Absa Capital Leveraged Finance participated in the highest number of private equity transactions and secured the largest value of deals reported in 2007. This is according to the KPMG and SAVCA Venture Capital and Private Equity Industry Performance Survey released on Wednesday.

Absa Capital Leveraged Finance was Mandated Lead Arranger in three of the top ten largest private equity transactions reported last year. The deals included the Edcon transaction, the largest ever leveraged buy out in South Africa, as well as Steinfurn (5th), and Brandcorp (8th).

“This result, achieved in a highly competitive market, is very pleasing,” said Andrew Moffat, Absa Capital’s Head of Leveraged Finance. “It clearly demonstrates the strength of Absa Capital’s business model of offering both onshore and offshore products through its affiliation with Barclays Capital.”

In the 2006 survey Absa Capital Leverage Finance also featured prominently  on the ranking tables, although the total funding raised was significantly less at R4.4bn versus the R56bn raised in 2007.

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Absa Capital
Absa Capital, a division of Absa Bank Limited (Absa) and affiliated to Barclays Capital, is a leading South African investment bank with global reach, offering clients financing, risk management and advisory solutions in a wide range of currencies and structures across the globe.