Banking regulation today extends far beyond capital adequacy - fundamentally changing how shareholders, boards, and acquirers must approach transactions. Michael Avery met with Deborah Carmichael, Executive in ENS’s Banking and Finance practice, to unpack cross-border control of South African banks: why deals succeed, why they stall, and how to get them over the line, in light of the recent collapse of the proposed Bidvest Bank / Access Bank transaction.

From prudential scrutiny to governance, risk, and supervisory expectations, banking deals demand patience, precision and, above all, regulatory credibility.