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
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.
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.
ACON Investments on its co-investment in Germaine de Capuccini and Spanish Contenur Group.
CPI Property Group on the classification of EUR 550mio resettable undated subordinated notes issued under a €5bn euro medium term note programme.
Pantheon on its investment of EUR 253mio in renewable energy (wind farms, solar plants, shadow toll road), located in Germany, France, Belgium and Spain.
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.
AXA Real Investment Managers on a €231m acquisition of a Luxembourg structure holding the largest shopping center in West Germany.
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.
ACE & Company on tax matter related to the full set up of a new Luxembourg investment vehicle, under the form a Reserved Alternative Investment Fund (RAIF), sponsored by the client.
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.
Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH on the acquisition of a portfolio consisting of four new logistics properties.
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.
Mouro Capital, a venture capital firm that targets early to growth fintech investment, in a financing round for German Fintech company CrossLend.
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.
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)