Bowmans’ standout performance advising on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity transactions was highlighted at the DealMakers Awards ceremony held in Johannesburg last night (13 February 2024).
The firm placed first by deal value in the M&A Transactions category and was also recognised for having advised on the transaction named Private Equity Deal of the Year – the exit by the Carlyle Group of Tessara to AgroFresh. In this complex transaction, Bowmans acted as legal advisor to US-based Paine Schwartz Partners and its portfolio company, AgroFresh Solutions Inc., a global leader in AgTech innovation, in its add-on acquisition of Tessara from global investment firm, The Carlyle Group.
This is the second time that Bowmans’ leadership in African M&A has been recognised in the last six months – the firm won the African Legal Award for M&A Team of the Year in September last year.
Chairman and senior partner, Ezra Davids says, ‘This recognition is testament to the hard work and commitment of our superbly talented lawyers, who always place our clients top-of-mind with our solutions-oriented approach. We would like to thank our clients from across the globe for placing their confidence in our Firm to handle their largest and most complex M&A transactions in South Africa and across the African continent. We are most appreciative and proud of these accomplishments.’
The latest accolade follows the announcement in January that Bowmans Tanzania had become the third Bowmans practice to receive top honours in its jurisdiction at the Chambers Africa Awards, being named Tanzania Law Firm of the Year for 2024. The award follows Bowmans South Africa being named South Africa Law Firm of the Year in 2023 and Bowmans Kenya being named Kenya Law Firm of the Year in 2022.