Herbert Smith Freehills advises Maurel & Prom on the signature of a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of Assala Energy from The Carlyle Group

International business law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Maurel & Prom, a long-standing Euronext-listed client specialising in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons, on the signature of a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of Assala Energy, oil exploration and production company operating in Gabon, from The Carlyle Group.

This transformational acquisition, which is subject to the customary approvals, will anchor Maurel & Prom as a leading onshore operator in Gabon.

The main deal team in Paris comprised partner Nina Bowyer, and associates Chloë Stonex, Amorkor Amartey and Marie Badr on the M&A aspects; partner Bertrand Montembault, associates François Adao and Anna Zoumenou on the Gabonese aspects of the transaction; partner Hubert Segain and associate Hugues Colombani on the French corporate aspects; partner Bruno Knadjian and associate Romain Martinez on the tax structuring; and partner Sergio Sorinas, and associates Agathe Esch and Lina Hamidou on the competition aspects. Due diligence support was provided by partners Sophie Brézin, Régis Oréal, Alexandra Neri and Laurence Franc-Menget; associates Guilhem Seronie, Noémie Massé, Soyara Salem, Jessy Laberty, Laure Cardinet, Robin Nini, Tiphaine Leverrier and Théo Ouro-Sama in the Paris office, together with partner Michael Aherne and associate James Keitley in London.