DianeSénéchal

Partner

Paris + 33.1.56.59.39.39

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Diane Sénéchal focuses on banking and finance matters with a particular emphasis on the financing of acquisitions of listed and nonlisted companies (leveraged buyouts and strategic acquisitions) for all types of lenders (credit funds and banks), borrowers, and sponsors. She has significant experience in debt restructuring, acting for lenders and borrowers.

Diane has worked extensively on matters in the infrastructure sector regarding greenfield and brownfield projects. She also has experience with financing for the life science sector including by way of bespoke structured financings, acting for specialized debt funds. She has advised lenders on many high-level transactions and also has in-depth experience in corporate finance, including various types of receivables-based financing. Diane practiced for 14 years at an international law firm in Paris prior to joining Jones Day in 2015.

Diane is a member of the AFTE ("Association Française des Trésoriers d'Entreprise") legal committee as well as the contract law workgroup within the "Haut Comité Juridique de la Place Financière de Paris."

Experience

  • Orange and Masmovil to combine in €18.6 billion mergerJones Day is advising Orange, S.A. ("Orange"), one of the world's leading telecommunications operators, on the combination of their telecom business in Spain with Masmovil, one of the leading telecommunications operators in Spain, for an enterprise value of €18.6 billion (€7.8 billion for Orange Spain and €10.9 billion for Masmovil).
  • Permira Credit refinances Sportscape GroupJones Day advised Permira Credit, as unitranche lender, in connection with the refinancing of the newly created European online sporting goods retailer, Sportscape Group.
  • Armor sells stake in ARMOR-IIMAK to AstorgJones Day advised EN5, controlling shareholders of the Armor group, on the management buyout of Armor Iimak group and the simultaneous 40% investment by Astorg Midcap in the Armor Iimak group.
  • Direct lender provides $100 million term loan facility to designer and developer of enterprise softwareJones Day advised a direct lender, as administrative agent, collateral agent, and sole lead arranger, in connection with a $80 million senior secured term loan facility and $20 million senior secured delayed draw term loan facility provided to a designer and developer of enterprise software, the proceeds of which were used, in part, to finance the acquisition of a data technology provider.
  • Simpson Manufacturing Company announces offer to acquire Etanco GroupJones Day advised Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc. in the €725 million acquisition of the Etanco Group.
  • BNP Paribas Fortis, ING Belgium, and KBC Bank finance acquisition of Group Claes and Weidelco Foodpartners by SofindevJones Day acted as legal counsel to BNP Paribas Fortis NV/SA, ING Belgium NV/SA, and KBC Bank NV in connection with the financing of the acquisition of Group Claes and Weidelco Foodpartners by Sofindev.
  • Tikehau Investment Management finances acquisition of SQLI by Synsion BidCoJones Day advised Tikehau Investment Management, as arranger, and direct lending funds managed or advised by Tikehau Investment Management, as lenders, in connection with (i) the financing of the acquisition by way of tender offer of SQLI, a French-listed company, by Synsion BidCo, a SPV owned and controlled by DBAY Advisors, (ii) the partial refinancing of the existing indebtedness of SQLI, and (iii) the financing of future acquisitions and capital expenditures.
  • American Industrial Partners Capital Fund VII takes control of Aluminium Dunkerque companiesJones Day has advised American Industrial Partners Capital Fund VII, L.P. in connection with the acquisition of the Aluminium Dunkerque companies through the foreclosure on the shares of Liberty France Industries 1 SA, which were pledged to affiliates of AIP under mezzanine financing arrangements previously provided to Aluminium Dunkerque, due to ongoing payment and other defaults.
  • Solmax acquires U.S. geosynthetics manufacturer PropexJones Day served as antitrust and financing counsel to Groupe Solmax Inc. (Solmax) in the acquisition by Solmax of Propex Operating Company, LLC, a leading geosynthetics manufacturer with a long track record in the construction, transportation, mining, and automotive industries.
  • ARMOR USA acquires industrial segment of International Imaging Materials, Inc.Jones Day represented Armor SAS and ARMOR USA, Inc., a French-based company that specializes in the industrial formulation of inks and the coating of thin layers onto thin films, in the acquisition and financing of International Imaging Materials, Inc. ("IIMAK"), a global developer and manufacturer of value-added consumable solutions for industrial applications.
  • Belfius Bank, BNP Paribas, and ING Belgium provide acquisition financing of Bontexgeo group by WaterlandJones Day acted as legal counsel to Belfius Bank NV/SA, BNP Paribas Fortis NV/SA, and ING Belgium NV/SA in connection with the acquisition financing of the Bontexgeo group by Waterland.
  • Macquarie Euro Ltd and CDPQ Revenu Fixe refinance Berger Levrault groupJones Day advised Macquarie Euro Ltd and CDPQ Revenu Fixe Inc. in connection with the refinancing of the Berger Levrault group.
  • Solmax acquires TenCate GeosyntheticsJones Day advised Groupe Solmax Inc. (Solmax), the global leader in the production of high-quality polyethylene geomembranes for industrial and environmental applications, and its shareholders (including institutional investors Caisse de dépot et placement du Québec and Fonds de Solidarité FTQ), in connection with Solmax’s acquisition of TenCate Geosynthetics Holding B.V., a global provider of geosynthetics and industrial fabrics, from Dutch conglomerate Koninklijke Ten Cate (Royal Ten Cate, the Netherlands), and advised on the related senior secured financing to support the acquisition.
  • Kartesia Management restructures and refinances ORAPI and its holding company La Financière MG3FJones Day advised Kartesia Management SA in connection with the conciliation procedure, restructuring, and refinancing of ORAPI and the refinancing and restructuring of its holding company La Financière MG3F through multiple equity and debt instruments.
  • Antalis restructures and refinances its existing indebtednessJones Day advised Antalis, a leading professional paper distributor and provider of packaging and Visual Communication solutions, in connection with the mandat ad hoc procedure, restructuring, and refinancing of its existing indebtedness and the acquisition of Antalis by Kokusai Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd.
  • Pemberton Asset Management Group and Permira Debt Managers Limited provide significant unitranche financing for acquisition of Euro Techno Com GroupJones Day represented Pemberton Asset Management Group and Permira Debt Managers Limited in connection with a significant unitranche financing for the acquisition of the Euro Techno Com Group ("ETC"), a distributor of equipment and supplies for the telecommunications market, by Carlyle European Technology Partners.
  • Permira Credit Solutions refinances existing indebtedness of Sotralu GroupJones Day advised Permira Credit Solutions 4 Master Euro S.à.r.l., Permira Credit Solutions 4 Senior Euro S.à.r.l., Permira Credit Solutions 4 Senior GBP S.à.r.l., Permira Credit Solutions Q S.à.r.l.,and Permira Credit Solutions N S.à.r.l., as unitranche lenders, in connection with the refinancing of existing indebtedness of Sotralu Group, a leading manufacturer of accessories for aluminum doors and windows.
  • Gimv invests in Coolworld RentalsJones Day advised Gimv in its acquisition of a majority shareholding in fast-growing Coolworld Rentals, a full-service renter of cooling and heating equipment.
  • Cyrus Capital Partners acquires, in French insolvency proceeding, of French business of Toys R UsJones Day represented Cyrus Capital Partners in connection with the acquisition, in a French insolvency proceeding, of the French business (comprised notably of 44 stores) of Toys R Us.
  • Athyrium Capital Management partially issues second tranche of bond issueJones Day advised Athyrium Capital Management, LP in connection with the partial issuance of the second tranche of its bond issue.

    • The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.

    Advised Barclays and CADIF in connection with the refinancing of Gras Savoye.

    Advised BNP Paribas and HSBC in connection with investment-grade bridge-to-bonds.

    Advised LBO France with the debt aspects of the acquisition of Alvest International.

    Advised Charterhouse Capital Partners and Webhelp SAS with several significant acquisitions (debt aspects) and with the refinancing of Webhelp SAS (followed by a recapitalization).

    Advised CBP group with certain aspects of its financing.

    Advised all senior lenders to WHA Holding SAS (Winoa Group), including KKR, Davidson Kempner, and Sankaty, in connection with the restructuring of the debt of the Winoa group (lenders' led).

    Advised all senior lenders to the JOA Group in connection with the restructuring of its indebtedness, including Alchemy and Davidson Kempner (lenders' led).

    Advised Charterhouse Capital Partners on the debt aspects of the sale of Nocibé.

    Advised a major U.S. bank in connection with a significant margin loan.

    Advised Crédit Agricole CIB on the financing of the sale of the Sermeta Group (ex-Giannoni) to Mr. Le Mer.

    Advised The Royal Bank of Scotland on several significant investment-grade bilateral facilities.

    Advised JC Flowers and CHG Participations in connection with the auction process for the sale of Siaci Saint Honoré (debt aspects).

    View All

    December 2020 Commentary

    European Government Support Schemes: Current State of Play

    October 2018 Commentary

    Draft French Finance Bill for 2019 Reveals Significant Tax Amendments

    June 2017 Commentary

    ECB Seeks to Curb Banks' Appetite for Leveraged Finance Risk

    June 2017 Commentary

    French Government Passes Ordinance to Promote Bond Financings

    Speaking Engagements

    • 27 juin 2016
      Séminaire AFTE relatif à la réforme du droit des obligations : « Réforme du droit français des contrats - Impacts sur vos opérations d’investissement, de cash management, de financement et de couverture des risques » Jones Day Paris
    • 7 janvier 2016
      Le private equity : quelles opportunités pour 2016 ?
    • 2 juin 2015
      IIR’s Annual Private Debt & Mezzanine Finance Conference

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