Benjamin Cripps

Local Partner, Johannesburg

Biography

Overview

Ben Cripps is a local partner in the Firm's Global Mergers & Acquisitions practice, and is based in Johannesburg.

Ben specialises in mergers and acquisitions, general corporate and commercial law, company law related work, mining regulatory work and due diligence investigations. Ben has experience acting for a variety of clients in a number of sectors, including multinational listed as well as private corporate clients.

Prior to joining White & Case, Ben was a senior associate at a leading South African law firm.

Ben was recommended in the Legal 500 Guide to Outstanding Lawyers 500 (EMEA) for Mining Law in 2021.

Benjamin is a Notary Public and member of the Gauteng Provincial Office of the Legal Practice Counsel.

Bars and Courts
High Court of South Africa
Education
LLB
University of Johannesburg
Languages
English

Experience

Representation of Absa Bank (Mauritius) Limited in its acquisition of the domestic Wealth and Personal Banking and Business Banking business of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd.

Representation of Seriti Green Proprietary Limited (a subsidiary of Seriti Resources Proprietary Limited) in its acquisition of Windlab Developments South Africa Proprietary Limited, and a majority of the shareholding in Windlab East Africa Proprietary Limited, from Windlab Proprietary Limited (incorporated in Australia).

Representation of a confidential multinational company on the disposal of its interests in a South African telecoms company.

Representation of a confidential international private equity fund on its investment into an Indian telecoms business, as well the divestment of its interests in a UK fiber business.

Representation of A.P. Moller Capital (APM) (the Denmark based investment company) on its acquisition of the acquisition of 100% of Vector Logistics, a wholly owned subsidiary of JSE listed RCL Foods for c.US$80m. Vector Logistics is South Africa's leading cold storage logistics operator and the disposal is in line with RCL's publicly announced intention to strategically reorient its value-added consumer branded businesses from its non-core assets, of which Vector was one.

Representation of Lonmin Plc, a platinum mining company previously listed on the London Stock Exchange with a secondary listing on the JSE, in respect of its capital raising by way of a rights offer to shareholders, including the sub-division and subsequent consolidation of its share capital.*

Representation of Lonmin Plc in the all share offer from Sibanye-Stillwater through a scheme of arrangement under the UK Companies Act.*

Representation of Platinum Group Metals Ltd., a leading Canadian based mining company, in the unbundling of the Western Bushveld Joint Venture with Anglo American Platinum, the corporatisation of its Waterberg joint venture with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) and the subsequent disposal of an interest in the corporatised entity to Impala Platinum Limited.*

Representation of ArcelorMittal S.A. and ArcelorMittal Sourcing SCA, the Luxembourg-based global steel group, in the disposal of their 50% stake in Kalagadi Alloys (Pty) Limited, with funding from the African Development Bank and Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa.*

Representation of Platinum Group Metals Ltd and Platinum Group Metals (RSA) (Pty) Limited in the USD 74 million disposal of the Maseve Mine to Royal Bafokeng Platinum.*

Representation of Lonmin Plc subsidiaries Eastern Platinum Ltd (EPL) and Messina Platinum Ltd, firstly, in regard to EPL's acquisition of Rustenburg Platinum Mines Limited's 42.5% participation interest in the Pandora Joint Venture, and secondly, in regard to EPL's acquisition of the remaining 7.5% participation interest in the Pandora Joint Venture from a Northam Platinum subsidiary, Mvelaphanda Resources.*

Representation of CAPM Tau Mine Proprietary Limited in its acquisition of 100% of the shareholding in West Gold Plant Proprietary Limited from Heaven Sent Gold Processing Company Proprietary Limited.*

Representation of CAPM Tau Mine Proprietary Limited in relation to its acquisition of the Tau Lekoa gold mine from Heaven Sent Gold Processing Company Proprietary Limited, as a sale of a business as a going concern.*

Representation of Atlatsa Resources Corporation on transactions with Anglo American Platinum relating to the sake of a mineral asset; group, share and debt restructuring, and black economic empowerment issues.*

Representation of Stibium Mining, a special purpose vehicle of the Breakaway Group, Australia on the acquisition of shares and claims in and against Cons Murch Mine (Pty) Ltd by from Village Main Reef Limited.*

*Experience prior to joining the Firm