Xavier Petet
Biography
Overview
Xavier Petet is a partner in the EMEA Private Equity team of our Global Mergers & Acquisitions practice.
He is a renowned corporate lawyer having more than 15 years’ experience representing clients in all manner of M&A and Private Equity.
He has a significant experience in transactions including private equity and M&A deals, acquisitions and sales and joint ventures primarily belonging to the jumbo-cap to mid-cap market segments.
Native in French and fluent in English, Xavier is at ease navigating both domestic and cross-border transactions on behalf of multinational clients, including private equity houses, financial sponsors, entrepreneurs, industrials, listed and non-listed companies, from all sectors notably highly regulated ones. Recently, Xavier has demonstrated particular strength in the healthcare, tech, energy and infrastructure sectors.
Xavier joined the Firm in October 2021 from an international law firm in Paris, where he was a counsel. During his career, he has been on secondments for both a leading private equity firm and in the London office of his previous law firm.
He gives private equity lectures at Sciences Po Paris since 2015.
in cooperation with ESCP-EAP in Paris
Experience
Technique Solaire (2023)
Representation of Technique Solaire, a French independent producer of renewable energies, and its founders on a €200 million capital increase raised from its historical financial shareholders Bpifrance and a pool of investors from the Crédit Agricole Group.
Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (2023)
Representation of Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, a private infrastructure investment platform within Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM), on an exclusivity agreement to partner with Altice France to establish the first nationwide independent colocation provider in France through the acquisition of a 70 percent majority stake in UltraEdge, a newly established data center company.
Banque des Territoires (Caisse des Dépôts Group) (2023)
Representation of Banque des Territoires (Caisse des Dépôts Group) on its acquisition of a 34 percent stake in JP Energie Environnement (JPee), a French independent producer of renewable energy which has been involved in the development, financing, construction and operation of wind farms and photovoltaic (PV) power stations in France since 2004.
Several direct lenders (2023)
Representation of several several direct lenders on a more-than €500 million unitranche financing for the acquisition of Unither Pharmaceuticals by a consortium of investors consisting of GIC and IK Partners as new investors, Keensight and Parquest reinforcing their existing position and Unither's management team.
The Carlyle Group (2023)
Representation of The Carlyle Group on its acquisition of Tescan Orsay Holding (Tescan), a leading manufacturer of electron microscopes and other high-tech scientific instruments, headquartered in the Czech Republic.
Cube Infrastructure Managers (2022)
Representation of Cube Infrastructure Managers (Cube), a leading European mid-market infrastructure investor, on the acquisition through its Cube Infrastructure Fund III of Trail's majority stake in leading pure-play French municipal waste collection operator Sepur, in partnership with its founder Hervé Matuszewski who will remain a minority shareholder alongside Cube.
Hitachi (2021)*
Representation of Hitachi in connection with the acquisition of Thales' global Ground Transportation Systems business
French Rugby Federation (FFR) (2021)*
Representation of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) on the long-term strategic partnership between Six Nations Rugby and CVC Capital Partners
Argobio (2021)*
Representation of Argobio in connection with its launch to create and develop pioneering biotech spinouts with the support of Bpifrance, Kurma Partners, Angelini Pharma, Institut Pasteur and Evotec
EDF Renouvelables and Enbridge, Eolien Maritime France (2021)*
Representation of the project company and the joint venture between EDF Renouvelables and Enbridge, Eolien Maritime France, on the financing of an offshore wind farm off the coast of Fécamp
Bridgepoint and Vermaat (2021)*
Representation of Bridgepoint and Vermaat (a Bridegpoint portfolio company) on the acquisition of the catering group Serenest
Lakestar (2020)*
Representation of Lakestar on its strategic equity investment in Bellman, a French tech company operating in residential building management
Mitsui (2020)*
Representation of Mitsui on its strategic equity investment in Ceva Santé Animal
Agusta Investments and SPCA (2020)*
Representation of Agusta Investments and SPCA, the operator of the Cap d'Ail's marina in South of France on the sale of a 20% stake to SMIP (the international harbour operating entity of the Principality of Monaco)
Ardian and Dedalus Holding (2020)*
Representation of Ardian and Dedalus Holding (an Ardian portfolio company) on the acquisition of the healthcare IT activities of Agfa Gevaert
Bridgepoint (2019)*
Representation of Bridgepoint on its strategic equity investment in Burger King in France, alongside Groupe Bertrand, the leading French multi-brand restaurant operator
Abenex (2019)*
Representation of Abenex in the context of the buy-out of minority investors and the reorganization of the share capital of Point Vision, a French leading ophthalmologic group
Prédica (Crédit Agricole Assurances) (2019)*
Representation of Prédica (Crédit Agricole Assurances) on the syndication of a 40% stake in Prédica Energies Durables (the French largest renewable platform, operated in JV with Engie) to La Banque des Territoires (CDC) and Groupama
Flowbird (2019)*
Representation of Flowbird (an Astorg portfolio company) on (i) the setting-up of Yellowbrick International, a joint-venture company with Waysis in the digital/mobile parking payment business and (ii) the subsequent acquisition of the remaining equity stake in the Dutch and Belgium subsidiaries of the Waysis group
Cube Infrastructure Managers (2018)*
Representation of Cube Infrastructure Managers in connection with (i) the sale of Idex to Antin Infrastructure Partners (European Distribution Deal of the Year, IJ Global Award 2018) and (ii) the sale of the energy supplier group Taranis to Antin Infrastructures
Fortune Fountain Capital (2018)*
Representation of Fortune Fountain Capital in connection with the acquisition of an 89% Stake in Baccarat from Starwood Capital and L Catterton, followed by a mandatory public offer on the rest of the Baccarat's shares
Tsinghua Unigroup (2018)*
Representation of Tsinghua Unigroup on the acquisition of Linxens, a global leader in the design and manufacture of microconnectors, RFID antennas and inlays, from CVC Capital Partners and Astorg Partners
Temasek (2017)*
Representation of Temasek on its strategic equity investment in Axéréal Malt Holding, the 5th worldwide barley malt producer and supplier of brewers and whisky distillers
Group synlab-Labco (2017)*
Group synlab-Labco (a Cinven portfolio company) on the acquisition of various medical diagnostic laboratories in France, including Seldaix in the South of France
*Transactions worked on prior to joining White & Case
"Notable practitioner", IFLR EMEA, M&A, Private equity, France, 2021
