Anne-Sophie Coustel’s practice focuses on French and international tax law as well as complex reorganizations and M&A transactions.
She also has extensive experience with employee stock offerings, employee benefit plans and management incentive packages.
Anne-Sophie joined the firm in 2001 and became a partner in 2007.
Notable Experiences
Tax
-
Crédit Agricole in a major project aimed at simplifying Crédit Agricole S.A.’s structure and improving transparency and capital quality.
-
Lavazza in its acquisition of French coffee brand Carte Noire and related assets from Koninklijke Douwe Egberts.
-
De Agostini in relation to the merger between Zodiak and Banijay.
-
Loxam in its acquisition of the France and Spain businesses of Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation (HERC) from an affiliate of Hertz Global Holdings.
-
Lafarge in its $40 billion merger with Holcim and in the €6.5 billion sale, together with Holcim, of certain assets to CRH.
-
Amundi, Europcar, Showroomprivé, Worldline, Tarkett, Numericable Group in their IPOs.
-
Paris Orléans (now Rothschild & Co), the holding company of the Rothschild Group, in its 2012 reorganization to streamline its organization, optimize its regulatory capital and ensure its family control.
-
Representation of several clients in various tax audits and litigation cases.
Tax/Corporate/M&A
-
Veolia Environnement in its agreement with EDF concerning Dalkia.
-
Kering and Groupe Fnac in the spin-off and IPO of Groupe Fnac.
-
Accor and Edenred in the spin-off and IPO of Edenred.
-
ArcelorMittal in the two-step crossborder merger of Netherlands-based Mittal Steel Company NV and Luxembourg-based Arcelor, following the successful tender offer of Mittal Steel for Arcelor, in which Cleary advised Mittal Steel.
Private Equity
-
Bridgepoint and Eurazeo in their acquisition of Foncia Groupe, as well as in the subsequent acquisition of a minority interest from BPCE.
-
A consortium led by TPG Capital in the acquisition and subsequent disposal of TDF.
Selected Activities
- Lecturer, HEC Paris (mergers/reorganizations and LBOs)
Publications
2023: “Les sociétés de personnes et les partnerships dans la convention franco-américaine,” Fiscalité Internationale
2023: “The United Arab Emirates Taxation of Corporations and Businesses,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo
2021: “Taxes: The Rules Continue to Change and Tax Authorities Focus on Enforcement,” Selected Issues for Boards of Directors in 2021
2020: “COVID-19: Moratorium to Suspend Certain Tax Deadlines Relating to Statutes of Limitation, Tax Audits, and Recovery of Tax Receivables,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo
2018: “Equity Financing: Contributions at Reduced Prices,” Revue de Droit Fiscal
2014: “Qualification of Taxable Entities and Treaty Protection,” the IFA Annual Conference, Mumbai
Events
-
June 18, 2021
-
October 29, 2018
A Roundtable Discussion on Significant Tax Developments in Europe