Denise Diallo
Biography
Overview
Denise Diallo is a partner of the Global Debt Finance Practice based in Paris. Denise counsels clients on wide-ranging lending and corporate finance transactions, and has extensive experience in the New York and European finance markets.
Denise served as the Executive Partner of White & Case Paris from January 2017 until June 2021. She is the chair of the Firm's Global Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Clients benefit from her understanding of complex lending structures and cutting-edge knowledge of the latest leveraged finance trends, including senior bank/bond, bridge to bond, super senior revolving facilities, evolving complex intercreditor arrangements and the issues raised by the French "double Luxco" and similar structures.
In addition to banks and corporations, her clients include private equity funds and other institutional investors. She guides them in their financings in respect of private and publicly traded companies.
Denise also advises creditors and debtors on debt restructurings and debtor-in-possession financing, mezzanine financing, investment grade or corporate unsecured financing, cash-flow and asset-based loans as well as tender and public securities offerings.
The span of her experience extends from acquisition financing for power generation assets to restructuring financing for a major music publishing catalogue.
Experience
Refinancing of Vallourec, 2024
Representation of the Vallourec Group, a world leader in premium tubular solutions, in connection with its refinancing which involved a new 5-year €550 million multi-currency revolving facility, an upsized and extended 5-year US$350 million asset-based facility and US$820 million senior note.
Casino Group's financial restructuring, 2023
Representation of EP Equity Investment III s.à r.l, a company controlled by businessman Daniel Kretinsky, on the signing of a lock-up agreement relating to Casino Group's financial restructuring, alongside Fimalac and Attestor, with Casino Group and some of its main creditors.
Refinancing of Technicolor, 2022
Representation of Barclays and Angelo Gordon as lenders on the refinancing of Technicolor's (renamed Vantiva) existing debt, through a €250 million senior financing and a €125 million second lien financing.
Refinancing of Keolis Group, 2022
Representation of Groupe Keolis SAS in connection with a €600 million term loan facility refinancing certain of its existing indebtedness. The financing includes a margin adjustment mechanism linked to achieving annual targets related to the environment, diversity and health & safety.
Europcar Mobility Group's Financial Restructuring, 2021
Representation of the majority of Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) debtholders, including financial institutions and investment funds, on Europcar Mobility Group's financial restructuring and subsequent accelerated financial safeguard.
Air France-KLM's French State-Guaranteed €4 Billion Term Loan, 2020
Advised lending banks on the implementation of a €4 billion Term Loan facility guaranteed by the French state for Air France-KLM. Completed during the coronavirus crisis, the loan is part of the support for Air France and is accompanied by a €3 billion shareholder loan from the French state to Air France-KLM.
Acquisition Financing of groupe CEP, 2020
Advised the lenders on the financing of the acquisition by Bridgepoint of groupe CEP from J.C. Flowers & Co and CHG Participations.
Europcar Mobility Group's French State-guaranteed €220 Million Term Loan, 2020
Advised lending banks on the implementation of a €220 million Term Loan facility guaranteed by the French state for Europcar Mobility Group (Europcar), and on the implementation of an additional tranche of the group's €20 million revolving credit facility, guaranteed by Eurazeo through a risk participation. The €220 million Term Loan is part of a facility guaranteed by the French state (Prêt Garanti par l'Etat) and has been implemented in the context of the coronavirus crisis to secure Europcar's liquidity and meet anticipated fleet and corporate financing needs to swiftly restart operations.
Fnac Darty's French State-guaranteed €500 Million Term Loan, 2020
Advised lending banks on the implementation of a €500 million Term Loan facility guaranteed by the French state for Fnac Darty. This is the first loan of its kind granted to a large French company that the French State guarantees. Part of a Term Loan facility guaranteed by the state (Prêt Garanti par l'Etat), it has been implemented in the context of the coronavirus crisis and is intended to secure the Fnac Darty's liquidity and prepare for the recovery of its activities.
Leading Lawyer (Band 2), Banking & Finance, France
Chambers Europe 2023, Chambers Global 2024
Leading Individual, Banking & Finance, France
The Legal 500 EMEA 2024
Best Women in Business Law
Women in Business Law Guide, 10th Edition 2020
