Gabriel Flandin

Willkie advised Rönesans Holding, a leading Turkish project development and construction group, and a consortium of Korean investors led by Samsung C&T Corporation in connection with the development and financing of the Nakkaş-Başakşehir section of the Northern Marmara Motorway in Türkiye. On October 21, Rönesans Holding announced that it had secured a €1.04 billion financing to fund the Nakkaş-Başakşehir section of a new Istanbul highway – with an overall capex of €1.43 billion – from a diverse group of international financial institutions. The project is one of the largest investments in Türkiye's road sector and involves a 31.3-kilometer highway and 1.6-kilometer cable-stayed bridge, creating a new dual carriageway between the Asian and European sides of Istanbul. The Willkie team was led by partner Amir Jahanguiri and included partner Gabriel Flandin and associates Shimei Li, Farrah Mombongo, Jules Soboul and Paul Dumas.

Oct 28

1 min

On January 19, it was announced that a subsidiary of Willkie client, CMA CGM S.A., made a recommended cash offer for the entire share capital of London-listed Wincanton plc, a leading supply chain partner for British business, providing supply chain solutions throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The transaction values Wincanton plc at approximately £566.9 million. The acquisition by CEVA Logistics S.A. is subject to shareholder and certain regulatory approvals. CEVA is a world leader in third-party logistics, providing global supply chain solutions to connect people, products and providers all around the world. CEVA is part of the CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, serving more than 420 ports around the world across five continents, with a fleet of around 620 vessels. CMA CGM is a provider of container shipping services around the world, a key member of the Ocean Alliance and a global port operator. The Willkie team was led by partners Daniel Hurstel, Gavin Gordon and Gabriel Flandin, and included partners Rahul Saha and Faustine Viala, associates Nicola White, Alaric Green, Isi Ijagbone, Lachlan Johnson and Julia Radaszkiewicz, and trainee solicitor Sophie Surtees.

Jan 19

1 min

Willkie is advising CMA CGM Group on its more than $1 billion acquisition of an approximate 48% stake in Santos Brasil Participações S/A, the leading terminal operator in Brazil, from funds managed by Opportunity. On September 23, CMA CGM, a global leader in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, announced that it signed an agreement to acquire the stake in Santos Brasil and will launch a public offer on the remaining shares following the completion of the acquisition. Santos Brasil operates five terminals in Brazil, including the largest container terminal in the South America, as well as three logistics facilities. The acquisition of Santos Brasil marks significant milestone in CMA CGM’s global port development strategy, reinforcing its position as a leading global multi-user terminal operator with investments in approximately 60 terminals worldwide. The Willkie team is led by partners Daniel Hurstel, Gabriel Flandin and Annette Péron, and includes partners Faustine Viala, Anna Martini G. Pereira and Jennifer Tait and associates Marie Aubard and Maud Boukhris.

Sep 30

1 min

Willkie advised a group of holders of high-yield unsecured bonds and unsecured bonds of the EMTN program (totaling €2.2 billion) of Casino Guichard Perrachon in the context of the discussions relating to its financial restructuring and the takeover by a consortium of investors composed of EP Equity Investment (controlled by Daniel Křetínský), Fimalac and Attestor. On October 17, Casino Guichard Perrachon announced the conclusion of a lock-up agreement relating to its financial restructuring and recapitalization supported by 51.0% of Casino’s unsecured bondholders. The lock-up agreement provides for a net debt reduction of nearly €6.1 billion through the conversion into equity of the entire unsecured debt (more than €3.5 billion) and of approximately €1.3 billion of Casino’s secured debt facilities, as well as an equity injection of nearly €1.2 billion provided mainly by the investors consortium led by EP Equity Investment (€925 million) and open to creditors for the balance (€275 million). The Willkie team was led by partner Lionel Spizzichino with associates Batiste Saint-Guily, Joséphine Maire and Alcyde Le Poder, and included partners Thomas Binet, Gabriel Flandin, Graham Lane, Melainie Mansfield and Mark Stancil and associates Jason Taylor, Victor Cann and Ralph Unger.

Oct 26

1 min

Willkie is representing Ardian and its portfolio company AD Education, a leading European higher education platform, in exclusive negotiations to acquire Pôle Léonard de Vinci, a higher education provider in France. AD Education recently announced that it entered into exclusive negotiations with Pôle Léonard de Vinci, which manages four leading higher education institutions: a business school, EMLV (Ecole de Management Léonard de Vinci); an engineering school, ESILV (Ecole Supérieure d'Ingénieurs Léonard de Vinci); a digital school, IIM (Institut de l'internet et du multimédia); and a continuing education institution (De Vinci Executive Education). In 2023, Pôle Léonard de Vinci served 10,000 students in its three schools and its continuing education program. The acquisition would consolidate AD Education's position in the higher education sector and expand its offerings into the business and engineering verticals. Willkie previously advised Ardian on its investment in AD Education in 2020, and on AD Education’s subsequent acquisitions of Oktogone Group and the European operations of SAE Institute. Ardian is a world-leading private investment house, managing or advising $166 billion of assets. The Willkie team is led by partners Eduardo Fernandez and Gabriel Flandin and includes partner Faustine Viala and associates Tala Ayoub, Hugo Kerbib, Maud Boukhris and Jordan Pontal.

Jul 17

1 min