Samir Berlat
Biography
Overview
A partner in the Firm's global Debt Finance practice, Samir represents banks and other financial institutions in complex domestic and cross-border transactions. With a focus on financing deals, he has particular experience in leveraged acquisition finance, structured finance, corporate finance and syndicated lending.
Clients who seek Samir's advice include corporate borrowers and investment funds, regarding a wide range of financing transactions. Creditors and debtors look to Samir for his knowledge and experience of debt restructurings. Since his clients' business matters are often complex and international in scope, Samir is at ease working within multidisciplinary, cross-border teams of the Firm's lawyers, to help clients to realise their objectives.
Experience
Proposed acquisition of Clariane’s French Hospitalisation à Domicile activities, 2024
Representation of Fondation Santé Service, the leading French player in home hospitalization, on the financing aspects of the exclusive agreement with Clariane to acquire all its Hospitalisation à Domicile and Services de Soins Infirmiers à Domicile activities in France
Acquisition of Groupe Alipa’s industrial packaging division, 2024
Representation of the family investment holding company Evolem on the financing aspects of the acquisition of Groupe Alipa's industrial packaging division, which comprises three operating units: No-Nail Boxes, WaluPack Services and AllPack Services.
Nomios acquisition, 2023
Representation of the senior lenders on a unitranche financing for the acquisition of Volpel Invest B.V., the holding company of Nomios Group, a European expert in cybersecurity and secure network services, by Keensight Capital.
Unitranche financing for acquisition of Groupe Gritchen, 2023
Representation of French insurance brokerage firm Groupe Guémas on a unitranche financing arranged by Barings for the acquisition of Groupe Gritchen, a privately held industry peer and French market leader in cancellation insurance.
SPIE on sale of UK business and bank refinancing, 2022
Representation of SPIE on the sale of SPIE UK to Imtech, a technical services group jointly owned by Dalkia and EDF Energy, and on the sustainability-linked refinancing of its €1.2 billion syndicated loan.
Burger King French state-guaranteed €80 million Term Loan, 2020
Advised BNP Paribas, Banque Populaire Rives de Paris and Crédit Lyonnais on the French state-guaranteed Term Loan to Burger King France and its subsidiary France Quick. The loan will be guaranteed up to 90 percent by the French state and has an initial maturity of 12 months, with an extension option of up to five years from initial maturity. Granted during the coronavirus crisis, the loan is intended finance the liquidity and cash requirements of Burger King France, France Quick and their subsidiaries due to the economic consequences of the pandemic.
Renault Group's French State-Guaranteed €5 Billion Term Loan, 2020
Advised lending banks on the €5 billion Term Loan facility guaranteed by the French state granted to the Renault group. Granted during the COVID-19 crisis, the loan is intended to provide the Renault group with sufficient liquidity to face the economic consequences of the pandemic. It is the largest of its type in France to date.
Verallia's Refinancing, 2019
Samir advised Verallia, world's third-largest manufacturer of glass containers for food and beverages, in connection with its refinancing concomitant to its initial public offering on Euronext Paris.
Leading Lawyer, Banking & Finance – France, Chambers Global 2024
