September 27, 2010
Willkie recognized for its role in providing multidisciplinary counsel to Oaktree Capital Management, which led the massive financial restructuring of the SGD Group.
At a September 27 awards gala in New York City, the M&A Advisor presented the deal team for the financial restructuring of SGD Group with the award for "Distressed M&A Deal of the Year." Willkie was recognized for its major role in providing multidisciplinary counsel to Oaktree Capital Management, which led the financial restructuring of the SGD Group (formerly Saint-Gobain Desjonquières), the world’s leading manufacturer of high-end glass containers for the perfume and pharmaceutical industries. The Willkie team included attorneys from the firm’s Paris, Washington, New York, London, Frankfurt and Brussels offices. The deal, which was announced in January 2010, received widespread acclaim for reaching unanimous agreement among all of the stakeholders to strengthen the financial structure of SGD and massively decrease its debt.
The M&A Advisor’s 2nd Annual International Awards honored several deal teams for excellence in the areas of international M&A, Financing and Turnarounds. Judging was based on various criteria, including transaction value, impact on shareholder/company value and market share, impact on market/industry, ingenuity in structuring and/or negotiations, diligence and perseverance in consummating the deal, and other unique attributes. The M&A Advisor connects professionals in the mergers and acquisitions, distressed investing and related financial industries through its conferences and awards events, newsletter, and online community.
The Willkie team was led by Paris partner Eduardo Fernandez, and included Paris partners Alexandra Bigot and Maurice Lantourne (restructuring), Annette Péron (financing), David Tayar (antitrust), and Cédric Hajage (corporate); European counsel Jeffrey Fouts (corporate) and Philippe Grudé (tax); and Paris associates Gregory de Saxcé and Grégoire Finance (corporate), Pauline Stern (restructuring), and Julien Vilquin (antitrust).
