A&O Shearman Belgium

Do you want to benefit from the latest insights on a complex and fast evolving topic as cybersecurity? Please reach to our Belgian specialists Thomas Declerck, Sarah De Wulf, Filip Van Elsen and Peter Van Dyck if you have any questions.   #SecureOurWorld

Ready to Elevate Your Real Estate Game?   Rudy Dupont and Jeff Hermans, leaders in Belgium's real estate, are making their way to EXPO REAL (Messe München) from October 7th to 9th. 🏢✨   Curious about the Belgian market? Hunting for the next big investment? Catch-up with Rudy and Jeff for exclusive insights and expert advice.    Don't miss out!   #RealEstate #EXPOREAL #Networking #InvestmentOpportunities #BelgiumRealEstate  

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗗𝗜 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 We attended the Belgian Screening Commission's event marking the first anniversary of FDI screening in Belgium. Here are some highlights: - 𝟲𝟴 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Only 5 led to phase 2 screenings, showing a smooth process for most. - 𝗙𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: Only 2 notifications were out of scope, despite guidance to notify in case of doubt. - 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿: More detailed sector information in the guidance or annual report would be helpful. - 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀: Unsurprisingly, predominantly US (43%) and UK (29%) investors. - 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀: The Commission is also looking forward to the upcoming EU FDI Regulation. 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀. #FDI #InvestmentScreening #Belgium #EU   Gauthier van Thuyne Frederiek Adams Fee Goossens Alexander Pirard

The bathroom specialist X2O Badkamers is set for significant growth with Waterland Private Equity becoming the new majority shareholder, joining forces with existing shareholders Vendis Capital and Jan Ollevier.    We are delighted to have advised the existing sellers on their sale and subsequent reinvestment in this transaction. The deal team was led by Frederiek Adams, with support from Kaat Vervenne, Dimas Coetsier, and Alexandre Coulon. Charles Pommiès assisted on the competition aspects of the deal.   This strategic partnership aims to bolster X²O's market position and drive expansion. The move highlights the increasing importance of strategic alliances in driving growth and market consolidation within the home improvement sector.   Thank you to all parties for a great collaboration!   #PrivateEquity #StrategicGrowth #MandA

🏃♂️🏃♀️ We ran, we kicked, we conquered! Kudos to Cofinimmo and all participants for smashing records and supporting KickCancer! 💪 #RunToKick2024 #GivingBack"

In a strategic move set to accelerate growth, NPM Capital has acquired a significant minority interest in Jeco Energies, a leading provider of industrial energy solutions in the Benelux. We are glad to have assisted NPM Capital in this acquisition.   The transaction underscores the increasing importance of sustainable energy solutions in industrial processes, a sector experiencing rapid growth due to the structural demand for electrical power grid expansion. Jeco Energies, with its innovative approach and robust market presence, is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends.    The deal team was led by partner Frederiek Adams, and associates Louis Casteleyn and Ellen Soenen.    Congratulations to all parties involved!   #mergersandacquisitions #privatecapital #energytransition

*𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀*: Last Thursday, our technology specialists Peter Van Dyck and Sarah De Wulf and employment specialists Inge Vanderreken and Mathias Vandenhoudt hosted an insightful webinar on the impact of AI on employment.   The 4 essential key takeaways of the webinar for employers who are implementing AI are: 1. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗔𝗜 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀. When using AI in an employment context, there is a significant chance that the AI system will either be prohibited or qualify as a high-risk AI system. This qualification brings along a series of obligations to comply with. 2. 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿. As a deployer, ensure that you do not turn any non-high-risk systems (such as chatbots) into high risk by stretching their use into the high-risk field. This will lead to qualification as a provider. 3. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝘆. The AI Act entered into force, so start preparing now. Conduct a mapping exercise, a gap analysis and implement a responsive action plan. 4. 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. Compliance goes beyond legal requirements. Implement a robust yet agile governance plan to monitor the use of an AI system. Feel free to reach out to our specialists in case of questions.

We are thrilled to have represented KBC Securities in the successful conclusion of 7 DBFM agreements with GO! Education of the Flemish Community, alongside the Aurora consortium, which includes Epicofund, Rebel, Groep Van Roey nv, and DEMOCO. This significant investment will see the construction of 30,000 m² of new school buildings across Kasterlee, Duffel, Wijnegem, Leopoldsburg, Waregem, Kruibeke, and Knesselare, benefiting 3,000 pupils    This follows our advisory role in two other PPP projects for the construction of 3 schools in Ghent and Ninove and 7 schools as part of the Go1! School cluster across Flanders.   Special thanks to our team members Filip Tanghe, Hélène Bauwens and Cédric Ledegen for their contributions   Kudos to everyone involved for their outstanding collaboration!   #projectfinance #school #infrastructure #DBFM #PPS

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 - 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀! We are thrilled to announce the first edition of our Brussels Funds Forum, hosted by our Benelux Private Capital team. The Brussels Funds Forum provides expert insight on key market trends and the latest legal, regulatory, and tax developments for leading funds and asset management players. For our inaugural session, we are honored to welcome our U.S. funds and asset management experts. Our leading Benelux and U.S. experts will demystify the legal, tax, and regulatory regimes applicable to non-U.S. funds and asset managers that raise capital with U.S. investors or those looking to invest in the U.S. funds or related vehicles. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: 📅 Date: Tuesday, 15 October 2024 📍 Location: The Merode, Brussels 📩 How to register: secure your spot by sending an e-mail to be_ao_events@aoshearman.com by 1 October 2024 We look forward to seeing you there ! #privatecapital #funds #seminar

The Salzburg Global Forum on Corporate Governance wants to put sustainability on top of every director and business leader's agenda. In collaboration with GUBERNA - Instituut voor Bestuurders/Institut des Administrateurs, our firm's specialists will attend this unique event to discuss the latest legal milestones with key decision-makers and share insights on how companies can be a frontrunner regarding sustainability.   Looking forward to an inspiring event in Austria. Check out the full program here: https://bit.ly/4gvjqIo.