Dealmakers of the Year:
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Stephen Besen, Shearman & Sterling
When Stephen Besen took on a new client — Saudi Basic Industries Corp. — at the beginning of 2007, he knew it would be a learning experience for all involved. Sabic wanted to buy General Electric Co.’s plastics business, which the conglomerate had put on the block. But Sabic, the biggest company in the Middle East, had never pursued an acquisition in the United States. Now it was about to embark on a competitive auction process involving an American business icon.
