Gérard Neiens
Partner Corporate & Finance
Languages
English, French, German, Luxembourgish
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Legal500, 2022"Responsive, insightful and commercial "
As Luxembourg tax practice head, Gérard advises a broad range of clients on all direct or indirect tax matters in all kinds of fields, from pure M&A over complex (re)structuring matters to compound financing (including capital markets and securitization) transactions.
He advises large corporations, alternative investment fund managers, institutional investors, private equity houses, international financial institutions and private wealth clients on direct and indirect tax aspects related to their domestic and cross-border transactions, investments or reorganizations. His focus, for almost 20 years, is in the field of international tax planning and restructuring, corporate acquisitions and disposals via Luxembourg investment vehicles, reorganisation operations and the structuring of Luxembourg regulated and unregulated alternative investment funds or vehicles as well as of their related carried interest schemes.
He has also a very large experience in securitisations, structured finance, capital markets and financing transactions generally, advising international financial institutions, investment banks and originators as well as large corporations, alternative investment fund managers, institutional investors, private equity houses and private wealth clients. He has also a large experience in general corporate law and tax-related transfer pricing considerations.
Before joining Hogan Lovells as one of the founding partners of the Luxembourg office in 2013, Gérard practised for over ten years within the tax department of one of the magic circle firms based in Luxembourg.
Since then Gérard has been committed to helping his clients to surmount any challenge, maximise their tax benefits and other business opportunities. Experienced and reactive with high attention to detail he is always ready to offer an insightful advice.
Chambers Europe, Tax, 2024Gerard is an excellent partner and has helped us on many transactions.
Representative experience
RiverRock on its acquisition of Exterimmo which holds 12 assets structured as Public-Private Partnership or Public Service Delegation in France, by its RBIF1, and on its investment in Eliance.
Volkswagen Leasing regarding all its securitisation transactions, through Luxembourg vehicles, of automotive receivables.
Nord/LB Luxembourg Covered Bond Bank on its €10bn debt issuance programme update and the launch of their renewable energy covered bonds programme.
YESSS, a specialist of wholesale electrical products and equipment, on the implementation of its European holding, financial and IP structure via Luxembourg.
Ford on Volkswagen’s major investment into Ford’s autonomous vehicle platform company, Argo AI, which has a valuation of more than US$7 billion.
PEAC Finance, BNP Paribas, and Bank of America on PEAC Finance first ABS transaction of €400 mio, using compartments of a Luxembourg special purpose securitisation company.
AccorInvest on its financial restructuring (existing debt of €4.5 billion and has secured additional financing, in the form of debt and equity).
Euro Ethnic Foods Group on the sale of the grocery branch of Grand Frais to PAI Partners.
Versicherungskammer Group, Germany's largest public insurer on acquisition of Ferngas, a leading transmission and distribution system operator.
Santander Consumer Bank AG on its EUR 5bn Programme for the Issuance of Asset Backed Notes.
BOURBON Group on the restructuring of €3 bn in equity and debts.
Kingdom Holding Company on the sale of part of its Four Seasons interest for US$2.21bn.
Banca Ifis and Intesa Sanpaolo as arrangers in relation to a securitisation of receivables arising from loans granted by a fund managed by Azimut Investments to Italian SMEs.
Portland Private Equity on the setup of their Luxembourg investment fund Portland Caribbean Fund III. The fund hits first close at US$100 million out of a total US$350m target.
M&G Real Estate on the launch of its open-ended European residential real estate fund, established in Luxembourg with UK-based portfolio and asset managers (in excess of €500m).
RiverRock, through its RiverRock Brownfield Infrastructure Fund 1 on a large minority stake in Eliance Holding, a leading player and provider of aerial services in critical social areas.
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. on private placement and admission to Frankfurt Stock Exchange of a SMG Technology Acceleration SE SPAC.
Millicom on its US$746m rights offering.
Credentials
- LL.M Corporate and Maritime Law, University of Southampton, 2003
- Master Degree in International and European Law, University of Montpellier, 2002
- Master degree in Business Law, University of Montpellier, 2001
- Luxembourg
- International Fiscal Association (IFA)
- Luxembourg Private Equity Association (LPEA)
- Luxembourg Capital Market Association (LuxCMA) - ATAD working group
- Luxembourg Association of Investment Funds (ALFI) - VAT working group
- Haute autorité de la Place Financière - Capital markets task force
- American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM)