Charles Douglas
Partner | Johannesburg
Contact
T: +27 11 669 9426
Overview
Charles Douglas’ clients see him as their trusted partner. They rely on him to deliver focused solutions and support them through the evolution and cycles of their businesses. As a result, he has worked with many of his clients for decades.
Charles is renowned for coming up with creative solutions to highly complex matters – perhaps this should not be a surprise as, in his spare time, he is an aspiring artist. He focuses on the ‘purpose’ of the deal and achieving the big picture, while using his legal expertise to delve into the detail to ensure his team deal with individual tasks in a commercially thoughtful way.
As a partner in the firm’s M&A group, specialising in both public and private M&A and ECM work, and a as a member of the firm’s partnership board and remuneration committee, Charles is accustomed to managing large diverse teams that deliver results.
A trusted client has described Charles as “a rare talent who manages to seamlessly balance the commercial aspects with the legal requirements in order to almost always finds a way to accomplish what we are hoping for. I would feel lost trying to operate… without his judgment and input… he manages to convert chaos…into a highly successful transaction.”
Charles provides a unique and diverse service offering. His experience on an array of local and multi-jurisdictional transactions is enhanced by his specialisation in sustainability ad ESG considerations, including impact investing, governance considerations, renewable energy and nature-based carbon solutions. He adeptly balances a traditional M&A practice with a belief in contributing to society and using his position to benefit the firm, his clients and those around him. Charles is the chairman of the Wilderness Trust, a conservation and education focused non-profit which is affiliated with the eco-business company, Wilderness.
Experience
Charles has recently advised:
- Allianz SE on the establishment of a joint venture with the South African financial services group, Sanlam, which is intended to combine the African businesses of both companies into a South Africa-incorporated JV;
- Mediterranean Shipping Company who, together with Remgro, have reached agreement to acquire Mediclinic for ZAR 74 billion;
- Sasol:
- on the proposed disposal of Cyanide business to Draslovka and the proposed sale of Sasol’s South African gas pipeline business by competitive auction process; and
- in respect of the agreement in terms of which ENEAX, with operations primarily in South America, will become a strategic joint venture partner in respect of Sasol’s explosives and rock fragmentation business;
- Imperial, a DP World company (previously Imperial Holdings and Imperial Logistics):
- DP World’s ZAR 12.7 billion takeover bid for Imperial Logistics; and
- in respect of its 2018 USD 27 million repurchase of all of its outstanding non-redeemable, cumulative, non-participating preference shares by way of a scheme of arrangement;
- AB InBev, along with:
- SAB and SAB Zenzele Kabili in the unwind of the SAB Zenzele B-BBEE transaction and the implementation of the new SAB Zenzele Kabili BEE transaction, including the proposed listing of SAB Zenzele Kabili on the BEE Segment of the main board of the JSE;
- Kwande Capital in relation to the purchase of the business of Nampak Glass for a consideration of approximately ZAR 1.5 billion; and
- SAB on the establishment of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa and the subsequent disposal by its subsidiaries of the soft-drinks businesses of Zambian Breweries, Kgalagadi Breweries and Swaziland Beverages to The Coca-Cola Company. These constituted separate transactions in each of Zambia, Botswana and Swaziland, respectively; and
- The Rise Fund, African Wildlife Holdings Partnership and Wilderness Holdings in respect of the separate strategic investments by The Rise Fund and AWH in Wilderness Holdings and the subsequent offer by AWH to acquire all of the shares in Wilderness Holdings not already held by AWH and certain excluded shareholders, and the delisting of Wilderness Holdings from the BSE and JSE.
Awards
- Chambers and Partners: Band 2 for Corporate/M&A in 2023 and prior to that in Band 3 for three consecutive years 2020 to 2022 and in Band 4 in 2019 and 2018 in the same category.
- IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Guide: “Highly Regarded” in South Africa (2018 to 2022) for his work in Capital Markets: Equity and M&A.
- Legal 500: Leading Individual in the Commercial, Corporate and M&A category (2017, 2019 and 2024).
- Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leader in M&A and Governance (2019) and recommended in the Global Leader – M&A category (2019).
‘He is practical, careful, well informed and updated on the market’s best practices and M&A law.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘I endorse Charles Douglas’ abilities and services.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
- University of the Witwatersrand, Master of Laws (LLM);
- University of Cape Town, Bachelor of Laws (LLB); and
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Bachelor of Arts (BA), Law and Psychology
INSIGHTS
South Africa: Corporate Law Update for January 2024 published
Africa: Recent developments in carbon markets
South Africa: Amendments to the Companies Act
South Africa: Investment strategies for foreign businesses
Africa: US increases its focus on sustainable relationships
South Africa: Corporate Law Update – January 2023
South Africa: JSE consultation paper to reform listings framework
Africa: M&A in Key Jurisdictions – Bowmans report on current trends published
The Chambers Global Practice Guide on Corporate M&A Trends and Developments, 2020 – South Africa Chapter
COVID-19, South Africa’s prohibition on public gatherings and the impact on shareholder meetings
Key considerations for SA companies wanting to make a success of investing abroad
Getting the Deal Through: Private M&A 2018
CFO as connector
Mergers & Acquisitions Equity Capital Markets Recent Transactions
Brochures
Overview
Charles Douglas’ clients see him as their trusted partner. They rely on him to deliver focused solutions and support them through the evolution and cycles of their businesses. As a result, he has worked with many of his clients for decades.
Charles is renowned for coming up with creative solutions to highly complex matters – perhaps this should not be a surprise as, in his spare time, he is an aspiring artist. He focuses on the ‘purpose’ of the deal and achieving the big picture, while using his legal expertise to delve into the detail to ensure his team deal with individual tasks in a commercially thoughtful way.
As a partner in the firm’s M&A group, specialising in both public and private M&A and ECM work, and a as a member of the firm’s partnership board and remuneration committee, Charles is accustomed to managing large diverse teams that deliver results.
A trusted client has described Charles as “a rare talent who manages to seamlessly balance the commercial aspects with the legal requirements in order to almost always finds a way to accomplish what we are hoping for. I would feel lost trying to operate… without his judgment and input… he manages to convert chaos…into a highly successful transaction.”
Charles provides a unique and diverse service offering. His experience on an array of local and multi-jurisdictional transactions is enhanced by his specialisation in sustainability ad ESG considerations, including impact investing, governance considerations, renewable energy and nature-based carbon solutions. He adeptly balances a traditional M&A practice with a belief in contributing to society and using his position to benefit the firm, his clients and those around him. Charles is the chairman of the Wilderness Trust, a conservation and education focused non-profit which is affiliated with the eco-business company, Wilderness.
Experience
Charles has recently advised:
- Allianz SE on the establishment of a joint venture with the South African financial services group, Sanlam, which is intended to combine the African businesses of both companies into a South Africa-incorporated JV;
- Mediterranean Shipping Company who, together with Remgro, have reached agreement to acquire Mediclinic for ZAR 74 billion;
- Sasol:
- on the proposed disposal of Cyanide business to Draslovka and the proposed sale of Sasol’s South African gas pipeline business by competitive auction process; and
- in respect of the agreement in terms of which ENEAX, with operations primarily in South America, will become a strategic joint venture partner in respect of Sasol’s explosives and rock fragmentation business;
- Imperial, a DP World company (previously Imperial Holdings and Imperial Logistics):
- DP World’s ZAR 12.7 billion takeover bid for Imperial Logistics; and
- in respect of its 2018 USD 27 million repurchase of all of its outstanding non-redeemable, cumulative, non-participating preference shares by way of a scheme of arrangement;
- AB InBev, along with:
- SAB and SAB Zenzele Kabili in the unwind of the SAB Zenzele B-BBEE transaction and the implementation of the new SAB Zenzele Kabili BEE transaction, including the proposed listing of SAB Zenzele Kabili on the BEE Segment of the main board of the JSE;
- Kwande Capital in relation to the purchase of the business of Nampak Glass for a consideration of approximately ZAR 1.5 billion; and
- SAB on the establishment of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa and the subsequent disposal by its subsidiaries of the soft-drinks businesses of Zambian Breweries, Kgalagadi Breweries and Swaziland Beverages to The Coca-Cola Company. These constituted separate transactions in each of Zambia, Botswana and Swaziland, respectively; and
- The Rise Fund, African Wildlife Holdings Partnership and Wilderness Holdings in respect of the separate strategic investments by The Rise Fund and AWH in Wilderness Holdings and the subsequent offer by AWH to acquire all of the shares in Wilderness Holdings not already held by AWH and certain excluded shareholders, and the delisting of Wilderness Holdings from the BSE and JSE.
Awards
- Chambers and Partners: Band 2 for Corporate/M&A in 2023 and prior to that in Band 3 for three consecutive years 2020 to 2022 and in Band 4 in 2019 and 2018 in the same category.
- IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Guide: “Highly Regarded” in South Africa (2018 to 2022) for his work in Capital Markets: Equity and M&A.
- Legal 500: Leading Individual in the Commercial, Corporate and M&A category (2017, 2019 and 2024).
- Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leader in M&A and Governance (2019) and recommended in the Global Leader – M&A category (2019).
‘He is practical, careful, well informed and updated on the market’s best practices and M&A law.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘I endorse Charles Douglas’ abilities and services.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
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