Altius has accumulated a worthy portfolio of capital markets work recently. The team is led by banking and finance partner Johan De Bruycker, who was involved a couple of years ago on the delisting of the Belgian state owned gas company Distrigaz, a high profile deal....
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Altius has accumulated a worthy portfolio of capital markets work recently. The team is led by banking and finance partner Johan De Bruycker, who was involved a couple of years ago on the delisting of the Belgian state owned gas company Distrigaz, a high profile deal. The firm joins the rankings for the first time.
"They did a really great job on a bond issue: the whole legal department was very pleased with their approach, which was very hands-on; one of the advantages of the firm for us is not being so big and being close to us in Brussels," is one happy client's feedback.
In November 2010, the firm closed a transaction with an innovative public angle. De Bruycker advised the Belgian public credit insurer ONDD as a guarantor on 50% of Sarens' €40 million subordinated bond issue, with Degroof Bank and KBC as lead arrangers.
The deal helps to establish a precedent as it is only the second time such a transaction has been supported by the government.
Elsewhere, De Bruycker acted for the Bakkavör Group on a £350 million senior secured notes issue, and filed an F-4 exchange offer registration statement for Case New Holland relating to an existing $1.5 billion notes issue.
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Altius is known in the market as a finance firm and its consistent stream of transactions over the past year has kept it well in the market, making it the strongest of the tier four firms according to a number of peers.Clients enjoy the firm's professionalism, client care, pro-activeness and business sense....
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Altius is known in the market as a finance firm and its consistent stream of transactions over the past year has kept it well in the market, making it the strongest of the tier four firms according to a number of peers.
Clients enjoy the firm's professionalism, client care, pro-activeness and business sense. "Altius added a lot of value, bringing their partners together to develop our product, it was a very productive cooperation - they knew us well, and knew what we wanted as clients," says one client.
The firm's lead partner Johan De Bruycker is highly recommended. "De Bruycker is an excellent guy, we will definitely use him again. He has a great network and a good sense for business opportunities," says one client, while another adds: "Johan is well supported by his colleagues and their attitude was 'OK, this can work, lets do this together'. They have a real deal making ability, there were a lot of hurdles and he reacted in a very professional way."
De Bruycker handled almost all of the big deals for the firm, among them advising Barclays on a facilities agreement to Ineos Group and Marine Harvest on a €775 million facility agreement from DnB Nor Bank to help refinance a €1.1 billion debt.
The firm also acted for Access Capital Partners Group on a €16m facility from Pohjola Bank and Nordea Bank and Wells Fargo Bank on an amendment and restatement of a facility to Tekelec International.
Another deal saw the team assist Citibank on a $150 million loan agreement with Automotive Systems.
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Although Altius' profile is primarily as a finance firm, partners Carine Van Regenmortel and Alexis Goeminne and team saw, over 2010 and the first half of 2011, a consistent flow of what one peer calls "good mid-sized deals".Among them, the firm advised Limburgse Reconversiemaatschappij (LRM) on several transactions including an acquisition of a lighting glass production factory from EMGO and the sale of a group of hotels to Aedifica....
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Although Altius' profile is primarily as a finance firm, partners Carine Van Regenmortel and Alexis Goeminne and team saw, over 2010 and the first half of 2011, a consistent flow of what one peer calls "good mid-sized deals".
Among them, the firm advised Limburgse Reconversiemaatschappij (LRM) on several transactions including an acquisition of a lighting glass production factory from EMGO and the sale of a group of hotels to Aedifica.
Leveraging off its financial sector expertise, the firm won a mandate from US insurance group Cigna to advise on its acquisition of Vanbreda International following an auction process managed by KPMG and Linklaters. The deal was one of the largest of its kind in 2010.
Altius also advised Kone on the acquisition of CNIM's Belgian maintenance business and CRH on its acquisition of a leading Belgian SHAP merchant, including wholesale outlets and a distribution centre.
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