François Leloup's principal areas of practice include mergers and acquisitions, LBOs, group restructurings and related corporate financings.

He heads the Firm’s M&A practice in Western Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Recent transactions in which Mr. Leloup has been involved include several acquisitions by Publicis in Asia (notably Shanghai Genedigi in 2011 and G4 Advertising in 2010), the acquisition of Sagemcom by the Carlyle Group, the sale of Capsugel by Pfizer to KKR ($2,375 billion), the sale of H’DEV to Schneider Electric, the acquisition of the US company Retrotech by Legris Industries, and the restructuring of a French industrial group involving different collective procedures.

Throughout 2007/2009, he was involved in the following transactions: the sale of Bodet Aéro to Circor Aerospace, the sale of Orlait to Candia, the sale of Comalait to Candia, the sale of Alma Consulting Group by Apax Partners to its managers and Candover, the sale of Ubiqus to Acto Finama, the acquisition of Novasep by Gilde, the acquisition of Pharmachem by Novasep, the acquisition of Trescal by its managers and Astorg, the acquisition of Clextral by Legris Industries, and the purchase of the Chinese advertising agency CCCG by Publicis.

Since 2000, Mr. Leloup has also represented various funds in France (including: Alpha, Blackstone, Carlyle, Castle Harlan, Eurazeo, Gilde, and PAI Partners).

In recent years, he has advised Crédit Lyonnais on a total return swap on French listed shares, Schlumberger on a worldwide stock option plan, PAI on a high yield offering for Antargaz, Orpea on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Medidep and for the subsequent sale of its interest in Medidep, Come & Stay on its listing, Belgacom on its acquisition of the French listed group Infosources, the subsequent listing of the non-ISP activities of Infosources (named IXO) and the subsequent sale to LD Com, and Ubiqus on its listing on the Paris Stock Exchange.

Mr. Leloup has lectured on business law and mergers and acquisitions at his former business school, HEC, since 1991. Prior to joining White & Case in 1999, he was a partner at a French law firm.

Bars and Courts
Paris Bar, 1991

Education
Diploma in Accounting and Finance (DESCF – CPA equivalent), 1988
Master in Political Sciences, University of Paris II, Panthéon-Assas, 1988
Master in Management, École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC), Paris, 1987
Master in Business Law, University of Paris XI Jean Monnet, 1987

Languages
French
English

Citizenship
France