David Thompson

David began his career as a Candidate Attorney in 1988. David joined Syfret Godlonton-Fuller Moore (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) as an Associate in 1990 and became a Director in 1993.

• Advised Solar Capital from inception on all aspects of their various solar projects including De Aar, De Aar 2 and Loeriesfontein.

• Advised Solar Capital Orange RF on the re-arrangement of shareholding and completion of financing to enable closure on a renewable solar project.

• Advised H1 on all aspects of their their participation in various renewable projects including Kangnas, Perdekraal, Kruisvallei, Sirius, Dyasons Klip 1 and Dyasons Klip 2.

• Advised H1 on acquisition of O&M interest from Scatec and related transactions.

• Advised UKCI on its potential investment into the BEE partner in the largest renewable project in South Africa to date, Redstone CSP.

• Advised SOIHL (Sinopec) the global oil giant, in its bid for 75 per cent of Chevron's downstream oil assets in South Africa and Botswana.

• Advised Ploughshare, a lead investor in the Milco SA consortium in the successful bid to acquire and take private the listed South African food producer Clover and introduce a BEE investor.

• Advised the Fruitways Group, leading South African apple exporter on its introduction of a strategic minority investor and various acquisitions.

• Advised management and family shareholders of Food Lovers Market in respect of the acquisition by private equity group Actis of a strategic minority shareholding.

• Advised Shell in the first oil industry BEE transaction in South Africa with Thebe and two further BEE transactions culminating in the merger of Shell Refining and Shell Marketing to form Shell Downstream SA.

• Advised Tower Property Fund in establishing a Mauritian subsidiary, transfer of its ZAR 1 billion Croatian property portfolio and obtaining a new investor, Namibia-based Oryx, to invest ZAR300 million into Tower International and on restructuring the Euro bank debt linked to the portfolio.

• Advised Tower Property Fund on disposal of Pick n Pay Distribution Centre, Pinetown, KZN.

• Advised Tower Property Fund on its acquisition of stakes in Tower Asset Managers from Spire Property Group and other shareholders.

• Advised RDC Erf 232 (Pty) Ltd, a prospective hotel owner throughout in a process of development, financing and acquisition of a first Radisson Red hotel in Johannesburg; developed and established the relevant structure including holding and operating entities; assisted in negotiating and finalising the cross-border financing arrangement and provision of guarantees; negotiated and finalised all relevant agreements, including with developer and hotel management company.

• Advised JLP Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd, one of the shareholders of the acquirer, Bachique 813 (Pty) Ltd throughout the acquisition (by way of a sale of shares), by Bachique, of 100% of the shares held in Tupperware Holdings SA (Pty) Ltd (“Tupperware Holdings SA”). A private company incorporated in South Africa and which controls Avroy Shlain Cosmetics (Pty) Ltd ("ASC") as well as Avroy Shlain Cosmetics (Botswana) (Pty) Ltd. ASC develops, markets and supplies its own range of products that includes fragrances for men and women, colour cosmetics, skin, body and ethnic hair care products and fashion accessories. Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr also assisted JLP in negotiating and finalise the financing arrangement and provision of security.

• Advised High Noon Farms (Pty) Ltd through all phases of the transaction, including due diligence, negotiation of the transaction documents and term sheet, and the implementation of the sale.

• Represented Seller, Micro Medical Products in its sale of 100 ordinary shares to Vertice MedTech, constituting 100% of the issued share capital of Micro Medical Products, while keeping existing contractual arrangements in place including employment contracts, lease agreements, and material supply agreements.

• Advised cornerstone DFI investors in AIIF2 infrastructure fund.

• Chambers Global 2024 - 2026 ranked David in Band 5 for corporate/M&A.
• Chambers Global 2015–2023 ranked him in Band 4 for corporate/M&A.
• The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 and 2022–2023 recommended him for corporate, commercial/M&A.
• IFLR1000 2021–2025 ranked David as highly regarded in M&A.