Warren Drue

Corporate and commercial department head Warren Drue focuses on corporate law with specific emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance transactions, debt and equity capital markets, black economic empowerment transactions, private equity and cross-border transactions. He acts as lead attorney for many local and international listed companies in transactions in South Africa and the rest of the African continent. Every year since 2010, Warren has been recommended in Chambers Global and in Legal 500 as a leader in Corporate/M&A, and has been endorsed by Practical Law Company for Capital Markets and in Legal Experts Europe, Middle East and Africa for M&A. Chambers Global says: "Clients describe Warren Drue as ‘hands-on, sharp and accessible. He has a broad understanding and very commercial approach to business.’"   Representative Experience: Lead attorney to Land O'Lakes Inc in the acquisition of a controlling interest in the Villa Group including a complex restructure of the group which had in excess of 26 operating subsidiaries. Lead attorney to Safika Holdings Proprietary Limited in the disposal of 10.5 million Standard Bank shares through a complex derivative structure for approximately ZAR1.4bn. Attorney to Telkom SA SOC Limited in the proposed acquisition by KT Corporation of Korea, of a 20% interest in Telkom for approximately ZAR6.5bn. Lead attorney to Rallen Proprietary Limited in the conditional offer by Italtile Limited (JSE listed) and Rallen to shareholders of Ceramic Industries Limited (JSE listed) for several hundred million rand. Lead attorney to a large New York listed pharmaceutical company in the proposed acquisition of Adcock Ingram Limited for a purchase consideration in excess of ZAR12.5bn. Lead attorney to PPC Limited in the acquisition of shares in a company that owns quarry rights in the DRC and developed a plant for approximately US$300m. Lead attorney to PPC Limited in the acquisition of shares in a company that owns quarry rights in Algeria. Acting as local counsel for PME African Infrastructure Opportunities Plc in the acquisition by PME RSACO (Mauritius) Limited of 50% of the issued share capital of Sheltam Holdings Proprietary Limited from Roy Puffett and the Sheltam Rail Trust. Advising CRI-Eagle Investments on the disposal of shares in a company which owned the preeminent property in Sandton the CBD in a joint venture with Investec Bank. Lead attorney to Lesaffre, the world's largest yeast manufacturer, in the acquisition of a strategic asset in Africa. Lead attorney to Ferrochrome Furnaces Holdings in the acquisition of significant ferrochrome deposits in Zimbabwe and all agreements relating to the establishment of a chrome mine.

Education:
BA LLB

Formal Admissions:
Admitted to the High Court as an attorney in January 1989.

Admission Status:
Practicing Roll

Languages:
English

Direct Contact:
  +27 (0)11 286 6900