Paris, 23 April 2024: Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has announced the expansion of its financial services industry (FSI) M&A capabilities to France and the Benelux region. Emmanuel Cresseveur, appointed Managing Director, will lead the new team, which also welcomes Franck Guilhem-Ducleon from RBC Capital Markets as a Director.

The news marks the latest expansion of A&M's global FSI practice, which last year added 20 Managing Directors to its EMEA network and launched in the US at the start of 2024.

Mr Cresseveurbrings more than 15 years of experience across sector verticals – in banking, insurance, brokerage, wealth and asset management, market infrastructure and fintech. Working closely with A&M's Global FSI Co-Lead Fernando de la Mora and David Edmonds, and EMEA FSI M&A Lead Pablo Alonso, he advises clients on the full range of M&A processes.

Mr de la Mora said: "We're pleased to welcome Emmanuel to the team, as our FSI M&A network goes from strength to strength. This dedicated business line in France and the Benelux – key and growing markets for A&M – means we can build on the firm's differentiated capabilities that combine M&A with strong operational performance improvement execution skill sets."

Mr Cresseveur added: "A&M's team of senior experts bring a unique, end-to-end M&A proposition, able to blend financial, commercial and operational capability. I look forward to applying my experience to unlock value for our clients, and help them navigate the most complex challenges."

Mr Cresseveurjoins from Credit Suisse, where he served as a Senior Director. Before that he worked for Lazard and with Societe Generale's General Inspection.

Notable banking projects include – among others – advising Caisse des Dépôts on the €12.8 billion acquisition of La Poste/La Banque Postale and CNP Assurances; Bank of Ireland on its €9 billion acquisition of KBC Ireland's mortgage book and deposits; and Société Générale on the €1.2 billion IPO of ALD as a Global Coordinator. Other transactions include advising the Slovenian State on the sale of Nova KBM to Apollo; Galeries Lafayette on the sale of its consumer credit subsidiary LaSer to BNP Paribas; Alliance Bank on its $1.2 billion debt restructuring and merger with ForteBank and Temirbank; and Piraeus Bank on the acquisition of Geniki Bank from Société Générale.

Prominent insurance and wealth and asset management assignments include advising on the €1 billion sale of CCR Re to SMABTP and MACSF; Macif/Aéma on the €3.2 billion acquisition of Aviva France; and Tikehau Capital Advisors on its €1.1 billion contribution to Tikehau in exchange of new shares. He also supported Charterhouse on its €1 billion acquisition of Siaci Saint-Honoré; Caisse des Dépôts on the renewal of CNP's distribution agreements with BPCE and La Banque Postale; and Caisse des Dépôts on its €0.3 billion investment in Groupama's subsidiary Gan Eurocourtage.