Loyens & Loeff congratulates Breevast for the sale of Financietoren
The biggest single asset sale in Belgian history completed on Friday 17 January 2020, and our Real Estate team is particularly proud to have assisted Breevast in all legal and tax aspects of this landmark deal.
Largest single asset sale in Belgium
The sale of Finance Tower (Financietoren / Tour des Finances) is the largest real estate transaction brought to the Belgian market. The Valesco Group, a UK and European real estate investment and asset manager acting on behalf of Korean institutional investors, will acquire this asset from Breevast BV. The Finance Tower is fully let to the Belgian State.
Lead advisor to the seller
The Loyens & Loeff deal team was led by Real Estate Partner Christophe Laurent, assisted in all steps of this transaction by Lien Bellinck (Senior Associate, Real Estate), and with the support of Real Estate team members Ariane Brohez (Partner), Antoine Béchaimont (Senior Associate), Olivia Oosterlynck (Associate) and Nikolaas Backaert (Associate), who were all instrumental to the successful closing of this transaction. Prior to the sale process, our Real Estate team has also relied on the expertise of our specialists Natalie Reypens (Partner) and Aldo Engels (Senior Associate) for transfer pricing matters, and Hélène Bourleau (Senior Associate) for VAT matters.
Our team was involved in all legal and tax aspects of this complex transaction, with multiple parties, and lead the negotiations.
Christophe Laurent, Real Estate Partner: "It makes us particularly proud to have been involved in such a landmark deal, which proved to be a challenging and complex transaction sometimes. Our expertise in managing all aspects of large real estate deals from a tax and legal perspective on a daily basis, together with the dedication of our team members is our greatest asset.”
Loyens & Loeff also thanks Breevast’s other advisors, Ivan Peeters and Sean Jonckheere (PwC Legal), Matthias Maselis, Pieter Nobels and Egbert Wagelsmans (Stibbe), for the excellent collaboration throughout the entire process.
Other advisors involved were Linklaters (counsel to the lessors), Ashurst and PwC (counsels to the buyer), and Allen & Overy (counsel to the financing providers).
Aldo Engels
Senior associate Attorney at LawAldo Engels is a member of the Loyens & Loeff International Tax Services Practice Group and of the Transfer Pricing Team in Belgium. He is a senior associate in our Brussels office.
T: +32 2 743 43 92 M: +32 4 96 13 76 21 E: aldo.engels@loyensloeff.com
Antoine Béchaimont
Senior associate Attorney at LawAntoine Béchaimont is a member of the Loyens & Loeff Real Estate Practice Group in Belgium and of the Investment Management/Funds Team. He is a senior associate in our Brussels office with a broad practice of counselling in real estate transactions and taxation.
T: +32 2 700 10 39 E: antoine.bechaimont@loyensloeff.com
Ariane Brohez
Partner Attorney at LawAriane is a member of the Loyens & Loeff Real Estate Practice Group in Belgium and of the Investment Management/Funds Team. She is a partner in our Brussels office with a broad practice of counselling in real estate transactions and taxation.
T: +32 2 743 43 21 M: +32 495 21 26 59 E: ariane.brohez@loyensloeff.com
Christophe Laurent
Partner Attorney at LawChristophe heads the Loyens & Loeff Real Estate Practice Group in Belgium and is a member of the Investment Management/Funds Team. He is a partner in the Brussels office with a broad practice of counselling in real estate transactions and taxation.
T: +32 2 743 43 05 M: +32 476 39 06 90 E: christophe.laurent@loyensloeff.com
Hélène Bourleau
Senior associate Attorney at LawHélène Bourleau is a member of the Indirect Tax Practice Group in Belgium and of the Italian Desk. She is a senior associate in our Brussels office and focusses on indirect tax matters.
T: +32 2 773 23 83 E: helene.bourleau@loyensloeff.com
Lien Bellinck
Senior associate Attorney at LawLien Bellinck is a senior associate in our office in Brussels and a member of the Loyens & Loeff Real Estate Practice Group in Belgium. She focuses on all aspects of real estate law.
T: +32 2 773 23 36 M: +32 4 99 34 19 88 E: lien.bellinck@loyensloeff.com
Natalie Reypens
Partner Attorney at LawNatalie Reypens is a member of the Loyens & Loeff International Tax Services Practice Group and heads the Belgian Transfer Pricing Team. She is a partner in our Brussels office. She focuses on corporate and international tax law.
T: +32 2 743 43 37 E: natalie.reypens@loyensloeff.com
Nikolaas Backaert
Associate Attorney at LawNikolaas Backaert is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group of Loyens & Loeff in Belgium. He is an associate in our Brussels office.
T: +32 2 743 43 48 M: +32 4 78 67 57 18 E: nikolaas.backaert@loyensloeff.com
Olivia Oosterlynck
Associate Attorney at LawOlivia Oosterlynck is a member of the Loyens & Loeff Real Estate Practice Group in Belgium. She is an associate in our Brussels office.
T: +32 2 700 10 45 M: +32 4 75 48 08 73 E: olivia.oosterlynck@loyensloeff.com
