CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre’s Africa team advises AKFED on the creation of Air Côte d’Ivoire

CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre’s Africa team acted as advisor to the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) for the creation of Air Côte d’Ivoire in partnership with the Ivory Coast State and Air France.

In addition to serving the domestic market, the new airline will provide passenger and cargo service in Central and West Africa. It will also develop technical, operating and sales and marketing synergies with Air Burkina and Air Mali, two other airlines in Western Africa owned by AKFED.

AKFED was advised on the legal and tax issues of this transaction by CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre’s Africa team, which included partner Pierre Marly and lawyers Nicole Marielle, Bénédicte Bonnafous, Benjamin Pech de Laclause and Rosine Blacky.

Air France was advised by August & Debouzy (Charles Alluaume) and the Ivory Coast State by SCPA Adjé Assi Metan (Emmanuel Assi).

About the Aga Khan Development Network and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development:

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that work to improve the welfare and prospects of people in the developing world, particularly in Asia and Africa, without regard to faith, origin or gender.

The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development is a member of AKDN. Its companies have been present in East Africa since 1936, expanding into Central and West Africa over the following decades. Active in the fields of manufacturing, financial services, tourism development, infrastructure, media and aviation in 25 countries across South and Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, AKFED operates as a network of affiliates with more than 100 separate companies and projects employing 35,000 people and controlling assets in excess of US$1.5 billion. Present in Ivory Coast for over 47 years and in Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso for over 30 years, AKFED is involved in packing and packaging, agribusiness, infrastructure and aviation.

For more information, please contact:

• CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre
  Florence Jouffroy - +33 1 47 38 40 32
  Laetitia Mostowski - +33 1 47 38 40 74
• NewCap (Agence de Presse)
  Nicolas Merigeau- +33 1 44 71 94 97