SophieChevallier

Partner

Paris + 33.1.56.59.46.83

Connect:

Share

Sophie Chevallier has comprehensive experience in a wide range of financing transactions, both domestic and cross-border, especially in the area of project and asset finance. She regularly acts on behalf of French and international banks, sponsors, and borrowers as well as state guarantors and export credit agencies.

Sophie has assisted various consortia and French and international banks in connection with infrastructure projects under public-private partnership or concession schemes. In particular, she has been involved in projects relating to the construction and operation of telecom and IT networks, university campuses, sports facilities (aquatic centers and other leisure infrastructures), and toll roads.

Sophie regularly assists French and international banks in project finance transactions in the energy or renewable energy sector in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa). Recent representations include advising lenders in connection with the financing of development and construction of portfolios of wind and solar farms in France, New Caledonia, and Chile; advising lenders and sponsors in connection with the refinancing of portfolios of wind, solar, and biogas projects; advising a French bank in connection with the asset financing of a turnkey power plant in Tunisia; and advising the Togolese Republic in connection with the financing of the biggest solar plant in Togo.

Sophie also regularly acts as counsel to the lenders in projects for construction, operation, and/or modernization of waste treatment plants with energy recovery.

Experience

  • Ecore obtains €160 million borrowing base facilityJones Day represented Ecore BV, a French company specializing in the recycling of industrial waste, and its subsidiaries in connection with a €160 million (US$176.4 million) borrowing base facility secured by a guaranty from Guy Dauphin Environnement SA.
  • Goldman Sachs provides senior secured loan facility to Perfect Commerce HoldingsJones Day advised Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. in connection with a senior secured loan facility provided to Perfect Commerce Holdings LLC, a recognized global leader in providing world-class sourcing and procurement software solutions, for use in connection with an offer to purchase the publicly held shares of a French public company.
  • Management shareholders complete second owner buyout of Isla Délice groupJones Day acted as counsel to the management shareholders in the second owner buyout of the Isla Délice group, consisting of Amalric SAS and Indev SAS.
  • Société de Financement Local and Caisse Française de Financement Local defend in over 200 financial litigations relating to structured products commercialized to public sector entitiesJones Day is lead counsel to Société de Financement Local and Caisse Française de Financement Local in over 200 financial litigations relating to structured products commercialized to public sector entities.
  • Dexia Credit Local defends over 200 financial litigations relating to structured products commercialized to public sector entitiesJones Day is representing Dexia Credit Local in connection with over 200 high profile financial litigations relating to structured products commercialized to public sector entities, advising Dexia on the legal and procedural strategy involving banking and derivative law, lenders' contractual and tort liability, financial services regulation, and public law issues.
  • CBRE Global Investment Partners European Co-investment Fund acquires OPCI LogizolaJones Day advised CBRE Global Investment Partners European Co-investment Fund in the acquisition of OPCI Logizola, a regulated French investment company, which owns a portfolio of 12 logistics assets across France for €240 million (US$264.6 million) and the continuation of the existing Natixis loan in connection with the portfolio.
  • La Banque Postale finances four wind farms in PicardieJones Day represented La Banque Postale in connection with the €50 million (US$56.2 million) project financing for the development, design, construction, and operation of four wind farms with an aggregate target capacity of 32 MW located in Picardie, sponsored by Quadran, one of the key players in the renewable energy field in France.
  • Trace One sold to HgCapitalJones Day advised Trace One SA, a leading Software as a Service (“SaaS”) platform for the retail and private label goods sectors, in connection with its sale to HgCapital.
  • Shipbuilder successfully defends claims brought by Libyan national maritime authorityAfter obtaining an ICC arbitral award, Jones Day successfully defended a shipbuilder against annulment proceedings before the London High Court brought by the Libyan national maritime authority.
  • CARMAT completes €50 million capital increaseJones Day represented CARMAT SA, a designer and developer of the world's most advanced heart project, aiming to provide a therapeutic alternative for people suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure, in connection with its €50 million (US$56.2 million) reserved capital increase between CARMAT, its core shareholders, and a pool of strategic investors including Airbus Group (Matra Défense), Truffle Capital, CorNovum (Bpifrance), ALIAD (Air Liquide), and the family offices of Mr. Pierre Bastid and Mr. Antonino Ligresti.
  • La Banque Postale provides financing in connection with acquisition by QuadricaJones Day represented La Banque Postale in an equity-bridge revolving facility in connection with the acquisition by Quadrica, a company owned at 90% by Quadran, of some project companies' shares owned by Quadran and relating to wind farms developed by Quadran with an aggregate target capacity of 46.8 MW.
  • Veolia Environnement and Deutsche Pfandbriefbank provide financing for modernization of waste treatment plantJones Day was appointed by Veolia Environnement and Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG to act as lender's counsel to Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG (PBB) in connection with the €15 million (US$18 million) project financing for the modernization of a waste treatment plant for Le Mans Métropole (LMM), a public authority.
  • Bridgestone acquires Speedy FranceJones Day advised Bridgestone EMEA in its acquisition of Speedy France, a leading car service retail company and one of the most important tyre networks in France.
  • La Banque Postale finances two wind farms in Ille et Vilaine, FranceJones Day represented La Banque Postale in connection with the project financing for the development, design, construction, and operation of two wind farms with a capacity of 10 MW and 4.8 MW located in Ille et Vilaine, France.
  • UniCrédit Bank refinances four wind farms in FranceJones Day represented UniCrédit Bank AG in connection with the €42 million (US$50 million) refinancing of four wind farms located in France sponsored by Erg Renew S.p.A.
  • Veolia Environnement and Société Générale finance new waste treatment plant for Syndicat Départemental d'Elimination des Déchets de l'AubeJones Day was appointed by Veolia Environnement and Société Générale to act as lender's counsel (e.g. Société Générale and Bpifrance Financement) in connection with the €82 million (US$98 million) project financing for the design, construction, and operation of a new waste treatment plant for Syndicat Départemental d'Elimination des Déchets de l'Aube (SDEDA), a public authority located in Troyes.
  • Société Générale refinances pre-financing facility for modernization of waste treatment plantJones Day represented Société Générale in connection with the refinancing of the pre-financing facility for the modernization of a waste treatment plant for Centre de Valorisation Energétique de Labeuvrière, a public authority located in Béthune-Bruay, France.
  • Olfeo completes its owner buyout with Initiative & FinanceJones Day advised Olfeo, a content filtering software vendor, and its managers in connection with its owner buyout with the help of French investment fund, Initiative & Finance.
  • Deutsche Pfandbriefbank provides financing for modernization of three organic waste plants for Syndicat de Traitement des Déchets Archèche DrômeJones Day represented Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG in connection with the €22 million (US$26 million) project financing for the modernization of three organic waste plants for Syndicat de Traitement des Déchets Archèche Drôme, a public authority.
  • Agence des Participations de l'Etat provides €200 million State loan to Vale Canada Limited and issues State guarantee to secure project financing of tailings storage areaJones Day represented Agence des Participations de l'Etat in connection with a €200 million (US$240 million) State loan provided to Vale Canada Limited secured by nickel finished and semi-finished product inventory held by the Vale group throughout Asia and Europe; and the issuance of a State guarantee to secure the project financing of a tailings storage area in the nickel mine operated by Vale in New Caledonia.
  • La Banque Postale finances four wind farms in Meuse, Loire-Atlantique, and AveyronJones Day represented La Banque Postale in connection with the €80 million (US$96 million) project financing for the development, design, construction, and operation of a portfolio of four wind farms with an aggregate target capacity of 50 MW located in Meuse, Loire-Atlantique and Aveyron and sponsored by Quadran, one of the key players in the renewable energy field in France.
  • Total sells Atotech to The Carlyle Group for $3.2 billionJones Day advised Total in the $3.2 billion sale of specialty chemical affiliate Atotech B.V., a global manufacturer of high technology plating solutions, to The Carlyle Group.
  • Société Générale finances waste treatment plant for Métropole Européenne de LilleJones Day represented Société Générale in connection with the €45 million (US$54 million) project financing of a waste treatment plant for Métropole Européenne de Lille (MEL) in northern France.
  • Société Générale provides financing for aquatic centreJones Day represented Société Générale in the €15 million (US$20.8 million) financing in connection with the rehabilitation, extension, maintenance, and operation of the aquatic centre of Rosny-sous-Bois under the délégation de service public scheme for the City of Rosny-sous-Bois.
  • Ecore amends €225 million facility and €100 million term loan; renews €225 million facilityJones Day advised Ecore B.V., a French company specializing in the recycling of industrial waste, and its subsidiaries in connection with: the negotiation of various waivers and amendments to their €225 million borrowing base facility and €100 million term loan; the renewal of a €225 million borrowing base facility provided by a pool of French, Belgian, Dutch, and German banks; and the renewal of the related security package covering the group companies' movable assets in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
  • Société Générale-led syndicate finances waste reception and recycling center in FranceJones Day assisted a pool of banks comprised of Société Générale, PBB, SMBC, and BPIFrance Financement in connection with the €220 million (US$299.4 million) project financing for the conception, construction, and operation of a waste reception and recycling center in Clermont-Ferrand for the Valtom.
  • SNAM acquires Transports Infrastructures Gaz France through consortium with EDF and GIC for €2.4 billion ($3.25 billion)Jones Day advised Italian energy company SNAM in its acquisition from Total SA of Transports Infrastructures Gaz France's natural-gas transport and storage unit through a consortium with EDF and GIC for €2.4 billion ($3.25 billion).
  • Société de Financement Local created and related transfer of Dexia Municipal Agency in connection with market withdrawal of DexiaJones Day served as counsel to Société de Financement Local (SFIL), a newly created credit institution approved by the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel and owned by each of the French State; Caisse des dépôts et consignations (CDC); and La Banque Postale (LBP); in connection with the response to the structural financing difficulties encountered by the local public sector following the withdrawal of Dexia SA from the public market.
  • GM sells Strasbourg plant to Punch Metals International N.V.Jones Day advised General Motors Company in connection with the sale of its Strasbourg plant to Punch Metals International N.V.
  • Société Générale Equipment Finance France finances construction and operation of solar plants throughout FranceJones Day advised Société Générale Equipment Finance France in connection with the project financing for the construction and operation of a portfolio of 13 solar plants located throughout Drôme and Ardèche, sponsored by Groupe Dubreuil via its subsidiaries Soligest and Solargie both dedicated to renewable energies.
  • Harry Winston obtains $300 million credit facilityJones Day advised Harry Winston, Inc., one of the world's most prestigious luxury jewelers, in connection with its $300 million senior secured asset based credit facility provided by a multinational consortium of banks led by Standard Chartered Bank; ABN AMRO Bank N.V.; TD Bank, N.A.; and Israel Discount Bank of New York.
  • Société Générale Equipment Finance France provides financing for develop of two photovoltaic power plants in Guénin and SurgèresJones Day advised Société Générale Equipment Finance France in connection with the project financing for the development, design, construction, and operation of two photovoltaic plants located in Guénin and Surgères, France and sponsored by White Owl Capital.
  • Ecore purchases Recylux Group and restructures debt of Recylux entitiesJones Day advised Ecore B.V., a French company specializing in the recycling of industrial waste, and Guy Dauphin Environnement in connection with the acquisition and debt restructuring of the Recylux Group, a ferrous and non-ferrous scrap recycler located in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
  • SunPower acquires TenesolJones Day advised SunPower Corporation in its acquisition of Tenesol SA, a global solar provider headquartered in La Tour de Salvagny, France.
  • Caisse Française de Développement Industriel assists with renewal of support scheme and issues two financial guaranteesJones Day assisted Caisse Française de Développement Industriel and the French Direction Générale du Trésor in connection with the renewal of the support scheme for the shipping industry in 2011 and related issuance of a €263.6 million financial guarantee and a €37.6 million financial guarantee for the project financing of the construction by STX France S.A. of two new vessels for MSC (MSC Divina) and Hapag-Lloyd (Europa 2).
  • CIBAIR sponsors Internet Protocol Network project for French airforceJones Day acted as counsel to the successful consortium for the €87 million (US$126 million) project financing for the design, construction, maintenance, rollout, management, and support of the telecommunications network under the Internet Protocol on all French Air Force bases.
  • Société Générale finances Diabetes and Endocrinology Center located within Paris Pitié-Salpêtrière HospitalJones Day advised Société Générale in connection with the €50 million (US$74.1 million) project financing for the conception, construction, and maintenance of a Diabetes and Endocrinology Center located within the Paris Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital.
  • LCL Le Credit Lyonnais and Natixis arrange €120 million facility for CNIMJones Day assisted LCL Le Credit Lyonnais and Natixis, as mandated lead arrangers, in connection with the €120 million (US$177.8 million) syndicated multi-currency revolving facility granted to Constructions Industrielles de la Méditerranée (CNIM), a French company specializing in the design and production of turnkey industrial solutions with high technological content for the environmental, innovation and systems, and energy industries.
  • INEO GDF SUEZ finances videoprotection network located in Paris, FranceJones Day advised INEO GDF SUEZ, a French-based energy company active in the fields of electricity generation and distribution, natural gas and renewable energy, in connection with the €73.3 million (US$95.8 million) project financing for the design, construction, and technical performance of a videoprotection network located in Paris, France.
  • ARJEL, France's new online gambling authority, receives regulatory law adviceJones Day is among the law firms selected by ARJEL (Autorité de Régulation des Jeux en Ligne), the new French online gambling control authority, to provide regulatory advice and other legal services.
  • Credit Foncier and Caisse d'Epargne et de Prévoyance Bourgogne Franche-Comté provide financing for Dijon tramway project and related photovoltaic plantJones Day represented Credit Foncier de France and Caisse d'Epargne et de Prévoyance Bourgogne Franche-Comté, as lender, in connection with the €176 million (US$222 million) project financing for the design, construction, and servicing of all of the electric and information systems for the Dijon tramway and a photovoltaic plant in the tramway's park.
  • Macquarie Bank provides €50 million financing for Hatfield Asset Holding in Masterlease France and Masterlease Belgium acquisitionsJones Day advised Macquarie Bank Limited in connection with the €50 million (US$64.4 million) financing arranged for Hatfield Asset Holding NV, a newly incorporated subsidiary of HPI Fleet & Mobility GmbH, in connection with its acquisition of Masterlease France SAS and Masterlease Belgium BVBA, international vehicle financing and fleet management specialists, from Ally Financial Inc. (previously GMAC).
  • Bisnode AB acquires shares in Directinet SA and Netcollections SASJones Day represented Swedish company Bisnode AB in connection with the acquisition of shares in the two French companies Directinet SA and Netcollections SAS.
    • View All

    February 2021 Alert

    France Releases Legal Framework for Renewable and Low-carbon Hydrogen

    September 2020 Alert

    Towards a Global Renewable Hydrogen Market – Australia and Europe Join Forces

    September 2020 Commentary

    A Comprehensive Roadmap for Europe’s Complex Energy Transition

    June 2020 White Paper

    Construction Projects and Disputes: A Look Beyond the Lockdown, Part III

    May 2020 White Paper

    Construction Projects and Disputes: A Look Beyond the COVID-19 Lockdown

    April 2018 COMMENTAIRE

    Emprunts structurés : La Cour de cassation donne raison aux banques

    Speaking Engagements

    • 1er octobre 2015
      Les marchés de partenariat : les principales différences avec le contrat de partenariat

    Before sending, please note:

    Information on www.jonesday.com is for general use and is not legal advice. The mailing of this email is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Anything that you send to anyone at our Firm will not be confidential or privileged unless we have agreed to represent you. If you send this email, you confirm that you have read and understand this notice.