Sophie Colas

M&A advisory services

Objectives: contribute to the bank M&A business development strategy in three key strategic sectors, middle market healthcare, private equity transactions, long-term relationships with family-owned industrial group.

Completed deals: IPO of French pharmaceutical group Ipsen and restructuring of Ipsen’s controlling company’s share capital – advising the controlling family shareholders, MBO on Pasteur Cerba backed by Industri Kapital – advising the vendors Astorg Partners and management, MBO on SynerLAB backed by Axa Private Equity – advising the vendors

Ongoing mandates: disposal mandate in the context of an industrial spin-off, disposal mandate in the food industry, shareholding restructuring mandate for a family-controlled industrial group
Several mandate opportunities under development

Experience of a wide range of corporate finance assignments: disposal mandates, acquisition mandates, structuring and financing, valuation, financial modelling, strategic reviews

Focus on private equity transactions in the retail, branded goods and healthcare sectors
Acts as a manager in charge of planning, managing relationships with clients, approaching potential investors/acquirers, supervising the preparation of information packages and of presentations, advising on negotiation tactics throughout the transaction process including its final phases

Completed transactions include the MBO on Carré Blanc backed by CIC LBO (advising the vendors and management), the MBO on ECS Group backed by Chequers (advising management), the MBO on Biosciences/Saime Group backed by Barclays Private Equity (advising the vendors), the sale of Laboratoire Pasteur Cerba to Astorg Partners (advising the vendors), the acquisition by family shareholders of part of the share capital of Ipsen from BNP Paribas and CDC Ixis, the secondary MBO of Rayner Food Group backed by Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Private Equity

Recurring audit work and financial buy-side due diligence assignments

Key client contact, in charge of assessing audit risks, planning and supervising audit teams
Consolidation in French and International standards, audit of management accounts in International and American standards, statutory accounts in French GAAP

Key clients in London (1998-99): Hutchison Whampoa, Caradon plc, Jacobs plc, Hunting plc, Bose Limited, Ferring BV (six weeks secondment in Amsterdam)
Key clients in Paris (1995-98): Danone (consolidated accounts), Volvic (statutory accounts and consolidation schedules), Hewlett Packard (management accounts France), Rhône Poulenc Rorer (management accounts of the pharmaceutical division), Rhône Poulenc (chemistry division, French subsidiary), Nike France (management and statutory accounts), Dunlop (bedding sub-group, consolidated statutory accounts)