Gide, counsel to MSC Group on the acquisition of Bolloré Africa Logistics

Gide has advised MSC Group, a major player in container transport and logistics, on the 100% acquisition of Bolloré Africa Logistics, comprising all of the Bolloré Group’s transport and logistics activities in Africa, on the basis of an enterprise value of EUR 5.7 billion, net of minority interests.

The Bolloré Group has granted the MSC Group an exclusivity until 31 March 2022 to enable the MSC Group, further to an additional due diligence phase and contractual negotiations, to submit a put option. The Bolloré Group’s decision to exercise this put option and the signature of the relevant agreements may only take place after the competent employee representative bodies have been informed and consulted, and certain internal reorganisation operations have been carried out within the Bolloré Group. Completion of the sale would require the approval of regulatory and competition authorities, as well as of certain counterparties of Bolloré Africa Logistics.

Gide drew on a team made up of 26 lawyers based in Paris, Brussels, London and Casablanca. The team was headed by partners Anne Tolila and Stéphane Vernay, and comprised:

• Counsel Paul Guillemin (Paris), and associate Pierre-Antoine Degrolard (London), as well Paris-based associates Jonathan Navarro, Anaïs Roudel and Joséphine Remoussenard on M&A/Corporate aspects;
• Casablanca-based partner Wacef Bentaibi, working with associates Frédéric Pia and Mounia Larhrissi; counsel Alix Deffrennes-Perchet, associates Tiphanie Mareuse, Frédéric Colmou, Edouard Bourguet, Clément Branchereau, Roxane Debuse and Pauline Coulon, and interns Elise Lefort and Olamidé Sekumadé, all based in Paris, on project and financing aspects;
• Partner Sophie Scemla, and associates Anouk Brejon, Ariane Fleuriot and Diane Paillot de Montabert on aspects of compliance;
• Partner François Vergne and associate Corentin Soucachet on aspects of employment law;
• Brussels-based partner Ségolène Pelsy and associate Perceval Renie on competition and international trade law; and
• Partner Magali Buchert on tax aspects.

Gide’s team worked closely with the teams of MSC Group, headed by Hugues Favard and Clara Beuth.

Bolloré Group was advised by Allen & Overy (partner Alexandre Ancel and his team in M&A/Corporate) and firm Bompoint.