DianeSénéchal

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Diane Sénéchal's practice is focused on banking and finance. She has advised on acquisition financing for more than 20 years on behalf of lenders (debt funds and banks), borrowers, and sponsors. She has deep knowledge of the infrastructure sector in the context of brownfield projects. She is also experienced in advising on the financing of emerging growth companies in the venture capital and growth sectors.

Diane has significant experience in acquisition financing on behalf of borrowers and lenders in leveraged buyouts and corporate transactions (investment-grade and cross-over) as well as in debt restructuring having acted on behalf of borrowers and lenders in major restructurings, including takeovers by lenders.

Prior to joining Jones Day in 2015, Diane practiced for 14 years at an international law firm in Paris.

Diane is a member of the AFTE's (Association Française des Trésoriers d'Entreprise [French Association of Corporate Treasurers) legal committee as well as the contract law working group within the Haut Comité Juridique de la Place Financière de Paris (Legal High Committee for Financial Markets of Paris). In 2017, she coauthored this group's report on contract law and the general system of obligations, along with Guy Canivet and Alain Pietrancosta.

Experience

  • Tender offer for Eurobio Scientific launched by NextStage AM and IK PartnersJones Day is advising Eurobio Scientific SA in the tender offer launched by a consortium led by the management of Eurobio Scientific and funds managed by NextStage AM and IK Investment Partners, at a price of €25.3 per share increased by €1.25 per share if the threshold of 90% of Eurobio Scientific's capital and voting rights is reached, representing a maximum amount of approximately €161 million and valuating Eurobio Scientific at approximately €270 million.
  • Orange and Masmovil combine in €18.6 billion mergerJones Day advised 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).
  • Kartesia sells shares in Orapi to Groupe ParedesJones Day advised Kartesia Management SA in the sale of the shares held in Orapi SA to Groupe Paredes as part of Groupe Parades' public tender offer for Orapi SA.
  • Aluminium Dunkerque Group obtains $375 million financingJones Day advised the Aluminium Dunkerque Group and its shareholder, American Industrial Partners in the context of the refinancing of the existing indebtedness of the Aluminium Dunkerque group and the financing of its general corporate purpose.
  • BNP Paribas, ING Belgium, and KBC Bank provide €420 million facilities to Agristo groupJones Day acted as legal counsel to BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV, ING Belgium SA/NV, and KBC Bank NV in connection with the €420 million facilities provided to the Agristo group.
  • Belfius Bank, ING Belgium, and KBC Bank amend, increase, and extend existing financing to Equine Care GroupJones Day acted as counsel to Belfius Bank SA/NV, ING Belgium NV/SA and KBC Bank NV, as lenders, in connection with the amendment, increase, and extension of the existing financing granted to the Equine Care Group (an international provider of high-quality equine care through specialist equine clinics, ambulatory care and nutrition/supplements) for the purpose of, amongst others, acquiring the Irish company Thoroughbred Remedies Manufacturing Limited and the English company Equine Products U.K. Limited.
  • Argos Wityu holds first close for Argos Climate Action at €120 millionJones Day advised Argos Wityu in connection with the creation of the fund "Argos Climate Action", a buyout fund dedicated to decarbonizing European SMEs, which has held its first close at €120 million, reaching 40% of its initial target.
  • Diebold Nixdorf obtains $1.25 billion senior secured exit credit facilityJones Day represented Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated, a multinational financial and retail technology company that specializes in the sale, manufacture, installation, and service of self-service transaction systems (such as ATMs and currency processing systems), point-of-sale terminals, physical security products, and software and related services for global financial, retail, and commercial markets, in connection with a new $1.25 billion senior secured term loan facility as part of it’s emergence from chapter 11 bankruptcy and other domestic and foreign court-supervised restructuring proceedings.
  • Diebold Nixdorf successfully restructures over $2.7 billion in funded debt and completes the first-ever dual proceeding under the U.S. bankruptcy code and Dutch restructuring law in 71 daysIn the first-ever cross border restructuring involving dual main proceedings under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and a scheme of arrangement (the "Dutch Scheme") under the Dutch Act on Confirmation of Extrajudicial Plans (Wet Homologatie Onderhands Akkoord ("WHOA")), and the first-ever chapter 15 recognition of Dutch Scheme proceedings and a sanctioned WHOA reorganization plan (the "WHOA Plan"), Jones Day represented Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated ("Diebold") and certain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries (the "Debtors") in connection with (i) the prepackaged chapter 11 cases of In re Diebold Holding Company, LLC, et al., (Case No. 23-90602-DRJ) commenced on June 1, 2023, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the "Bankruptcy Court"); (ii) the Dutch Scheme, commenced on June 1, 2023 by Diebold Nixdorf Dutch Holding B.V. (the "Dutch Issuer") in the District Court of Amsterdam (the "Dutch Court"), and (iii) the chapter 15 proceedings before the Bankruptcy Court commenced by the foreign representative of the Dutch Issuer, wherein the Bankruptcy Court recognized the Dutch Scheme proceeding as a foreign main proceeding and recognized and extended comity to the WHOA Plan that was sanctioned by the Dutch Court.
  • Baring Asset Management Limited provides financing for acquisition of Sinari InvestJones Day advised Barings Asset Management Limited and some of its affiliates on the bonds financing of the acquisition of Sinari Invest by funds managed by Bridgepoint Capital Development.
  • Société Générale and BNP Paribas Fortis provide €100 million financing to John Cockerill groupJones Day acted as legal counsel to Société Générale, Belgian Branch and BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV in connection with a €100 million term loan granted to John Cockerill Hydrogen Belgium SA.
  • Financial institutions provide financing for acquisition of AB&C GROEP B.V. by entity of EPSA GroupJones Day advised the financial institutions and some of their affiliates or related funds in relation to the financing of the acquisition of AB&C GROEP B.V. by an entity of the EPSA Group.
  • Diebold Nixdorf obtains $1.25 billion senior secured superpriority DIP credit facilityJones Day is representing Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated (the “Company”), a multinational financial and retail technology company that specializes in the sale, manufacture, installation, and service of self-service transaction systems (such as ATMs and currency processing systems), point-of-sale terminals, physical security products, and software and related services for global financial, retail, and commercial markets, and certain of its domestic and foreign subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) in (i) a pre-packaged chapter 11 proceeding in front of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”), (ii) a scheme of arrangement by Diebold Nixdorf Dutch Holding B.V. (the “Dutch Issuer”) and the related voluntary proceeding in front of the District Court of Amsterdam under the Dutch Act on Confirmation of Extrajudicial Plans (Wet Homologatie Onderhands Akkoord), and (iii) an anticipated proceeding commenced by the Dutch Issuer under chapter 15 in the Bankruptcy Court, seeking recognition of such scheme of arrangement.
  • 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.

    • 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

    September 18-20, 2023 Speaking Engagements

    Jones Day lawyers to attend IPEM 2023

    Additional 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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