Laurent Legein
Partner
Chambers Global
“He is the best negotiator I know,” and he “always has the right sense of urgency.”
Chambers Global
“He’s very committed, very hands-on, with a very business-oriented approach. He’s a great lawyer to work with.”
Chambers Global
“Clients describe Laurent Legein as a ‘master of legal and tactical issues.’ Another source notes: ‘He has excellent negotiation skills, which add a lot of value to the projects that we do.’”
Laurent Legein’s practice includes mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and equity capital markets transactions.
Laurent joined the firm as a partner in late 2006. Prior to joining Cleary Gottlieb he spent 12 years in another major international law firm.
Notable Experience
Selected Corporate/M&A Experience
AbbVie in its successful acquisition of Syndesi for a total deal value of up to $1 billion, consisting of a $130 million payment and an $870 million earn-out based on the achievement of certain milestones.
AbbVie in its novel acquisition of an “option to acquire” all equity securities of iStar Medical SA for up to $535 million (including milestone payments).
AB InBev in the combination of its beer business in Russia and Ukraine with Anadolu Efes.
Allianz in several transactions including the sale of AGF Banque to ING; the acquisition of Mensura; and the sale of Allianz Benelux’s life insurance portfolio to Monument Re.
Alpha Private Equity in the acquisition of Ipcom.
Anbang in its acquisition of Bank Nagelmackers and its (ultimately abandoned) bid for Novo Banco in Portugal.
Asahi Glass Company in its tender offer for Glaverbel.
BC Partners in the acquisition (2007), and subsequent sale to Charterhouse (2011), of Bureau Van Dijk Electronic Publishing.
Befimmo in the €1.4 billion voluntary tender offer to acquire all of its shares launched by RE Invest Belgium, an entity fully controlled by one of Brookfield’s real estate private funds.
Bekaert in several transactions including the merger of its Ropes division with Bridon and its subsequent acquisition of the shares of OTPP in the combined entity; the acquisition of Pirelli’s captive steel cord; the acquisition of Bridgestone’s manufacturing plants, the sale of its Specialty Films activities to Saint-Gobain; and the sale of its worldwide industrial coatings business to Element Partners.
BNP Paribas in connection with the unwinding of its investment in Erbe (Frere group) and the related tender offer of Erbe on Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille.
Carmeuse in connection with Cobepa’s equity investment.
Collibra in several matters, including a strategic investment by Snowflake Investment Holdings Inc. in Collibra; Collibra’s $250 million Series F financing round at a post-money valuation of $5.25 billion; and Collibra’s $112.5 million Series E financing round, where Collibra was valued at $2.3 billion (pre-money).
Credit Suisse as financial advisor to Adecco Group in its €2 billion tender offer for AKKA Technologies.
CVC Capital Partners in the acquisition (2013) and sale (2020) of Continental Foods (f/k/a Campbell Soup Europe).
Dexia in multiple transactions over the years, including its acquisition of Artesia Bank Corporation; its 2008 recapitalization; the sale of Financial Security Assurance; the 2011/2012 orderly resolution plan including the sales of BIL, RBCD, and DBB (now Belfius); and its 2012 recapitalization.
D’Ieteren in its bid for Moleskine and the sale of a minority interest in Belron to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.
Finances & Industries in its tender offer for the shares it did not yet own of Spadel SA.
JC Flowers in its acquisition (2012) of Fidea and the resale (2015) of Fidea to Anbang.
Monument in the acquisition by its subsidiary MAB of a closed book of life retail insurances representing approximatively €2.6 billion of BEGAAP assets and liabilities from AXA Belgium.
NN in the sale by its subsidiary NN Belgium of a closed-book of life retail insurances representing approximatively €3.3 billion of assets and liabilities to Athora.
Novasep in the sale of Henogen to Thermo Fisher.
NVHL, a portfolio company of Silver Point Capital and Blackrock, in the sale of Novasep’s pharma solutions and process solutions businesses to PharmaZell, a portfolio company of Bridgepoint.
Ontex in several transactions, including in its acquisition of Grupo Mabe (Mexico); its acquisition of Hypermarcas’ personal hygiene business (Brazil); and in its defense against the unsolicited bid by PAI Partners.
Petercam and its shareholders in the merger of Petercam with Banque Degroof.
PSA in the acquisition of Hesse Noord Natie.
Umicore in several transactions including the sale of its Zinc Chemicals business to Open Gate; and the acquisition of Freeport-McMoRan’s cobalt refining and cathode precursor operations.
Vandemoortele and its shareholders in the equity investment by, and subsequent exit of, GIMV-XL.
Selected Capital Markets Experience
Equity-linked. Convertible bond issues by Bekaert and Nyrstar (2009, 2011, 2013, 2016).
IPOs. The initial public offerings of Ontex; Celyad; Nyrstar; bpost; Elia System Operator; RHJI; and Belgacom.
Rights issues and other equity offerings. Follow-on equity offerings by Befimmo (2007, 2009 and 2016); Nyrstar (2011, 2014, 2016); Hamon (2006); Quick (2003); and Dexia (2000).
ABBs. Multiple primary and secondary accelerated bookbuilt placements of shares including of Befimmo, Umicore, Ontex, Nyrstar, and Dexia.
Publications
“2025 UK and European Capital Markets Update: “All Change!”” Cleary Gottlieb Selected Issues for Boards of Directors 2025, January 2025, (co-author).
“The EU Listing Act: Important Changes to MAR,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, October 2024 (co-author).
“The EU Listing Act: Important Proposed Changes to MAR,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, March 2023 (co-author).
“Gun Jumping in M&A: General Court Judgment Affirms Strict Approach in Altice,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, November 2021 (co-author).
“Shareholder Rights Directive II: The Belgian Perspective,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, April 2020 (co-author).
“Emergency Equity Raises – Practical Guide for Belgian Companies,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, April 2020 (co-author).
“Belgium’s Response to Mitigate the Effects of COVID-19,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, March 2020 (co-author).
“Application du règlement abus de marché: aux opérations de fusion-acquisition et d’OPA,” Financiële Regulering: Een Dwarsdoorsnede, October 2019.
“The New Prospectus Regulation – The Story So Far,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, March 2019 (co-author).
“Le nouveau règlement Abus de Marché et ses conséquences pour les sociétés cotées belges,” TRV-RPS 2016, p. 479-522.
“Questions relatives à la notion de concert en droit financier belge,” Dieux, X. and Legein, L., Droit bancaire et financier 2012/III-IV, p. 143-157.
“Quelques questions spéciales de droit des sociétés en rapport avec les opérations d’appel au marché des capitaux,” Droit bancaire et financier 2008/V, p. 247-274.