Franck De Vita
Biography
Overview
Franck De Vita is a partner in the Corporate and M&A practice of White & Case, Paris. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions and on public M&A.
Counting multinational corporations and private equity funds among his clients, Franck De Vita delivers valuable advice and understanding in relation to mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. To corporate finance, he brings extensive experience in leveraged buy-out transactions, restructurings and accompanies private equity firms.
Listed companies, investment funds and banks value Franck's support with French stock exchange regulations. He guides them through tender offers, stake acquisitions and disclosure rules, enabling them to structure their transactions while satisfying all legal and regulatory requirements. He also advises clients on their filings with the French Market Authority and banking authorities, and represents them in respect of any litigation.
Franck represents listed companies and private equity investors in a wide range of domestic and international joint ventures, especially in the industry and construction sectors. He regularly assists Emerging Capital Partners, a pan-African private equity firm, on various acquisitions in Africa including the negotiation of joint venture and shareholder agreements.
Experience
EP Global Commerce a.s. (2023)
Representation of EP Equity Investment III s.à r.l, a company controlled by businessman Daniel Kretinsky, on the signing of a lock-up agreement relating to Casino Group's financial restructuring, alongside Fimalac and Attestor, with Casino Group and some of its main creditors.
Sweetch Energy (2023)
Representation of climate-tech Sweetch Energy, a renewable energy player specializing in osmotic energy, on the creation of a joint venture with its industrial partner and shareholder CNR (Compagnie Nationale du Rhône) to structure a new industrial sector for osmotic energy in France.
Teleperformance (2023)
Representation of Teleperformance SE on its voluntary cash and share offer to acquire 100 percent of the shares of Majorel for a total consideration of €3 billion.
Angelo Gordon (2023)
Representation of leading investment fund Angelo Gordon on an agreement in principle to provide a €170 million new money injection in Technicolor Creative Studios (TCS).
MARK Capital Management (2022)
Representation of Mark III Holdings BV (MARK), a subsidiary of MARK Capital Management (formerly known as Meyer Bergman), on the sale of Pershing Hall, a flagship mixed-use development in Paris' Golden Triangle, to Allianz Vie.
Luko (2022)
Representation of France's leading insurtech company Luko on its acquisition of Coya, a German insurtech company.
Forsee Power (2022)
Representation of Forsee Power shareholders, funds managed by Eurazeo and Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault on the initial public offering (IPO) of Forsee Power on Compartment B of Euronext Paris.
Peugeot Frères Industrie (2022)
Representation of Peugeot Frères Industrie on its entry into exclusive negotiations for the acquisition of a majority stake in Holding Tivoly and the direct acquisition of shares in Tivoly S.A. from certain members of the Tivoly family.
Amber Capital (2021)
Representation of Amber Capital on the decision to sale all its shares in Lagardère, representing 17.93 percent of the share capital and 14.34 percent of the theoretical voting rights, to Vivendi.
Europcar (2021)
Representation of Europcar Mobility Group (Europcar) shareholders Centerbridge Partners, CarVal Investors, Marathon Asset Management and Diameter Capital Partners individually in connection with the tender offer for Europcar by a consortium composed of Volkswagen Group, Attestor Capital and Pon Holdings.
Faurecia (2021)
Representation of Faurecia S.E. (Faurecia), one of the world's largest automotive equipment suppliers, on the launch of a tender offer for HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA (HELLA) and the acquisition of 60 percent of HELLA's shares currently held by the family shareholder pool.
Ecore Group (2021)
Representation of the Ecore Group, the leading European recycling group, within the framework of the sale of the Ecore Group by HIG and Guillaume Dauphin (majority historic shareholder) to Derichebourg.
Vallourec’s crossholders (2021)
Representation of the Ad Hoc Group of Crossholders of Vallourec (including Apollo, SVP, Bybrook and M&G) on the financial restructuring of Vallourec, world leader in premium tubular solutions for the energy markets and for demanding industrial applications such as oil & gas wells in harsh environments, new generation power plants, challenging architectural projects, and high-performance mechanical equipment.
A consortium formed by ECP, deg, IFU and AP Moller Capital (2020)
Representation of a consortium formed by ECP, deg, IFU and AP Moller Capital (Maersk Group) in connection with the majority investment in Eranove SA, African leader in energy and services.
China Communications Construction Company Ltd (2020)
Representation of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and its subsidiary China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on the signature of investment and partnership agreements with the Région Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima, TMSA and Bank of Africa, in connection with the development of the Smart City Mohammed VI Tanger Tech in Morocco.
Séché Environnement (2020)
Representation of Séché Environnement in connection with the signing of a promise of sale and acquisition of a block of securities by Groupe Séché representing approximately 10% of the capital of Séché Environnement (Euronext Paris) from ICM.
BNP Paribas SA (2020)
Representation of BNP Paribas SA in connection with the sale of 100% of shares held in Symag SAS to Wynd.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch (2020)
Representation of Bank of America Merrill Lynch as presenting bank on the takeover bid launched Covidien Group (Medtronic group) on Medicrea, a Medtech listed on Euronext Growth.
Solocal (2020)
Representation of the bondholders of Solocal (including GoldenTree, Melqart, Amiral Gestion, DNCA Finance, Crédit Suisse, Robus, Boussard & Gavaudan, Whitebox and Sculptor) on the financial restructuring of the Solocal Group, the leading European provider of digital solutions for SME companies.
Antalis (2020)
Representation of secured lenders of the listed company Antalis SA in connection with the execution of an agreement on the disposal by Sequana (listed holding company) and Bpifrance Participations of their majority stakes in the Antalis Group to the Tokyo based Kokusai Pulp & Paper.
OncoDNA (2020)
Representation of OncoDNA (Belgian private equity backed MedTech) in its voluntary Takeover Bid on IntegraGen (the French listed Medtech) to acquire all outstanding shares.
Total Eren (2019)
Representation of Total Eren, a leading French renewable energy Independent Power Producer, on the acquisition of NovEnergia Holding Company, a Southern European Independent Power Producer.
Emerging Capital Partners (2019)
Representation of Emerging Capital Partners in connection with Togocom’s privatization, first telecom operator in Togo, alongside its international consortium partner Axian.
SAB (2019)
Representation of the founders and majority shareholders of SAB, one of France's leading core banking developers, in the sale of the SAB Group to the European leader in digital transformation Sopra Steria, whose shares are listed on Euronext Paris, after an open-bid process.
Meyer Bergman (2019)
Representation of Meyer Bergman, a private real estate investment management company, in connection with the sale of 27 commercial assets to Paref Gestion on behalf of SCPI Novapierre 1, for €94.5 million.
Puma Energy (2018)
Representation of Puma Energy on several M&A transactions in Africa, including the acquisition of a distribution network from Total in Senegal and the implementation of a joint venture in Côte d'Ivoire with state owned company Petroci for the storage activity and the distribution network.
Foncière INEA (2018)
Representation of Foncière INEA on the sale of approximately 20% in Foncière INEA.
Roivant (2018)
Representation of Roivant, a global healthcare company focused on biomedical research, on their equity investment in a French listed company Poxel, a biopharmaceutical company.
ARX Equity Partners (2017)
Representation of ARX Equity Partners, the Czech Republic-based private equity firm, and Mr. Keith Dilworth, the Czech Republic-based food industry entrepreneur, on the acquisition of Nutricia Deva a.s., the Czech Republic-based producer of baby fruit desserts and fruit drinks, from Danone SA, the France-based producer of fresh dairy products, beverages, baby food and clinical nutrition products, for an undisclosed consideration.
Boussard & Gavaudan (2011-2017)
Representation of Boussard & Gavaudan, an independent asset manager, on numerous transactions including:
- together with Apax France and Altamir, in relation to the sale of additional share capital and voting rights stake of Gfi Informatique to Mannai Corporation;
- in relation to the sale of a 67.2 percent stake in FUTUREN to EDF Energies Nouvelles;
- in the execution of a shareholders' agreement resulting in a change in control over FUTUREN and filing of a project of simplified mandatory public offer on its shares at a price of €0.70 per share and on FUTUREN convertible bonds at a price of €8.30 per convertible bond (included accrued coupon); and
- in the sale of a 51 percent equity and voting rights stake of Gfi Informatique to Mannai Corporation, together with Apax France (jointly with Altamir). The price valued Gfi Informatique at some €561 million.
€312 million sale of Ciments Français (2016)
Representation of Ciments Français, listed France based manufacturer of cement and related construction materials, on the €312 million sale of Compagnie des Ciments Belges SA to Cementir Holding SpA, a listed Italy-based cement producer.
US$2.9 billion sale in the Luxury Hotel industry (2015-2016)
Representation of FRHI Holdings Limited (FRHI), Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Kingdom Holding Company of Saudi Arabia (Kingdom) on the US$2.9 billion stock-and-cash sale of FRHI, the parent company of luxury hotel brands Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel, to AccorHotels (Accor).
€2.4 billion cross-European acquisition by BNP Paribas (2015)
Representation of Arval, a fully owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas specializing in full service vehicle leasing, on the acquisition of GE Capital's European fleet management activity. The scope of this acquisition covers more than 160,000 vehicles in 12 European countries, the vehicles assets amount to €2.4 billion.
Eren Renewable Energy (2015)
Representation of Eren Renewable Energy on its fundraising of approximatively €200 million, including a capital increase of €100 million, subscribed by BPI France, Next World, Salvepar (Tikehau Group) and FFP. In 2014, we represented Eren on its public takeover bid to acquire Orège, a company listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris.
Sale of minority interests in Africa (2015)
Representation of Emerging Capital Partners (ECP) in the sale of its 26% interests in la Nouvelle Societé Interafricaine d'Assurance Participations SA (NSIA), the leading insurance group in French-speaking west and central Africa.
European reorganization of BNP Paribas (2013-2014)
Representation of BNP Paribas in the European reorganization of its specialized finance unit.
