Follow us

With over 25 years' experience as a lawyer, Louis specialises in corporate and acquisition financing and debt capital markets.

With over 20 years' experience, his practice focuses on financing, project finance and debt capital markets (144A placements, private placements, bond issuances listed in Paris, Luxembourg or in Africa).

Louis advises on matters for a broad range of clients active in France and globally, including in Africa. 

Chambers Global 2016 describes Louis as a 'very good technical lawyer', whilst the previous year's edition highlights his commercial acumen, labelling him 'business-oriented' and with a 'clear knowledge of financial institutions'. 

"Practice head Louis de Longeaux is highly recommended"
Legal 500 EMEA 2016

"Louis de Longeaux is based in Paris and maintains a leading practice advising on matters in francophone African jurisdictions, focusing on project and corporate financing. He is described by his peers as "a very good technical lawyer.""
Chambers Global 2016

Background

Louis holds a degree in Business Administration and Finance and a post-graduate degree in Business Law from Université Paris II – Panthéon Assas, as well as an LL.M. from the University of London. He also teaches project and structured finance in the vocational training program organised by the Association Française des Trésoriers d'Entreprise (AFTE). 

He speaks French and English fluently.

Prior to joining Herbert Smith Freehills, Louis was a partner at Orrick in Paris where he spent over 10 years, before which he was an associate with Watson, Farley & Williams and has spent two years with Elf Oil UK and Clyde & Co. in London.

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

Corporate/acquisition finance

  • Danone for the €13.1 billion financing of the acquisition of Whitewave
  • Arkema for the €1.5 billion financing of the acquisition of Bostik (Total's chemical business)
  • Indigo Park for a €350 million financing of an acquisition
  • Interparfums for a €130 million financing to acquire parfums Rochas
  • Alten SA in relation to a € 160 million facility to finance acquisitions
  • Groupe Atlantic for a € 300 million to notably finance the acquisition of Ideal Boilers
  • XPO Logistics (ex-Norbert Dentressangle) on €250 million financing for the acquisition of US logistics and transport company Jacobson
  • Scor for the US$500 million financing of the acquisition of Generali's life reinsurance in the United States
  • Ausy on a €85 million acquisition financing

Corporate finance

  • Orange for the negotiation of a €6 billion syndicated credit facility
  • Indigo Park for a €300 million syndicated facility
  • Groupe Zannier in relation to a €77 million syndicated facility
  • Tarkett for a €300million Schuldschein
  • Euralis Finances for a €350 million syndicated facility
  • Icade Santé in relation to a €150 million syndicated facility
  • Groupe Up (Chèque déjeuner) pour un crédit syndiqué de 155 millions d'euros
  • Airbus Group for the renegotiation of a €3 billion syndicated credit facility
  • BNP Paribas and the arrangers for the renegotiation with Sanofi of a € 4 billion syndicated credit facility and the setting up of a new € 4 billion syndicated credit  facility
  • Danone for the negotiation of a €2 billion syndicated credit facility
  • Accor for the negotiation of a €1.8 billion syndicated credit facility
  • Safran on the negotiation of a €2.5 billion credit facility
  • Tarkett for a €650 million syndicated facility (including a revolving line and swingline line) between Tarkett and syndicate of 16 banks
  • JCDecaux on the negotiation of a €600 million syndicated credit facility
  • Arkema for the negotiation of a € 700 million syndicated credit facility

DCM

EuroPP

  • Onet for a non listed EUR 70 million bond issuance
  • Groupe Atlantic for a non listed EUR 100 million bond issuance
  • PSB Industrie for a non listed EUR 60 million bond issuance
  • The arrangers on a EUR 150,000,000 2.375 per cent. Bonds due 26 May 2021 listed on NYSE Euronext for Vilmorin & Cie
  • Ausy for a secured non listed EUR 80 million bond issuance
  • Decathlon for a EUR 40 million EuroPP loan form
  • The arrangers in relation EUR 300 million Notes due 2021 issued by Vilmorin & Cie 
  • The arrangers in relation EYR 80 million Notes due 2020 issued by Albioma and listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Compagnie des Alpes on its issuance of EUR 100 million bonds due 2024 listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Norbert Dentressangle for a EUR 235 million bond listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Norbert Dentressangle for a EUR 75 million EuroPP loan form
  • Adeo on its EUR 100 million standalone bond issuance listed on NYSE Euronext

US private placements

  • Danone in relation to a USD 5.5 billion 144A private placement
  • Imerys for a USD 170 million US private placement

Standalone bond issuances

  • Bureau Veritas for a EUR 700 million bond issuance listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Société Foncière Lyonnaise in relation to a EUR 500 million bond issuance listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Société Foncière Lyonnaise for a takeover bid over EUR 300 million existing bonds
  • Arkema for a EUR 700 million perpetual deeply subordinated bond issuance listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Infra Foch for a EUR 960 million bond issuance listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Safran on its issue of EUR 200 million bonds due 2024 listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Renault in connection with  the issuance of ¥ 32.3 billion Samurai bonds listed on the Tokyo stock exchange
  • The French Region of Rhône Alpes on its EUR 100 million standalone bond issuance listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Vivendi in relation to the Tender Offer in respect of certain outstanding notes listed in Luxembourg pursuant to a modified Dutch auction
  • Danone for a Tender Offer and an Exchange Offer in respect of certain outstanding notes listed in Luxembourg
  • Vivendi on two tranches standalone bond issuance listed in Luxembourg for a total amount of EUR 1.2 billion

EMTN programmes

  • Danone on the update of its EUR 21 billion EMTN programme listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Arkema in relation to the establishment of its EUR 2 billion EMTN programme listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Essilor in relation to the establishment of its EUR 2 billion EMTN programme listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Schneider Electric on the update and restructuring of its EUR 7.5 billion EMTN programmes listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Renault on the establishment, annual update and maintenance of its EUR 7 billion EMTN programme listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Areva on the establishment, annual update and maintenance of its EUR 8 billion Euro Medium Term Notes (EMTN) programme listed on NYSE Euronext
  • Airbus Group in relation to the establishment, annual update and maintenance of its EUR 3 billion Euro Medium Term Notes (EMTN) programme listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange
  • SNCF in connection with the transfer of its EUR 12 billion EMTN programme from Luxembourg to Paris
  • Vivendi in connection with the establishment, annual update and maintenance of its EUR 7 billion EMTN programme listed in Luxembourg (until 2012)
  • Département de l’Essonne (a French administrative region) on the establishment, annual update and maintenance of its EUR 1 billion EMTN programme listed on NYSE Euronext

Equity linked transactions

  • Safran in relation to a EUR 650 million convertible bond
  • Vivendi for a EUR 605 million bond redeemable in shares
  • Nexgen Corporate Solutions regarding Lagardère’s sale of its share EADS through the issuance of a EUR 2 billion ORAPA (adjustable-parity convertible bonds)
  • Natixis on a bond issue for PPR, amounting to EUR 400 million, indexed on PPR's share price
  • a French bank acting for a listed French company in the structuring, drafting and negotiation of complex repurchase agreements in order monetize inter-company participation stock for an amount of  EUR 150 million
  • a French bank on the implementation of an equity derivative transaction with an investment fund with a notional amount of approximately EUR 120 million
  • HSBC in relation to various equity prepaid forward sale transactions
  • Natixis Corporate Solutions for the structuring and an equity swap concluded in order to finance a future acquisition
  • Nexgen Corporate Solutions for the monetization of Eurazeo's shareholding in Danone through complex temporary title transfer
  • Natixis in relation to a total return swap transaction with Air France covering Air France OCEANE for a total amount of EUR 462 million and implying a block purchase procedure for the acquisition by Natixis of a number of OCEANE corresponding to the notional amount of the contemplated swap transaction to hedge its market risk
  • FFP (the Peugeot family) concerning the structuring of a collar on a part of its participation in PSA group

PROJECT FINANCE

  • Société Générale in relation to the financing of the renovation of the Omar Bongo Stadium
  • Agence Française de Développement in relation to a loan to Djibouti Telecom to fund its participation in undersea cable telecommunications projects
  • Agence Française de Développement on a €100 million facility granted to Afreximbank for the financing of various projects in Africa
  • Aéroport de Lyon in relation to the setting up of several facilities agreements to finance its modernisation and expansion
  • Meridiam, Senergy and Fonsis on the development and financing of solar project in Senegal / Meridiam on the development and  FCFA 28 billion (€43.2 million) financing of the Senergy solar PV project (30MW) in Senegal, which is destined to become the largest solar photovoltaic power plant in West Africa
  • Islamic Development Bank and EIB on the multi-sourced financing of the TIFERT phosphoric acid production project in La Skhira, Tunisia
  • Société d’Élaboration des Produits Halieutiques S.A. for the financing of a fichery in Mauritania by the EIB and the OPEC fund for international development
  • Proparco in relation to the financing for Groupe Güris of the Sunkoy wind farm constructed by Eolos Rüzgar Enerjisi Uretim AS
  • Iroko Securities Limited and Iroko Financial products as arrangers on the structuring and the setting up for the Urban Community of Douala in Cameroon of a FCFA16 billion bond issuance programme listed on the Douala's Stock Market and secured on tax revenues
  • Natixis, and the lenders, for a PPP energy performance contract for 20 middle schools, 3 museums and the Department Headquarters in the Department of Manche
  • The lenders on a PPP financing for the construction of a water park in Chatel (France)
  • The lenders on the financing of a PPP project for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of  the Arena de Dunkerque stadium
  • Areva is relation to the negotiation of a syndicated letter of credit facility agreement to be used in relation to various power projects
  • Airbus Group for the negotiation of letter of credit facility agreements to be used in relation to various projects

OIL & GAS

  • a syndicate of international banks in relation to USD 3.235 billion facility granted to Tullow Gabon Limited
  • Natixis and a syndicate of banks in relation to a USD522 million financing granted to Glencore to refinance a prepayment transaction entered into with SNPC in Congo
  • Société Générale, UBS, Natixis and SCB on the amendment and restatement of an up to USD410 million borrowing base facility granted to Addax Energy SA, secured by Obligors located in Switzerland and Malta with third party guarantors in various African jurisdictions
  • Natixis in relation to a USD 700,000,000 financing granted to Total E&P Nigeria
  • a syndicate of international banks, led by Natixis as agent, for a USD 350,000,000 granted to Total Gabon for its activities in Gabon
  • Standard Bank and a syndicate of international and local Kenyan banks in connection with the KES 4,680,000,000 refinancing of the purchase by Total Kenya Ltd of Chevron's service stations network in Kenya
  • Total Gabon for the securing of its RES accounts in Gabon.
  • a syndicate of international banks in relation to a EUR 900 million credit facility granted to a joint venture set up by Total and Erg for their storage and refining activities in Italy
  • Total for the setting up of its European cash pooling and cash management
  • a syndicate of banks in relation to USD 200,000,000 financing granted to Etablissements Maurel & Prom
  • a syndicate of international banks, for a USD 350,000,000 granted to Maurel & Prom Gabon for its activities in Gabon
  • BNP Paribas and Banque Internationale pour le Commerce et l'Industrie de Cote d'Ivoire in relation to a reserve based lending financing granted to Compagnie Ivoirienne du Pétrole et des Mines SA for the acquisition of a share in an oil field
  • BNP Paribas in relation to a USD 40,000,000 facility for the financing of supply vessels of Bourbon Maritime (the international marine services company) for the exploitation of oil fields in Nigeria

AFRICA

Banking finance and project

  • Société Générale in relation to the financing of the renovation of the Omar Bongo Stadium
  • Meridiam, Senergy and Fonsis on the development and financing of solar project in Senegal / Meridiam on the development and  FCFA 28 billion (€43.2 million) financing of the Senergy solar PV project (30MW) in Senegal, which is destined to become the largest solar photovoltaic power plant in West Africa (2016)
  • Natixis in relation to a US$ 700 million financing granted to Total EP Nigeria
  • a syndicate of international banks in relation to USD 3.235 billion facility granted to Tullow Gabon Limited
  • a syndicate of banks in relation to a US$522 million financing granted to Glencore to refinance a prepaymenbt transaction entered into with SNPC in Congo
  • Société Générale, UBS, Natixis and SCB on the amendment and restatement of an up to USD 410 million borrowing base facility granted to Addax Energy SA, secured by Obligors located in Switzerland and Malta with third party guarantors in various African jurisdictions including Benin and Senegal
  • Agence Française de Développement on a €100 million facility granted to Afreximbank for the financing of various projects in Africa
  • a syndicate of international banks, led by BNP Paribas and CACIB in relation to the USD 650 million senior secured facility granted to Etablissements Maurel & Prom for the purpose of refinancing the USD350 million financing granted to Maurel & Prom Gabon
  • Agence Française de Développement in relation to a loan to Djibouti Telecom to fund its participation in undersea cable telecommunications projects
  • European Investment Bank and Islamic Development Bank in connection with the multi-sourced refinancing of a chemical project in Tunisia (Tifert)
  • Managem in Moroco for the pre-financing of its ore production
  • a syndicate of international banks, led by Natixis as agent, for a US$350 million granted to Total Gabon for its activities in Gabon
  • BNP Paribas and a syndicate of international banks on a $350 million facility granted to Maurel & Prom Gabon SA to develop its exploration and production activities in Gabon
  • A syndicate of eight international banks on a $600 million facility granted to Total Gabon (African Oil & Gas Deal of the Year 2008 by Project Finance Magazine, Project Finance International and Global Trade Review; Best EMEA Oil Deal 2008 at the EMEA Project Finance Awards)
  • BNP Paribas on financing for the construction of ships for Bourbon Maritime to supply oil platforms in Nigeria
  • BNP Paribas and the Banque Internationale pour le Commerce et l’Industrie de Côte d’Ivoire on a reserve-based facility granted to Compagnie Ivoirienne du Pétrole et des Mines SA to acquire a stake in an oilfield
  • Standard Bank and a syndicate of international and Kenyan banks on a KES 4.680 billion facility granted to refinance the acquisition by Total Kenya Ltd of the Chevron gas station network in Kenya
  • Société d’Élaboration des Produits Halieutiques S.A. for the financing of a fichery in Mauritania by the EIB and the OPEC fund for international development

Debt capital markets

  • The Government of Cameroon on a FCFA 200 billion bond issue listed on the Douala Stock market
  • Iroko Securities Limited, CMI and Société d'ingénierie et de conseil aux municipalités (Engineering  and consulting company for local councils) as arranger on the structuring of a FCFA26 billion non listed bond issue by the city of Brazzaville
  • Iroko Securities Limited and Iroko Financial products as arrangers on the structuring and the setting up for the Urban Community of Douala in Cameroon of a FCFA16 billion bond issuance programme listed on the Douala's Stock Market and secured on tax revenues
  • African Development Bank on certain guarantees given in relation to the bond issuance realised by the Government of Cameroon