CMS Francis Lefebvre tax advisor to EDF

CMS Francis Lefebvre was the tax advisor to EDF, the leader in the French nuclear industry, in terms of the signing of an exclusive agreement with GE for the acquisition of GE Steam Power's nuclear activities relating to the conventional island of nuclear power plants.

This operation would allow the creation, within the EDF Group, of a world-leading entity for equipment and services relating to the conventional island. The nuclear activities and teams involved in the potential operation are located in about fifteen countries, including nearly 70% in France, particularly at industrial sites such as Belfort and La Courneuve.

CMS Francis Lefebvre advised EDF on the tax aspects of the operation. The team, coordinated by Ludovic Duguet, partner, and Nicolas Bourrier, associate, consisted:

• for the French tax aspects of Ludovic Duguet, Anne Grousset and Laurent Chatel, partners, Nicolas Bourrier, Laure-Hélène Romanik, Geoffrey Leroy and Anaëlle Mazen, associates.
• for the international tax aspects of Thierry Granier, Agnès de L'Estoile-Campi and Stéphane Gelin, partners, Cécile Robin and Morgane Haag, associates. They were assisted by CMS UK teams with Aaron Fairhurst, partner, Philip Reid and Ellie Pardy, associates and CMS Switzerland with Tanja Schaub, counsel.

EDF was also advised on the legal aspects by Freshfields, in terms of Corporate/M&A, labour law, antitrust and data protection and regulatory aspects.