Biography
Nick Hallemeesch is a local partner in the Global Mergers & Acquisitions practice.
Nick advises clients on public and private M&A, including FDI, with a focus on private equity transactions. In addition, Nick advises listed and private companies on all aspects of corporate and contract law and has particular expertise in governance issues and shareholders' agreements.
Nick has authored a monograph on shareholders' agreements, for which he was awarded the international Pierre Coppens Prize in 2020. He regularly publishes articles on company law and corporate governance in legal journals. Nick is a part-time lecturer at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, where he teaches the course "Corporate Governance and ESG".
Nick completed an LL.M. in corporate governance and finance at Harvard Law School. Prior to joining White & Case, he worked as a doctoral researcher at KU Leuven and as an assistant professor at China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing.
Experience
Advising Hameur Belgique SA (Hameur) on the sale of Magimix by Umami, a joint venture between Hameur and Ardian, to Lavafields Group SA (Lavafields Group), as well as Hameur's investment in Lavafields Group.
Advising an ad-hoc group of noteholders in its event of default claim under Euro Medium Term Notes issued by Essity, a Swedish health and hygiene conglomerate.
Advising Summit Partners and other shareholders, including management, on the sale of CluePoints SA to EQT.
Assisting PPF on the acquisition from Advent International of a 15% stake in InPost S.A., a company with registered seat in Luxembourg and listed on Euronext Amsterdam.
Assisting the Luxembourg-based Hameur Group on its partnership agreement with Ardian, through which Ardian acquired a majority stake in Robot-Coupe and Magimix.
Assisting Cobepa on its investment in Easyfairs, one of the world's leading events companies, alongside its founder Eric Everard and Inflexion.
Assisting General Mills on its acquisition of 4 Healthy Pets, the Belgium-based premium pet food company active throughout Europe, owner of the 'Edgar & Cooper' brand.
Assisting Cobepa on its acquisition of a majority stake in SmartSD, a distributor of solutions in camera security, access control, intrusion and fire detection.
Advising Cary Group, a European market leader in sustainable solutions for the repair and replacement of vehicle glass with a complementary offering in vehicle damage repair, on the acquisition of Belgian vehicle glass repair and replacement companies Autoglass Clinic and Touring Glass.
Assisting ABB Ltd, a leading global technology company that is active in the fields of electrification, robotics, automation and motion, on the separation of Accelleron Industries Ltd (Accelleron) in preparation for its spin-off and listing on SIX Swiss Exchange.
Assisting Battery Ventures on the acquisition through its portfolio company AnalytiChem Holding GmbH of the Belgian based Chem-Lab Group, a Belgian leading group specialized in the production of tailor-made reagents.
Advising Cobepa SA on the sale of its majority stake in logistics company Hillebrand to Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL). Hillebrand is a global service provider specializing in ocean freight forwarding, transport and logistics of products that require special care.
Advising CR-CP Life Science Fund, a Hong Kong-based venture capital firm, on its investment (Series B) in Novadip Biosciences, a clinical stage company developing treatments to regenerate impaired tissue in patients with significant unmet medical needs.
Advising Cobepa SA on the acquisition of Corsearch, global leader in brand establishment and protection, based in New York, from US Audax Private Equity. Cobepa is investing alongside French private equity Astorg Partners.
Advising global sponsor IK Partners in connection with the acquisition of Innovad, a global supplier of animal health and nutrition solutions, in the context of a competitive auction process.
Advising Cobepa on the reinforcement of its shareholding in International SOS in the context of the acquisition of a minority interest by FFP, an investment company listed on Euronext Paris that is majority-owned by the Peugeot family.
Advising global growth equity investor Summit Partners on the acquisition of a stake in CluePoints SA, a Belgian fast-growing provider of clinical trial management software.
Advising Recticel NV/SA, a Belgian listed company, on the unwinding of the pan-European joint venture Proseat, and the subsequent sale of its participation therein to Sekisui, a Japanese listed company.
Advising E-Merge, a Brussels-based venture capital fund dedicated to internet and technology related businesses, on the sale of its participations in Spreedly Inc., an online payment platform.
Assisting PQ Licensing SA, the owner of the trademark "Le Pain Quotidien", in relation to various corporate matters (governance, MIP, equity increases, exits of shareholder, judicial reorganization).
Advising Air Water Inc., a japanese company, on its investment in Dohmeyer, a Belgian-based manufacturer of cryogenic tunnel freezers.
Advising Active Ownership Capital (AOC) in connection with its significant shareholding in Belgian listed company Agfa Gevaert NV. AOC is an active shareholders fund.
2020 Pierre Coppens Triannual Award
2019 Triannual Award of the Association of Antwerp Notaries
2015 B.A.E.F. Scholarship for graduate study in the U.S.A. (merit-based)
Belgian Chapter of Lexology Getting The Deal Through : Corporate Governance Guide, September 2022 (co-author)
"Mogen aandeelhoudersovereenkomsten afwijken van de statuten en omgekeerd?", TRV-RPS, 2020, 229-252.
"Commentaar bij artikel 7:78 WVV" in Artikelsgewijze commentaar met overzicht van rechtspraak en rechtsleer, Mechelen, Kluwer, 2020, 56 p.
Aandeelhoudersovereenkomsten, Antwerpen, Intersentia, 2020, 337 p.
"Self-Dealing by Controlling Shareholders: Improving Minority Protection in light of Article 9c SRD", European Company and Financial Law Review, 2018, 197-235.
"Concurrentie aan de vennootschap door ex-bestuurders en hun vaste vertegenwoordiger", TRV-RPS, 2018, 425-429.
"Loyaliteitsplicht van meerderheidsaandeelhouders. Aard en misbruik van stemrecht herbekeken", Tijdschrift voor Privaatrecht, 2018, 323-391.