Insolvency & Business Restructuring

Overview:

Insolvency is a key risk which needs to be identified early and managed with urgency.ย  Speed is of the essence.ย  The restructuring of companies in financial distress is on the increase globally.ย  Prevention is better than cure and we have experienced and specialist lawyers who advise on the registration, protection and enforcement of securities, the risks of financial exposure, debt restructuring, recovery actions and the various business restructuring and liquidation/insolvency mechanisms available under applicable law.

We focus on providing value-add legal services and strategic advice, enabling directors, shareholders, employees, creditors, liquidators, administrators, trustees, judicial managers, business rescue practitioners and employees to understand and appreciate the limitations, scope and efficacy of the various insolvency and restructuring regimes in Africa.

Recent Matters:

Botswana:ย Advised Standard Chartered Bank โ€“ petitioning Court for the insolvency of Boseto Copper Mine and advisory services to senior lenders during liquidation process.

Ghana:ย We advised Unilever Plc in respect of the Ghanaian law aspects of a proposed restructuring involving the parent company of Unilever Ghana Limited and an application to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Ghana for an exemption from undertaking a mandatory takeover of shares in Unilever Ghana.

Kenya:ย Representing I&M Bank in this novel case regarding whether the appointment of a receiver could apply to events that occurred prior to the Insolvency Act coming into force in November 2015.

Morocco:ย Represented the American โ€œCarlyle Groupโ€ in the bankruptcy procedure opened against the Moroccan refinery โ€œSAMIRโ€ to obtain the payment of Carlyleโ€™s debt.

Mozambique:ย Recapitalization of a banking institution within the scope of its intervention by the Central Bank.

Nigeria:ย Local Counsel to a foreign company in respect of Seplat Sapele Integrated Gas Plant Project.We reviewed the Technical Service Agreement.

South Africa:ย Advising the current directors of Steinhoff in respect of a possible restructuring / compromise in South Africa, in parallel with compromise procedures in foreign jurisdictions.

Uganda:ย We advise on the handling of loan defaults, enforcement of our clientโ€™s rights as creditors of insolvent entities.

Tanzania:ย Involved in a corporate takeover and restructuring of one of the largest local manufacturing conglomerates by a foreign MNC.

Zambia:ย Advisor to the Atlas Copco Group, Swedenโ€™s biggest industrial group by market capitalisation, on the split of the group into two separate listed companies, Atlas and Epiroc. The spinoff company, Epiroc, focusing on the mining and civil engineering business while Atlas Copco focusing on the industrial business.

Zimbabwe:ย Handled debt restructuring in the media and communications industry to the value of USD 17 million, involving a continental media house and a continental telecommunications company.

Media

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What We Do

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Banking, Finance, Investment Funds & Private Equity
Business Crimes & Investigations
Competition Law
Construction & Engineering
Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions
Cyber Law, Block chain & Technology
Dispute Resolution
General Business Law
Healthcare and Life Sciences
Infrastructure, Energy & Projects
Insolvency & Business Restructuring
Intellectual Property
Labour & Employment
Local Investment Laws and Indigenisation
Media, Broadcasting & Communications
Mining, Environmental & Resources
Property Law and Real Estate
Tax

Member Countries

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Algeria
Angola
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
DRC
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini
Ghana
Guinea Conakry
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mali
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
South Africa
Tanzania
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe