Paris, October 23, 2008 - Baker & McKenzie advised Qatari Diar on its acquisition of the Cegelec group from LBO France and the company's management team. The transaction was finalised on October 22, 2008.

A technology solutions and services integrator, Cegelec designs, installs and maintains systems and subsystems in the industrial, infrastructure and tertiary sectors. Cegelec has 25,000 employees in around 30 countries throughout the world, and achieved 2007 turnover of €3 billion.

Qatari Diar, which is 100 percent-owned by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Qatar's sovereign fund, is a global player in property development and investment. Since its creation in 2005, Qatari Diar has built up a portfolio of over 40 projects spread across 17 countries throughout the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Qatari Diar was jointly advised by Baker & McKenzie as lead counsel and Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier as special counsel. The Baker & McKenzie team was led by Rémy Bricard and involved Bruno Bertrand for private equity aspects, Stéphane Davin for corporate/foreign investment, Guillaume Le Camus for tax, and Cyril Tour for the financing component. The Darrois Villey team was managed by Alain Maillot and consisted of Hugo Diener for corporate, private equity and foreign investment and Yann Grolleaud for tax.

LBO France was advised by Mayer Brown, while the management team was advised by Wilinski Scotto & Associés.
Clifford Chance advised the consortium of banks that financed part of the acquisition.