Jean-Quentin De Cuyper

The investment is Bregal Freshstream’s first since the launch of its maiden €600 million fund. On December 10, Willkie client Bregal Freshstream announced that it has agreed to acquire Belgian self-service restaurant chain Lunch Garden from a consortium of investors led by H2 Equity Partners. The transaction, which is Bregal Freshstream’s first investment since launching its maiden €600 million fund in September 2015, will see it take a majority stake in Lunch Garden. Backed by Bregal Investments, London-based Bregal Freshstream focuses on mid-market investments across a wide variety of sectors, with a particular geographic focus on the UK and Benelux markets. The team was led by partners Claire McDaid and Matthew Dean (Corporate) and James Crooks (Finance) and included associates Phil Coletto, James Tannock, Alice Walton, Martin Michalski and Mamoun Shafi. The London team was also assisted by the Willkie Brussels team, including partners Didier Willermain and Jean-Quentin de Cuyper, and associates Diego Lambrecht and Zoè Janssen.

Dec 14

1 min

PAI and portfolio company ADB acquired Safegate from Fairford Group. On February 26, Willkie clients PAI Partners and portfolio company ADB Airfield Solutions announced the acquisition of Safegate International AB from Fairford Group. Sweden-based Safegate is a leading airfield solutions business providing aircraft docking guidance systems, gate management systems, airfield lighting solutions and air traffic control systems to more than 1,300 airports in 130 countries. ADB is a global airfield lighting solutions provider. The acquisition will create the world leader in advanced airfield guidance systems, from aircraft landing to parking. PAI is a leading European private equity firm managing €8.1 billion of dedicated buyout funds. The cross-border Willkie deal team was led by partner Christophe Garaud and included partners Paul Lombard, David Tayar, Jan Wilms and Jeffrey Goldfarb; national partners Rita Mitchell, James Crooks, Jean-Quentin De Cuyper and Didier Willermain; special European counsel Jeffrey Fouts and Stanislas Curien; counsel Cindy Chernuchin; associates Xavier Nassoy, Igor Kukhta, Mathilde de Wiljes, Anouk Falgas, Henri Weil, Zoé Janssen, Christopher Clerihew and Claire Soloski.

Mar 10

1 min

Willkie advises Hudson’s Bay Company on the definitive agreement to purchase Galeria Kaufhof, Galeria Inno (Belgium subsidiary) and Sportarena. On June 15, Willkie client Hudson’s Bay Company [TSX: HBC] announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Galeria Kaufhof, Galeria Inno (Belgian subsidiary) and Sportarena from METRO AG for EUR 2.82 billion. Under the agreement, Canada-based Hudson’s Bay Company, one of the foremost retail operators in North America and its longest continually operated company will acquire Düsseldorf-based Metro’s department store group GALERIA Kaufhof and its Belgian subsidiary Inno, including the assumption of certain liabilities. The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of HBC as well as the Supervisory Board of METRO AG. It is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2015. The transaction is an extension of HBC’s strategy to grow through mergers and acquisitions, and positions the company as a premier international retailer. HBC is taking over 103 GALERIA Kaufhof stores in Germany from METRO GROUP, including 59 properties in prime inner-city locations that are part of the GALERIA Real Estate portfolio. HBC is also acquiring 16 Sportarena stores, 16 GALERIA Inno department stores located in Belgium, as well as various logistics centres, warehouses and other properties, and the long-standing GALERIA Kaufhof head office in Cologne. As part of the Agreement, HBC will continue to operate GALERIA Kaufhof, Inno and Sportarena under their current brand banners. GALERIA Kaufhof’s existing management team is expected to remain in place following the close of the transaction, and will work closely with HBC’s leadership to explore opportunities to further strengthen GALERIA Kaufhof’s offerings to consumers. HBC, headquartered in Toronto, is a leading retail operator in North America. Founded in 1670, HBC is North America’s oldest company, and its current portfolio of iconic store banners include Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks OFF 5TH and Home Outfitters. With the acquisition of the METRO Group stores, HBC will operate 464 stores under 8 banners, with 44% of sales generated in the United States, 31% in Germany, 23% in Canada and 2% in Belgium. METRO GROUP, one of the leading international trading companies, it generated sales of about €63 billion in the fiscal year 2013/14. The company operates around 2,200 stores in 30 countries and has a headcount of around 250,000 employees. The performance of METRO GROUP is based on the strength of its sales brands that operate independently in their respective market segments. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP advised HBC on the transaction. The Willkie team was led by Georg Linde (Corporate) and included partners Mario Schmidt, Dr. Axel Wahl, Dr. Stefan Jörgens (all Corporate), Dr. Patrick Meiisel, Dr. Bettina Bokeloh (both Tax), Jan Wilms (Finance), Dr. Christian Rolf (Employment), all Frankfurt; Gordon R Caplan, Greg Astrachan, Russell Leaf (Corporate), David Tarr (Finance), Henry Cohn (Tax), Jonathan Konoff (Competition), all New York; David Tayar (Competition, Paris) and Jean-Quentin de Cuyper (Corporate, Brussels) as well as associates Andreas Feith, Wolfgang Münchow, Dr. Marco Müller, Patrick Wacker, Andreas Knödler, Christina Mann, Dr. Jan-Claudio Muñoz-Gonzales, Johannes Eckhardt, Stefan Bührle (all Corporate), Jörg Walzer (Tax), Jochen Riechwald (Employment), Tobias Daubert (Finance), all Frankfurt; and Michael Jackowitz (Real Estate) and Michael Brandt (Corporate), both in New York. For additional information, please see the press release here.

Jun 15

2 min

Firm represents Ardian portfolio company Gantner Electronic Austria Holding in its acquisition of Syx Automations, creating a global provider of comprehensive access, billing, and management systems for sport and leisure facilities. On June 16, Willkie client Gantner Electronic Austria Holding GmbH, a high-tech company specializing in electronic access control, billing and intelligent lock solutions, completed its acquisition of Syx Automations NV, the market leader in the field of ticketing and leisure facility management solutions in the Benelux region. The deal was facilitated with the support of Ardian, a leading independent investment company that has been the majority shareholder at Gantner since February 2016. The shares in Syx Automations were acquired from the Sofindev III fund, managed by Sofindev Management SA of Belgium, and the company’s own management. Current management will remain at the helm while also taking a minority stake in the new group. The merger creates a globally operating integrated provider of comprehensive access, billing and management systems for sport facilities, leisure centers and visitor attractions. Operating in about 70 countries, Austria-based Gantner is a pioneer in contactless electronic access control and time recording in its core segments. With more than 120 employees in offices in  Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK and India, Syx Automations offers software and automation solutions for customers in the leisure market.  Ardian currently manages assets of around US $62 billion for its investors from Europe, North America and Asia. The Willkie team was led by national partner Dr. Maximilian Schwab and included partners Mario Schmidt and Jan Wilms; national partners Didier Willermain and Jean-Quentin De Cuyper; and associates Matthias Schudlo, Andreas Feith, Diego Lambrecht and Dr. Laura Pfirrmann.

Jun 23

1 min

New York, NY (April 19, 2022) --- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced the addition of Vincent Naveaux, who has joined as a national partner in the Firm’s Litigation Department. He is based in Willkie’s Brussels office. Vincent is a litigator with particular experience advising corporate and investment funds in corporate dispute resolution and governance matters. “Vincent is a well-established leader in the market, known for his substantive knowledge of the private equity and investment fund industry, commercial focus and track record of successfully resolving partnership and shareholders disputes out of court,” said Jean-Quentin De Cuyper, national partner in the Firm’s Brussels office. Duncan Speller, Co-Chair of Willkie’s Arbitration Practice Group in London added: “Vincent’s experience in the Belgian and Luxembourg litigation and arbitration markets will deepen our corporate litigation capabilities on complex, cross-border matters, and complement our prominent team of practitioners across Europe and globally.” Vincent represents clients on a wide range of corporate and commercial litigation matters, with a significant focus on corporate and investment fund litigation and arbitration. He regularly advises on shareholders’ disputes, merger and acquisition disputes, post-acquisition claims, joint venture disputes and litigation arising from allegations of improper fund management and distressed investment scenarios. He also handles complex governance issues, such as directors’ liabilities, and provides independent expert opinions to boards of directors and board committees as part of their strategic decision-making process. Prior to joining Willkie, Vincent was a partner and owner of his own boutique practice. He previously practiced at several international law firms, including White & Case, Allen & Overy and Linklaters. Vincent is dual qualified to practice in Belgium (Avocat) and Luxembourg (Avocat à la Cour). Vincent commented: “I am delighted to join Willkie’s growing Brussels office, known for its strong track record across Europe on prominent corporate and litigation matters, and collaborative approach across offices and jurisdictions. I am excited to work with my new colleagues to help clients with their most significant dispute resolution matters.” Vincent’s arrival follows the addition of cross-border disputes attorney Nanyi Kaluma, who joined Willkie’s Brussels office in February 2022, and antitrust lawyer Dr. Jens-Olrik Murach, who joined in 2021. Willkie’s Brussels office represents Belgian and international clients in an array of corporate and commercial transactions. Our lawyers are experienced in handling significant public and private business transactions in Belgium and abroad. We also have a prominent litigation practice, regularly appearing before judicial and arbitration courts. The Brussels office is also the hub of our European Antitrust & Competition Practice. The multi-language Brussels team works seamlessly integrated with our Antitrust & Competition teams in London, Paris, Frankfurt, and in the United States, navigating clients through their most challenging matters. We represent international corporate clients, financial institutions, and private equity sponsors in complex merger control proceedings; cartel and abuse of dominance investigations; commercial antitrust matters; and antitrust litigation. We are also regularly involved in state aid and trade matters. ***************************************************** Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm of approximately 1,000 attorneys with offices in Brussels, Chicago, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Palo Alto, Paris, Rome, San Francisco and Washington. The Firm is headquartered in New York City at 787 Seventh Avenue.

Apr 19

2 min