Saam Golshani

Partner, Paris

Biography

Saam Golshani is consistently recognized as a key expert on both the French and international markets. Consistently ranked Band 1 in Chambers Europe for Restructuring & Insolvency, Saam is praised by clients for being “one of the top restructuring lawyers in the French market”, “a straight shooter”,“very direct and clear in his assessments.”

Overview

Saam Golshani is a partner in the EMEA Private Equity team of our Global Mergers & Acquisitions practice. He has more than 25 years' experience representing clients in all manner of M&A, private equity and restructuring transactions, in all industries, notably in the Tech sector.

Ranked as a leading lawyer in his field by top legal directories Legal 500, Chambers and Who's Who Legal among others, Saam's reputation is based on a record of accomplishment, advising creditors, debtors, investors and potential buyers on complex matters, corporate reorganizations and insolvency proceedings.

Saam has advised on some of the most significant bankruptcies, M&A and industrial restructurings on the French market, including recently on the restructurings of Orpea, Air Austral, Technicolor, Europcar Mobility Group, Vallourec, Solocal, Comexposium, Conforama, Arc Holdings, Asco Industries*, CGG*, Ludendo*, Vivarte*, Mory Ducros*, Latécoère* and SNCM*.

Distinguished as a key expert in the technology sector by Chambers Europe, Saam notably advised Goldman Sachs on its investments in Younited Credit, BackMarket and French visual gaming leader Voodoo*. Saam also advised on the acquisition of Luxembourg-based data and advertisement platform Teads by Altice*.

Fluent in French, English and Farsi, Saam is at ease navigating both domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, as well as private equity and venture capital matters, on behalf of multinational clients, including investment funds, investment banks, entrepreneurs, industrials, listed and non-listed companies, and distressed companies.

Saam is a frequent speaker, author and commentator on private equity and restructuring issues. He is a member of the Iranian/French lawyers association. He is member of the Board of the French American Foundation.

Saam joined the Firm in December 2018 from an international law firm in Paris, where he was Partner in charge of the French M&A-Private Equity Group and co-Head of the European Restructuring Group.

Bars and Courts
Paris Bar
Education
MA
Business Law
Université Provence Aix-Marseille 1
Languages
French
English
Farsi

Experience

Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (2023)
Representation of Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, a private infrastructure investment platform within Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM), on an exclusivity agreement to partner with Altice France to establish the first nationwide independent colocation provider in France through the acquisition of a 70 percent majority stake in UltraEdge, a newly established data center company.

ORPEA Group (2023)
Representation of the ORPEA Group on the appeals lodged before the Paris Court of Appeal by certain minority shareholders and creditors against the decision of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on May 25, 2023 granting an exemption to the group comprising Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), CNP Assurances, MAIF and MACSF from the obligation to file a takeover bid for the Company's securities.

Carlyle Global Credit (2023)
Representation of Carlyle Global Credit, the credit arm of the global investment firm Carlyle, on a bond financing package of up to €500 million for Onepoint.

Racing Club Lens (2023)
Representation of the French professional football club Racing Club Lens and its majority shareholder on the acquisition of a stake in its capital by the investment vehicle SIDE INVEST, which comprises the Hauts-de-France Region, the Mulliez Family Association and the IRD Group.

EP Global Commerce a.s. (2023)
Representation of EP Equity Investment III s.à r.l, a company controlled by businessman Daniel Kretinsky, on the signing of a lock-up agreement relating to Casino Group's financial restructuring, alongside Fimalac and Attestor, with Casino Group and some of its main creditors.

ORPEA Group (2023)
Representation of ORPEA Group on its accelerated safeguard plan, which was approved by the Nanterre Specialized Commercial Court on July 24, 2023. 

AGIC Capital (2023)
Representation of AGIC Capital, a European-Asian private equity firm with US$2.2 billion of assets under management, on its acquisition, together with key management, of a majority stake in Pure Trade from private equity firm Sparring Capital, the management team and founders.

Angelo Gordon (2023)
Representation of  Angelo Gordon on an agreement in principle to provide a €170 million new money injection in Technicolor Creative Studios (TCS).

Orpea (2022-2023)
Representation of Orpea Group on the agreement in principle on a financial restructuring plan reached, in the context of the conciliation procedure.

Air Austral (2023)
Representation of Réunionese airline Air Austral on its restructuring, the main terms of which were agreed in a conciliation protocol signed by Air Austral, the French state, its controlling shareholder, various public creditors, banking partners and new investors.

Pernod Ricard (2023-2018)
Representation of Pernod Ricard, the world's second-largest distiller, in connection with several acquisitions of majority or minority interest in sovereign brands (i.e. Sovereign Brands and its portfolio of fast-growing super premium wine and spirits brands ; Mezcal Ojo de Tigre, a Mexican entity dedicated to the manufacturing, distribution and sale of the mezcal brand "Ojo de Tigre" ; creation of a joint-venture with Casa Lumbre ; acquisition of Firestone & Robertson Distilling, owner of the TX brand, a leading whiskey portfolio headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and Rabbit Hole Spirits, LLC, a U.S. premium bourbon brand based in Louisville).

Cosfibel (2023)
Representation of the founders of Cosfibel, an international group which designs, manufactures and sells packaging solutions, promotional accessories and merchandising to prestigious brands in the beauty, wine & spirits, delicatessen, fashion and luxury industries, in connection with the sale of 100% of Cosfibel.

Mazarine Group (2023)
Representation of Mazarine Group and its founder in connection with the investment of LBO France, FG Bros and another PE fund in its capital.

Farallon Capital Europe LLP (2022)
Representation of Farallon Capital Europe LLP, an investment fund which invests in public and private assets around the world, on its pre-financing transaction with Casino Participations France (CPF).

Barclays and Angelo Gordon (2022)
Representation of Barclays and Angelo Gordon as lenders on the refinancing of Technicolor's (renamed Vantiva) existing debt through a €250 million senior financing and a €125 million second lien financing.

Blantyre Capital Limited (2022)
Representation of Blantyre Capital Limited, a special situations investment firm, on the carve-out of OCV Chambéry France's reinforced glass production activity from Owens Corning, a New York Stock Exchange-listed company that develops, manufactures and markets insulation, roofing and fiberglass composites.

CVC Capital Partners (2022)
Representation of CVC Capital Partners on the signing of an investment commitment agreement with France's Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) related to the creation of a commercial subsidiary intended to support the financing of professional and amateur football clubs.

Angelo Gordon (2022)
Representation of Angelo Gordon on its contemplated subscription to Technicolor's planned issue of €300 million Mandatory Convertible Notes (MCNs) in the context of Technicolor's plan to list and spin-off Technicolor Creative Studios (TCS) to enable its further growth and development and then deleverage both companies through a refinancing of the entire existing debt structure.

EPSA (2022)
Representation of EPSA, a French consulting firm, and its main sharehoders on a joint minority investment fromTowerBrook, Raise and Capza.

Bpifrance (2021)
Representation of the French national investment bank Bpifrance on its strategic investment in SEQENS, a worldwide leader in the development and production of active ingredients, pharmaceutical intermediates and specialty ingredients.

FCDE (2021)
Representation of FCDE private equity fund (Fonds de Consolidation et de Développement des Entreprises) on the signing of an agreement with CNIM and Equitis Gestion for the acquisition of Bertin Technologies, a company that specialises in the development and integration of scientific instrument systems.

DEE Tech (2021)
Representation of DEE Tech, the first French Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) dedicated to the tech sector, on its listing on Euronext Paris.

Representation of DEE Tech on its intended €500 million business combination with Colis Privé, the largest private provider of e-commerce home parcel delivery solutions on the French market, to create a leading European pure play e-commerce delivery platform.

Amber Capital (2021)
Representation of Amber Capital on the decision to sell all of its shares in Lagardère, representing 17.93% of the share capital and 14.34% of the theoretical voting rights, to Vivendi.

Europcar Mobility Group (Europcar) (2021)
Representation of Europcar Mobility Group (Europcar) shareholders Centerbridge Partners, CarVal Investors, Marathon Asset Management and Diameter Capital Partners individually on the tender offer for Europcar by a consortium composed of Volkswagen Group, Attestor Capital and Pon Holdings.

Liberty Global (2021)
Representation Liberty Global, one of the world's leading converged video, broadband and mobile communications companies, on the signing of an agreement with iliad for the sale of 100% of the share capital in Polish cable operator UPC Poland to iliad's Polish mobile subsidiary Play for an enterprise value of $1.8 billion.

Goldman Sachs Growth (2021)
Representation of Goldman Sachs Growth in connection with its US$335 million Series D fundraising investment in BackMarket, alongside General Atlantic, Eurazeo Growth, Daphni, Financière Agache and Aglaé Ventures.

Goldman Sachs (2020) 
Representation of Goldman Sachs, through its West Street Capital VII Funds, a partner of hyper-casual mobile gaming Voodoo, on the entry of Chinese conglomerate Tencent into Voodoo's capital.

DRT and its majority shareholder Ardian (2020)
Advising DRT ("Les Dérivés Résiniques et Terpéniques"), a world leader in plant-based chemistry, mainly from pine trees, and one of the leading suppliers globally of high quality, renewable ingredients and its majority shareholer Ardian, in connection with Firmenich's exclusive agreement to acquire DRT from Ardian, Tikehau Capital and family shareholders.

Zadig & Voltaire (2020)
Advising Zadig & Voltaire in connection with the sale by TA Associates to Peninsula Holding of 30% of the share capital and voting rights.

Davidson Kempner & Triton Partners (2019)
Advising Davidson Kempner and Triton Partners, shareholders of Via Location, in connection with the acquisition of Via Location by Fraikin.

Oaktree Capital Management (2019)
Advising Oaktree Capital Management in connection with the sale of Kley, a French student housing platform, to Axa IM-Real Assets.

Cobepa (2019)
Advising Cobepa, main shareholder of Socotec Group, in connection with the sale by Five Arrows and BIP of circa 33% of the Socotec Group, a group of companies under LBO with an enterprise value of circa 1.8 Bn €, to Clayton Dubilier & Rice.

FCDE (2019)
Advising FCDE, a French investment fund, in connection with the sale of its equity interest in group De Fursac, a leading French company specialized in accessible luxury men suits, to SMCP (Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot).

Pernod Ricard (2019)
Advising Pernod Ricard SA, the world's second-largest distiller, in its acquisition of a majority interest in Rabbit Hole Spirits, LLC, a U.S. premium bourbon brand based in Louisville, Kentucky.

Frans Bonhomme (2019)
Advising Frans Bonhomme, supported by its main shareholder Centerbridge Partners, in connection with its exclusive negotiations with Groupe Saint Gobain, in respect with the acquisition of DMTP, a Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment France's subsidiary.

Ho Hio Hen Investissement Outre Mer (2019)
Advising Ho Hio Hen Investissement Outre Mer, a major player of the large-scale distribution in the Caribbean in connection with:

  • the sale, along with the Groupe Duval, of an hypermarket (real estate asset and business as going concern) to the group Parfait another major playor of large scale distribution and automotive sector in the Caribbean;
  • the negotiation of a conciliation agreement with all of its financial creditors under the aegis of the CIRI and of an asset sale plan for the sale of the last hypermarkets and supermarkets of the unprofitable hypermarket division as well as a minority or majority stake of the share capital of the hard discount division of the group.

LFPI (2019)
Advising LFPI, an independent French investment fund, on the sale of Club Med Gym comprising 21 fitness clubs in Paris and Paris area to Ken Group, holding the luxury fitness club Ken Club, Clay and Blanche in Paris.

Next Stage AM et Mi3 (2019)
Advising NextStage AM and Mi3 in their equity and debt investment in the Bagatelle Group.

Goldman Sachs (2018)*
Advising Goldman Sachs' West Street Capital Partners VII fund on its $200 million investment in Voodoo. Founded in 2013, Voodoo develops, publishes and distributes mobile video games. This is the most important primary LBO achieved in France on an independent company.

Teads (2017)*
Advising funders and historical investors of the video ad tech start-up Teads in its acquisition by Dutch telecom giant Altice. Teads is the leading global online video advertising program with an audience of more than 1.2 billion unique visitors, including 720 million via mobile.

 

*Transactions worked on prior to joining White & Case

Awards and Recognition

Lawyer of the Year: Restructuring, Best Lawyers, 2023

Leading Lawyer (Band 1): Restructuring & Insolvency, Chambers Europe 2020

Leading Lawyer (Band 1): Insolvency, The Legal 500 EMEA 2020

Recognized lawyer: Mergers & Acquisitions, The Legal 500 EMEA 2020

Recognized lawyer: Private Equity, The Legal 500 EMEA 2020

Recognized lawyer: Restructuring & Insolvency, Who's Who Legal France 2020

Recognized as "Lawyer of the year", Option Droit & Affaires March 2017