Clifford Chance advises Crédit Agricole on CACEIS Stake acquisition

Clifford Chance has provided legal counsel to Crédit Agricole in its agreement with Banco Santander for the acquisition of Santander’s 30.5% stake in CACEIS, a specialist bank in asset servicing. Following the completion of the transaction, Crédit Agricole will hold 100% of CACEIS’s share capital.

This strategic move underscores Crédit Agricole’s commitment to strengthening CACEIS’s position as a leading European player in asset servicing, enabling the firm to support its clients’ business development objectives.

The closing of the transaction remains subject to customary conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals, and is expected to take place in 2025.

The legal team involved in this transaction showcased its global expertise. In Paris, the team included Mathieu Remy (partner), Alexandre Merle (senior counsel), and Marion Tual (associate) handling Corporate/M&A matters; and Frédérick Lacroix (partner), Hélène Kouyaté (counsel), and Irina Rambeloson (associate) focusing on regulatory aspects.

Antitrust matters were led by David Tayar (partner) and Charley Bailliard (associate) in Paris. In Madrid, Miguel Barredo (counsel) and María Vilar (associate) provided expertise in both Corporate/M&A and regulatory aspects.

Additionally, contributions came from Clifford Chance’s London office with Caroline Dawson (partner) and Jessy Cheng (senior associate), as well as the Luxembourg office with Christian Kremer (senior partner), Oliver Zwick (partner), Udo Prinz (counsel), Anne-Lise Vandevoir, and Isadora Rousselle (senior associates).

This transaction highlights Clifford Chance’s robust international capabilities and its role in facilitating complex, cross-border corporate deals.