SHARON SAKUWAHA
Co-Managing Partner
M: +260 966 082 780
E: sharon.sakuwaha@moiramukuka.com
Overview
Sharon is a corporate lawyer who has been ranked by Chambers and Partners severally as one of Zambia’s top corporate finance lawyers; cited as a Highly Regarded Lawyer for Mergers and Acquisitions by IFLR 1000 and as a ‘Leading Individual’ by Legal 500. She has over 16 years of experience advising Zambian, regional and international clients on M&A deals, capital markets transactions, financing, fund formation, mining, private equity and projects.
Sharon is highly regarded for her transactional track record and is considered a thought leader in the African private equity and venture capital deals scene. She is also known for her corporate finance expertise. She has worked with clients like Cargill, Prudential, Copperbelt Energy Plc and ZCCM-IH Plc, China Non-Ferrous Metals among many others.
She also has experience working on some of Zambia’s groundbreaking deals. For example, she advised IFC regarding its debut USD 460 million medium-term note program and the issuance of the debut USD 23 million (in Zambian Kwacha) Zambezi bond under the first tranche; the first of its kind.
Sharon is dual-qualified, as she is a qualified English Solicitor and Zambian advocate. She holds an LLB from the University of Zambia and an LLM in Corporate Finance Law from the University of Westminster.
Achievements
- Chambers Global 2023 – ranked in Band 2 of Leading lawyers in relation to General Business Law
- IFLR1000 2021 – ranked as Highly Regarded with respect to Mergers and Acquisitions.
- Legal 500 2021 – recognized as ‘Leading Individual’.
Experience
- ZCCM-IH Plc, in the restructuring of its equity stake in Kansanshi Mine Plc by the conversion of the ordinary dividend rights associated with its equity interest int o mine royalty interest.
- Export Trading Group (ETG), in relation to the establishment of a carbon project over an approximately 5.5 million cashew tree plantation of about 72,000 hectares in Western Province Zambia, developed under ETG’s African Emerging Farmer Carbon Abatement Programme (AEFCAO).
- EcoSecurities, in the development of a forest carbon project, which covers 1.4 million hectares in the North Western province of Zambia.
- Trident Royalties, in relation to a mineral royalty financing in a copper asset.
- ZCCM-IH Plc, on a USD 409 million recapitalisation of by way of a clawback rights issue and debt to equity conversion.
- Exeo Fund Advisors (Pty) Ltd and Agri-Vie Investment Advisors (Pty) Limited (a USD 175 million private equity fund), on its acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in Capital Fisheries and Capital Trucking Limited
- Millennium Challenge Corporation, regarding a USD 322 million investment in water supply, sanitation and drainage infrastructure in Lusaka
- Itezhi Tezhi Hydro Power Project, A syndicate of lenders, on the USD 142 million project financing of the construction, operation, and maintenance of the 120 MW ITezhi-Tezhi Hydro Power and Transmission Line Project
- AfDB, in respect of the establishment and listing of a USD 125 million (approximate value) local currency medium term note programme on the Lusaka Securities Exchange
- Prudential Plc, on its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Professional Life Assurance and entry into the Zambian pensions and insurance market
- Cargill, in respect of both the acquisition and disposal of Zamanita Limited, (a soybean crushing and oil refining subsidiary of Zambeef Products Plc)
Career and Education
- LLM Corporate Finance Law, University of Westminster
- Advanced Certificate, Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education
- LLB, University of Zambia
- Stock Brokers and Investment Advisor’s course
Membership and affiliation
- Law Association of Zambia
- Capital Markets Association of Zambia
- International Bar Association
- Solicitor of the Senior Court of England and Wales (non-practicing).
Publications
- International Comparative Legal Guide to Private Equity, 4th ed. [online] London: Global Legal Group Ltd, pp.290-295.
- Private Equity in Zambia, Some Regulatory Considerations, Into Africa, pp.36-37.
- International Comparative Legal Guide to Mergers & Acquisitions, 12th ed. London: Global Legal Group, pp.397-402.
- Lexology, Impact investing and ESG in Zambia.
Speaking Engagements
- Panelist, The Future Impact Investing in Africa – Africa Impact Investing Summit.
- Panelist, Reshaping Financial Markets: How Can Regulations Promote Impact Investment – Zambia Impact Investing Summit 2021.
- Panelist, The Role of ESG in Driving Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Investment in Business – Zambia Impact Investing Summit 2022.
- Panelist, Growth Impact Investment in Zambia – Launch of Zambia Impact Investment Climate Survey Report 2023.
- Presenter, Director’s Duties Under the New Companies Act (Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc).
- Panelist, Global Tech: How Governments in Africa are Responding to the Power and Reach of Global Tech Companies.