest concerns and B-BBEE compliance, is crucial in South African M&A,” said Kandielall.

Over the past few months, M&A activity such as Harith InfraCo’s acquisition of key energy and transport assets including Lanseria Airport and fibre operators Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa for R6.5 billion have highlighted SA’s focus on renewable energy and sustainability.