Bowman Gilfillan is widely regarded as one of the premier corporate law firms in Africa, with highly experienced corporate lawyers in its Private Equity Practice Group.

Private equity and venture capital houses, investors, management, banks and financial institutions, throughout South Africa and internationally, find our advice and solutions both efficient and dependable. Our Private Equity team has extensive experience to advise on all stages of private equity, including on fund formations and structuring, restructurings and exits from investments.

We recognise the importance of, and consistently deliver, excellent legal advice that encompasses timely, commercially sound, practical and, where appropriate, innovative solutions and collaborate closely with resident experts on Mergers and Acquisitions, Banking and Finance, Tax, Financial Regulatory, Insolvency and other specialist areas within the firm when required.

Our legal expertise, understanding of the African investment market and global contacts make our Africa Practice a natural choice for clients seeking private equity advice in African jurisdictions.

Safeguarding resources, supporting growth.

areas of practice

Working with our various practice areas, we have the expertise to advise on:

• The formation of funds, structuring of funds (including feeder and parallel funds and co-investment arrangements), fund raising and investing in funds
• Financial services regulatory including: financial services and advisory legislation, exchange control regulation, regulatory approvals, exemptions, notification and licensing approvals
• Tax and regulatory optimisation of acquisition and investment structures
• Venture capital investments: investments through equity investments and other instruments (convertible or preferred security)
• Private equity investments: management buy-outs, management buy-ins, leveraged buy-outs, leveraged buy-in’s, secondary investments or replacement capital, mezzanine capital (subordinated debt or preferred equity securities) and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) transactions
• Exits from investments: (IPOs, secondary investments, trade sales, buy-backs)
• Financing of private equity transactions, including through preference shares, senior and mezzanine debt, other forms of debt or equity financing or a combination of both (convertible instruments), as well as security arrangements arising from such funding.

clients

• Carlyle Group
• Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co of the US
• International Finance Corporation (a member of the World Group Bank)
• Ethos Private Equity
• RMB Private Equity (West Port Properties Africa Fund)
• Pinebridge Global Emerging Markets Partners II, L.P
• International Housing Solutions Workforce Housing Fund
• Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund
• AMCI / First Reserve
• Denham Capital
• Vantage Capital.