Summary Profile
Francis Newham has been involved in corporate and commercial matters for
more than 20 years. His clients comprise large listed and unlisted companies
and financial institutions as well as a number of other commercial clients
engaged in various sectors of the South African economy. He has advised in a
number of stock exchange listings (IPO's) and de-listings. His main focus and
areas of expertise are in respect of mergers and acquisitions, corporate
finance and the formation, structuring and restructuring of business
entities.
Career
Francis began his career in 1980 as a Candidate Attorney at Bisset
Boehmke & McBlain in Cape Town, where he was subsequently appointed as an
Associate. In 1985 he joined Silberbauers as an Associate and was promoted to
Director in 1988. In 1999 Silberbauers joined the practice of Cliffe Dekker
where he remained a Director. In September 2008 Francis became a Director of
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.
Education/ Qualifications
BA LLB, University of Stellenbosch
LLM (Company and Tax law),
University of Cape Town
H Dip (Tax Practice), Rand Afrikaans University
Date of admission: 1982
Experience
- Advised on reverse listing of Western Cape Property Company Limited
on the JSE and simultaneous acquisition of portfolio of investment and trading
properties as well as subsequent sale of business and de-listing
- Drafted various employee and executive share option schemes on behalf
of Old Mutual plc and other listed and unlisted companies
- Drafted an Act of the Western Cape Legislature on behalf of a
client
- Advised Reader's Digest on disposal of its South African interests
and licensing arrangements with local publisher
- Advised Virgin Active on the acquisition of the Health & Racquet
Club business from the liquidators of Leisurenet
- Advised on the listings of Shop for Africa on the JSE and
subsequently on its voluntary winding up
- Advised Istithmar PJSC of Dubai on the acquisition of an interest in
the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town in a transaction with a total value in
excess of R7 bn
- Advised Istithmar and Dubai World in respect of investment with
Kerzner International and others in the One&Only hotel development in Cape
Town
