
- Tel:
- Work +32 2 639 36 11
- Fax:
- Fax +32 2 639 36 99
- DX:
- 70 BAB
- Email:
Roel Meers
- Tel:
- Work +32 2 639 36 11
- Email:
Work Department
Please visit https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/people/m/meers-roel to learn more about our lawyers.
Belgium
Banking, finance and capital markets
Within: Banking, finance and capital markets
Although Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL's banking work is primarily weighted towards advising lenders/financiers, the firm is experiencing a notable uptick in sponsor/borrower mandates. Led by 'very professional' EMEA region practice head Antoine De Raeve, the dedicated transactional banking team demonstrates particularly strong capabilities in areas such as syndicated lending and real estate finance. Michael Van Acker is particularly well-known for his knowledge of leveraged acquisition and leveraged real estate finance transactions. Raeve and Van Acker are 'smart, knowledgeable and commercial'. In 2017, Van Acker, recently promoted counsel Eric Blomme and senior associate HĂ©lĂšne Van Steenberge acted for Belfius, BNP Paribas Fortis, CrĂ©dit Lyonnais, ING Belgium, KBC Bank and La Banque Postale (as arrangers and lenders) on the provision of financing to Fedrus International and certain subsidiaries for the purpose of acquiring building materials company VMZINC from Umicore, and also to takeover French company MCP Defrancq. The group's other areas of expertise include structured finance, export finance and asset-based lending. Blomme also recently acted as the lead adviser to BNP Paribas Fortis on financing the purchase of rapier weaving and airjet weaving machines by Turkish textile manufacturing company KipaĆ Mensucat IĆletmeleri Anonim Ćirketi from Belgian exporter Picanol; Belgian export credit agency Credendo backed the financing. Koen Vanhaerents, who heads up the global capital markets practice, is active in both equity (including IPOs and secondary offerings) and debt capital markets transactions. Another key figure is Roel Meers, who was part of the group that assisted Mithra Pharmaceuticals with a âŹ77.5m accelerated bookbuild private placement.
Commercial, corporate and M&A
Within: Commercial, corporate and M&A
The 'very efficient and knowledgeable' corporate finance team at Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL has the ability to handle domestic and cross-border transactions, with particular experience in the biotech and financial services sectors. The group recently acted for Suspa Holding on its cross-border acquisition of the Suspa Group from Andlinger & Company. In another work highlight, a team led by Dominique Maes and Davinia Martens was instructed by Brussels Airlines on its acquisition of Thomas Cook's Belgian airline business. Roel Meers, alongside partners based in New York, advised Van Herk Investments as shareholder of Ablynx on the unsolicited tender offer for Ablynx by Novo Nordisk. Koen Vanhaerents heads the practice, which also includes Luc Meeus, who has considerable expertise acting for private equity firms. The department also counts Panasonic and MondelÄz International among its clients.