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Edouard is a corporate lawyer specialising in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and public company representations.

Edouard has advised a large number of leading French and international groups and investment funds for over 20 years, primarily on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructuring/reorganisation and stock exchange law (market operations and advice to listed companies). He acts in a wide range of sectors including in infrastructure, telecommunication, renewable energies, construction, consumer goods, facility management, financial institutions, and asset management.

Edouard is acknowledged by renowned legal directories, among which are Chambers Europe/Chambers Global, Legal 500 and Best Lawyers.

Accolades

  • Ranked by Chambers Global (France) 2021 for his Corporate/M&A activities 
  • Recognised by Best Lawyers 2020 for his Corporate practice in France
  • “Edouard Thomas enters the rankings this year following strong market feedback. He regularly acts for energy, infrastructure and telecommunications clients on inbound and outbound transactions. Clients praise his seriousness and reliability, saying: ‘He is fully committed to the case, he pays attention to details and is thorough in his drafting.’" - Chambers Global (France) 2021
  • “Edouard Thomas is always present when needed, with a good mix with his associates, which of course is appreciated in terms of both efficiency and cost effectiveness. The relationship is smooth and easy, with transaction counterparts as well, and the work is really tailor-made and overall excellent.” - Legal 500 EMEA 2020
  • “Edouard Thomas: perfect knowledge of M&A, great effort and availability, client-oriented.” - Legal 500 EMEA 2020
  • “The names to note are […] Edouard Thomas” - Legal 500 EMEA 2020
  • Edouard Thomas who "combines excellent technical knowledge and pragmatism" - Legal 500 EMEA 2018
  • "Edouard Thomas is ‘a […] very hard worker who has a sharp legal and business mind'" - Legal 500 EMEA 2016
  • "Edouard Thomas, […] is a 'rising star' in the market, renowned for his contact and his pragmatism" - Legal 500 Paris 2014/2015
  • "Edouard Thomas is also recommended" - Legal 500 EMEA 2015

Background

Edouard is a graduate of the New York University School of Law and he also holds a degree in business law, a DESS in international business law and a DJCE from the University of Aix-en-Provence and a diploma in comparative law from University College London. He is a member of the Paris and New York Bars.

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

  • Cellnex, Europe’s leading operator of wireless telecommunications infrastructures, on:

    • its €5.2bn acquisition of French Towers Hivory from Altice France and Starlight Holdco (KKR), accompanied by an additional investment of €0.9 billion over the next 8 years (up until 2029) for the roll-out of 2,500 new sites

    • its acquisition of the network of c. 7,000 Play sites and telecommunication infrastructures in Poland after Play had been acquired by Iliad

    • its strategic partnership with Bouygues Telecom for the roll-out, marketing, and operation of a 31,500-kilometre fibre optic network throughout France, as well as for the financing (via bank and shareholder contributions) required for the planned investment in this project of a billion euros

    • (i) its acquisition of 10,700 sites and telecommunication infrastructures in France, Italy and Switzerland from Iliad and Salt, for a total consideration of c. €2.7bn as well as (ii) the agreements in relation with the development of built-to-suit programmes for the construction of 4,000 new sites (for €1.35bn)

  • Indigo Infra, a subsidiary of Indigo Group, the world leader in parking and personal mobility, on the sale of its operations in UK (Indigo Infra Holdings UK), Germany (Indigo Park Deutschland), Czech Republic (Indigo Infra CZ) and Slovakia (Indigo Park Slovakia and Indigo Infra Slovakia) to Saba, a Spanish specialist in urban mobility and car park management 
  • InfraVia Capital Partners on the creation of a 50/50 joint venture with Liberty Global Ventures for the deployment of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks in Germany
  • Marguerite Fund Advisers on its investments in three concession projects aiming to finance, implement and maintain FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home) projects in the French Alsace, Haute-Garonne and Grand Est regions
  • Caisse d'Epargne Nord France Europe and Caisse d'Epargne et de Prévoyance de Picardie (BPCE group)  in the context of their merger 
  • Holding d'Infrastructures Gazières (a joint venture between the CDC group and CNP Assurances) on the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Elengy (LNG terminal operator) by GRT Gaz (European leader in the transport of natural gas), two subsidiaries of the ENGIE group 
  • Alkion Terminals France, a subsidiary of InfraVia Capital Partners, on its acquisition of LBC Tank Terminal's activities in chemicals and oil storage terminals across France, Spain and Portugal
  • Spie Batignolles on the acquisition of a majority stake in several medium companies in the building and construction sector
  • Christian Louboutin SAS on the buy-back of its own shares from one of its minority shareholder
  • Abertis (a world leader in the management of toll roads and infrastructure) as majority shareholder of a new vehicle, HIT2, set-up with Axa, Caisse des Dépôts, CNP Assurance, Predica and FFP Invest, which purpose is to invest in the Fonds de Modernisation Ecologique de Transports alongside Vinci Autoroutes and Autoroutes de Paris-Rhin-Rhône
  • Caisse d'Epargne Provence-Alpes-Corse (CEPAC) on its acquisition of Banque de la Réunion, Banque des Antilles Françaises and Banque de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon from BPCE International, followed by the merger within CEPAC of the acquired entities
  • Bureau Veritas, global leader in testing, inspection and certification services, on the group's internal reorganisation in France
  • InfraVia on its acquisition of a 20% stake in the NGT pipeline in the Netherlands sold by GDF Suez
  • CDC Infrastructure on its acquisition of a stake in the Butendiek offshore wind farm in Germany
  • Antin Infrastructure Partners in the acquisition and lease back of 2,200 telephone pylons from Bouygues Telecom
  • Maurel & Prom Nigeria for its IPO on NYSE Euronext Paris