Valentine Bleicher
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Valentine Bleicher

Partner

Email

valentine.bleicher@aoshearman.com

Phone

+1 312 598 2010

Offices

Chicago

V-CARD
Valentine concentrates her practice on advising U.S. and international financial sponsors, their portfolio companies and public and private companies in connection with domestic and cross-border business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, divestitures, carve-outs, strategically targeted equity investments, refinancings, restructurings, joint ventures, and general corporate counseling.
Representative transactions have ranged in size from several million dollars to more than USD10 billion, and have covered a wide variety of industries, including energy, utilities and infrastructure, technology, healthcare and life sciences, financial services, manufacturing and industrials, and consumer goods and retail.

Expertise

Experience

Representative matters

  • Wendel SE (XPAR: MF) in the acquisition of 75% of Monroe Capital for USD1.13 billion and the creation of a sponsoring program to invest USD800 million to accelerate Monroe Capital’s growth and to invest in GP commitments for up to USD200 million. (Previous firm experience).
  • KKR in the acquisition, as part of a consortium of institutional investors led by Sixth Street, of home improvement lending platform GreenSky and associated loan assets from The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS). (Previous firm experience).
  • Bain Capital Private Equity and its portfolio companies in several transactions, including the sale of a stake in US LBM to Platinum Equity and the sale of Varsity Brands to KKR. (Previous firm experience).
  • Summit Partners and its portfolio companies in several transactions in the healthcare industry. (Previous firm experience).
  • GTCR in the acquisition of Lexipol, a leader in policy, training and wellness support software for first responders and public servants. (Previous firm experience).
  • Ridgemont Equity Partners in several transactions, including its investment in Crete Mechanical Group, a provider of HVAC, electrical, plumbing and building automation services. (Previous firm experience).
  • La Caisse (f/k/a CDPQ) in several transactions, including a USD1 billion commitment to Invenergy Renewables LLC, the largest private developer, owner and operator of wind and solar projects in North America, to further support the company in its expanded development activities and continued growth. (Previous firm experience).
  • Dutch pension fund manager PGGM in several transactions, including in its USD601 million acquisition of a 20% minority stake in SUEZ Water Resources Inc., a subsidiary of French public company SUEZ S.A. (Euronext: SEV, CAC Next 20 Component), specializing in the water and waste cycle management business in the Northeast region of the US. (Previous firm experience).
  • TC Energy (f/k/a TransCanada) (TSX, NYSE and S&P/TSX 60 component: TRP) in several transactions, including in the divestiture of its U.S. retail power marketing business to EDF Energy Services, LLC, a subsidiary of the French public company EDF S.A. (Euronext: EDF, CAC Next 20 Component). (Previous firm experience).
  • The senior creditors' committee in the lender-led EUR1.8 billion debt restructuring of the French utilities group SAUR.(Previous firm experience).

Pro bono

  • Represented inmates in negotiation for the settlement of Civil Rights lawsuits against the Cook County Sheriff and the Cook County Department of Corrections. (Previous firm experience).
  • Represented ARZU Studio Hope, a women empowerment not-forprofit organization in the U.S. and an international NGO in Afghanistan operating as a "for-benefit" corporation creating jobs for women in rural villages in Afghanistan and producing ethically hand-knotted rugs, in its asset divestiture to Turquoise. (Previous firm experience).

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Alumni Committee Member, Sciences Po American Foundation
  • French Alumni (Chicago)

Qualifications

Admissions

Illinois

New York

Paris, France (inactive)

England and Wales

Academic

New York University School of Law, LL.M.

Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris,M.A., Economic Law

Columbia Law School, Certificate in Global Business Law and Governance

Université Paris Nanterre, Master I Licence en Droit, magna cum laude

Languages

English, French, Spanish
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.