Marc Petitier
Marc Petitier
Marc Petitier
Marc Petitier

Marc Petitier is consistently recognized as a leading M&A practitioner by Chambers and Legal 500 France. Clients have praised him for his ‘excellent knowledge and experience, with a great team.’

Biography

Marc Petitier is a partner in the EMEA Mergers & Acquisitions team.

He is a renowned corporate lawyer having more than 20 years' experience representing clients in all manner of M&A, including public and private M&A deals, sales and joint ventures primarily belonging to the jumbo-cap to mid-cap market segments. Marc also advises his clients in connection with corporate governance strategy.

Native in French and fluent in English, Marc is at ease navigating both domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions on behalf of multinational clients, including investment banks, entrepreneurs, industrials, listed and non-listed companies, from all sectors notably highly regulated ones. Marc has a strong focus on the financial, banking and insurance sectors, as well as in tech/fintech, and on the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Marc also has significant experience in Africa-related deals.

Marc joined the Firm in December 2020 from an international law firm in Paris, where he was a partner. During his career, he has been on secondment for a law firm in London office and to J.P Morgan. Previously he worked as an associate at an investment relations consultancy in London.

Experience

Macif (2021 - 2025)

Representation of Macif, a leading insurer in France on its investment in Cosmobilis Group, an European automobility platform, through the subscription of new preference shares. its majority investment in Crédit Expert, specialized in real estate credit brokerage.

Representation of Aéma Groupe, a leading French mutual insurer formed through the combination of Macif Group and Aésio Mutuelle, on the acquisition of Aviva France for EUR3.2 billion.

Emeria Europe (2025)

Representation of Emeria Europe, a portfolio company of Partners Group and TA Associates, in the disposal of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Assurimo to Odealim.

Bit Digital (2025)

Representation of Bit Digital in connection with the acquisition of control of Financière Marjos SCA, a company listed on Euronext in Paris

Catella (2021 - 2025)

Representation of Catella Group, one of the leading specialist in property investment management in Europe, in connection with:

  • the sale of 100% of the share capital of Catella Valuation Advisors by Catella France and its management to Newmark Group.
  • the acquisition of 60% of the shares in Aquila Asset Management.
  • the sale of its majority shareholding in French subsidiary Catella Asset Management SAS to Arkea Investment Services.

Arise IIP (2025)

Representation of Arise IIP, a pan-African developer and operator of integrated industrial zones, in connection with the investment by Vision Invest, a leading Saudi Arabian infrastructure investor and developer, in Arise IIP.

Merck (2025)

Representation of Merck KGaA on the sale of its life science manufacturing business currently operated in France to a US-based biopharmaceutical company.

Engie (2021 - 2024)

  • Representation of Engie on the sale of its equity stakes in solar power projects portfolio in operation in South of France and in Corsica (France) to Sonnedix.
  • Representation of Engie on the sale of its equity stakes in solar power project portfolio in operation in Corsica (France) to Volta Groupe.
  • Representation of the Board of Directors of Engie on the sale of Equans, the global multi-technical services leader for €7.1 billion to Bouygues.

Matmut (2024 - 2025)

Representation of Matmut, one of the leading French mutual insurance company, in its EUR 925 million acquisition of HSBC Assurance Vie (France), the French insurance life company of HSBC.

Banque des Territoires (2021 - 2024)

Representation of Banque des Territoires (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations) on:

  • the acquisition by Calypso, an investment platform jointly owned by VALOREM (51%) and Banque des Territoires (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations) (49%), of a new portfolio comprising 20 solar and wind power plants from VALOREM, an independent green energy operator.
  • the conclusion of a long-term partnership agreement with Valorem, an independent green energy operator, to support its development.

Representation of Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations on the sale of its minority stakes held in three biomass plants (Kogeban, Cogénération Biomasse d'Estrées-Mons et Cogénération Biomasse de Novillars) to PEARL Infrastructure Capital.

Copeba (2024)

Representation of Cobepa on the acquisition of a majority stake in Ascentiel Groupe, a leading digital insurance brokerage platform providing property and casualty cover for individuals and small businesses in several specialty areas, from IK Partners and ISAI.

Sodexo (2022 - 2024)

Representation of Sodexo on:

  • its sale of Sofinsod to Bellon, for a consideration of €918 million.
  • the spin-off of its Benefits and Rewards Services business, under the new brand name Pluxee, and its listing on Euronext Paris.

Clariane (2024)

Representation of Korian Domiciles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clariane SE, actor in the care and support for the elderly sector, on the sale of Casa Barbara Nice, a company which owns and operates a senior serviced residence in Nice, to Casa Invest, managed by real estate financial sponsor Atream.

Representation of Clariane, the leading European care services group for elderly and fragile people, on:

  • the sale of its 50% equity interest in a long term care facility located in Ville-La-Grand, France, to existing shareholder DomusVi;
  • the sale of portfolios to Colisée and Vivalto Vie.

Fondation Santé Service (2024)

Representation of Fondation Santé Service on the acquisition of the home hospitalization and home nursing car services (HAD/SSIAD) business in France from Clariane.

TotalEnergies (2024)

Representation of TotalEnergies on the acquisition of Malaysian independent gas producer and operator SapuraOMV from OMV and Sapura.

Chedid Capital (2024/2021)

Representation of Chedid Capital on the acquisition of the remaining 20% of the share capital of Ascoma from the Husson Family as a result of which Chedid Capital holds 100% of the Ascoma Group.

Representation of Chedid Capital, a financial holding company dedicated to investing in the insurance and reinsurance sectors, on its acquisition of the majority stake in Ascoma Assurances Conseils from the Husson family.

ALD Automotive (Société Générale) (2024)

Representation of Société Générale and ALD Automotive, acting through LeasePlan Corporation NV and AALH Participaties BV on the sale of LeasePlan Rus Limited Liability Company.

Representation of ALD Automotive (a subsidiary of Société Générale) in connection with its acquisition of LeasePlan with the objective of creating a major global mobility player with a combined turnover of approx. EUR 20 billion.

Iochpe-Maxion (2023)

Representation of Iochpe-Maxion, one of the strategic investor of Forsee Power, an expert in smart battery systems for sustainable electromobility, on the capital increase of group.

J.P. Morgan SE (2023)

Representation of J.P. Morgan SE as presenting bank, alongside BNP Paribas, on the mandatory tender offer by Keysight Technologies Inc, through its fully owned subsidiary Keysight Technologies Netherlands B.V., to acquire in cash all the outstanding shares issued by ESI Group, a French provider of virtual prototyping software solutions, not already held by Keysight.

Biosynex (2022 - 2025)

Representation of Biosynex, on:

  • the sale of 100% of the shares of Biosynex Technologies GmbH to Concile GmbH.
  • the takeover offer for Theradiag and the merger between Biosynex and Theradiag.
  • the acquisition of ProciseDX in the United States.
  • the acquisition of the eye care business of Laboratoires Innoxa.
  • the acquisition of DOC2U.
  • the acquisition of Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., a U.S. biotechnology corporation.
  • the acquisition of Laboratorios Rhogen in Spain.
  • the acquisition of Bigix Pharma in Italy.
  • the acquisition of Medkoncept in Demark.
  • the acquisition of BHR Pharmaceuticals Ltd in the United Kingdom.
  • the acquisition of "Para'kito", the European leader in the prevention and treatment of mosquito bites with 100% natural formulas, its active ingredients and its IP (patents and trademarks).
  • the acquisition of Enalees' business going concern relating to medical diagnostic products.
  • the sale of a business going concern to ELITech Microbio relating to medical diagnostic products.

Agence des Participations de l'Etat (2022)

Representation of the French state, acting through the Agence des Participations de l'Etat (APE), as shareholder of Aéroports de Paris (Groupe ADP) on unwinding the cross-shareholdings held by Groupe ADP and Royal Schiphol Group (RSG).

Schneider Electric (2022)

Representation of Schneider Electric in connection with the sale of its business unit Telemecanique Sensors to Yageo.

Casino Group (2022)

Representation of Casino Group, together with Tikehau Capital and French public investment bank Bpifrance, on the sale of their majority stake in GreenYellow, the energy subsidiary of Casino group, to Ardian Infrastructure for an enterprise value of €1.4 billion and an equity value of €1.1 billion.

Eiffage, Arcade-Vyv Group (2022)

Representation of Eiffage and Arcade-Vyv Group on the first concession contract granted in France for outsourced management of a housing estate owned by the Ministry of Armed Forces for a total amount of more than €7 billion.

Pegasus Entrepreneurs (2022)

Representation of Pegasus Entrepreneurs and its sponsors Tikehau Capital, Financière Agache, CEO Pierre Cuilleret, Jean-Pierre Mustier and Diego De Giorgi in connection with its de-SPACing with FL Entertainment, a global entertainment group comprising Banijay Group and Betclic Everest Group, resulting in the listing of FL Entertainment on Euronext Amsterdam.

Macquarie Asset Management (2022)

Representation of Macquarie Asset Management, in a consortium with British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) and MEAG Munich Ergo Assetmanagement GmbH (MEAG), on its €2.5 billion EV acquisition of Reden Solar, from InfraVia Capital Partners and Eurazeo.

RTL Group (2021)

Representation of RTL Group in connection with the proposed combination between Groupe TF1 and Groupe M6.

Activa Capital and Groupe Active Assurances (2021)

Representation of Activa Capital, an independent private equity firm focused on mid-sized French companies, and the senior management team of Active Assurances Group, on the sale of Active Assurances Group to Meilleurtaux Group.

Caisse des Dépots et Consignations (2021)

Representation of Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations on the sale of its minority stakes held in three biomass plants (Kogeban, Cogénération Biomasse d'Estrées-Mons et Cogénération Biomasse de Novillars) to PEARL Infrastructure Capital.

Paris
Postgraduate degree in business administration
Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1)

IAE

Master in corporate law and postgraduate degree in contract law
University of Versailles

Saint-Quentin

French
English

Ranked
Chambers France, Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability, 2025

Leading Partner
Legal 500 France, Mergers and acquisitions, 2025

Ranked among the 100 most influential business lawyers in French-speaking Africa #100LegalPowerlist ranking by Africa Business+/Jeune Afrique Media Group.

Regularly speaks at industry events, including at the 2022 ARFA conference on ESG in M&A, the 2019 Paris Fintech forum on Tech M&A, the 2018 Sino-European Entrepreneurs Summit in Paris on a panel about the integration of the regional strengths of China, Europe and Africa and at the 2017 Africa Investments Forum & Awards about M&A, investments and private equity in Francophone Africa.

"Perspectives du M&A en Europe pour 2025 : un nouvel élan dans un contexte transformé" (Fusions & Acquisitions Magazine, January 2025)

"Mergers & Acquisitions: 2023 Market Review And 2024 Outlook" (Fusions & Acquisitions Magazine, January 2024)

"Between the resurgence of pan-Atlantic M&A deals and vigilance" (Le Magazine des Affaires, June 2023)

"France's M&A activity remains steadfast" (M&A Explorer, February 2023)

"Review of the year and 2023's outlook" (Fusions & Acquisitions Magazine, January 2023)

"Takeaways from recent transactions and factors of success in the next de-SPACings" (Fusions & Acquisitions Magazine, June 2022)

"Corporates and challenges to structure investments by PE funds in a subsidiary" (L'Agefi, June 2022)

"M&A market: what to expect in 2022" (Fusions & Acquisitions Magazine, January 2022)

"Surging M&A Megadeals Top Records in Q2 (Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, August 2021)

"French M&A displays optimism" (M&A Explorer, June 2021)

"Brokerage: management package in LBO and PE transactions" (L'Argus de l'assurance, December 2021)

"Public to Private – 2020 review and outlook for 2021" (M&A Review, February 2021)

Service areas