WFW advises InfraVia on acquisition of majority stake in LDA

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is advising InfraVia Capital Partners (“InfraVia”), through its InfraVia European Fund VI, on its acquisition of a majority stake in Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (“LDA”), the French family-owned group specialising in high value-added industrial marine services. Expected to be completed in H1 2025, the transaction is subject to prior consultation with employee representative bodies and the usual regulatory approvals.

InfraVia would take an 80 per cent stake in LDA, with the Louis-Dreyfus family retaining 20 per cent and Edouard Louis-Dreyfus continuing as the group’s President. This transaction would allow LDA to invest a billion euros over the next few years to more than double the size of its fleet and develop new technology to drive its energy transition and design new modes of navigation and maritime services.

Founded in 2008, InfraVia is a leading independent European private equity firm specialising in real assets (infrastructure, critical metals, real estate) and technology investments. Headquartered in Paris, it has a 100+ strong team, manages €16bn of capital and has invested in 50+ companies across Europe.

For over 170 years, LDA has been providing maritime industry players with innovative industrial solutions and integrated services ranging from ship design and management to maritime operations in the transportation, logistics, submarine cables, and renewable energy sectors. It currently has 1,800+ staff and   a fleet of 23 vessels active worldwide.

The cross-border multidisciplinary WFW team advising InfraVia is led by Paris office head and tax partner Romain Girtanner, supported by partners Laurence Martinez-Bellet, Alexia Russell and Philippe Monfort on financing and tax lease matters. Partners Guillaume Pouyet and Thomas Rabain provide corporate expertise, with partner Karine Audouze advising on employment law and Franck Poindessault advising on litigation aspects. Regulatory expertise is provided by partners Arnaud Troizier and Laurent Battoue, with partner Cyrille Gogny-Goubert advising on real estate law.

They work closely with London partners Toby Royal (Shipping), Marinos Papadopoulos (Finance), Damian Adams (Corporate) and counsel Valentina Keys (Regulatory), as well as with Dubai partner Alastair Holland (Corporate) and Singapore partner Andrew Nimmo (Finance).

All the above partners are supported by their respective teams of counsel, senior associates and associates.

Girtanner commented, “We are delighted to advise InfraVia on this landmark transaction in the French maritime market which supports LDA’s ambitious growth and innovation strategies. Our appointment by InfraVia on such a significant deal highlights our firm’s unrivalled global reputation for full-service excellence in the maritime sector and our ability to work as an integrated global team across multiple offices”.

InfraVia is being advised on the acquisition documentation by a team from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP led by Partner Frédéric Cazals.

A team from BDGS Associés led by partner Antoine Bonnasse is advising LDA.