- Banking & Finance
- Corporate/M&A
- Energy & Natural Resources
- IP, IT & Media
- Bucharest Bar (registered 2003)
- Quebec Bar (admitted 1995)
- English
- French
- Romanian
Christian Mindru is the head of the Finance as well as the Energy & Natural Resources practice groups. Before joining Biris Goran in 2007, Christian Mindru previously worked in Montréal for Fasken Martineau, a top-tier Canadian law firm and then as senior associate and transaction leader for the Paris global firm of Gide Loyrette Nouel in its Paris and Bucharest offices. Christian was raised and educated in Canada and the United States.
Christian holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Business Administration from the University of Hartford (USA), cum laude, and a Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) from the University of Montréal (Canada). He is admitted to the Quebec Bar (1995) and registered with the Bucharest Bar (2003).
Christian is recognized as a leading expert in Romania in real estate, acquisition and project finance having been described by the Chambers 2009 edition as “talented and capable individual” for his “ability to see problems from the client’s perspective.” Plc Which Lawyer? describes Christian as “a well regarded finance lawyer who has advised on the financing of many real estate projects”.
In addition, Christian has developed a strong expertise in the energy sector having acted for E.ON Ruhrgas in the privatization of Distrigaz Nord and a major Spanish company in the privatization of Electrica Muntenia SUD. The Chambers Europe 2007 edition highlighted Christian’s “deep knowledge of the due diligence and unbundling procedures relating to the privatization of gas distribution companies”.
He has extensive experience acting for arrangers, borrowers and sponsors on a wide range of transactions with an emphasis on acquisition, real estate and project finance. Since 2002, Christian has acted on finance projects in Romania the value of which exceeds 1 billion Euros. He has acted as counsel on the occasion of the first syndicated facility governed by Romanian law without a state guarantee and has advised the lead arranger and the lenders on an LBO financing chosen by Acquisition Finance Magazine as Romanian 2006 Acquisition Finance deal of the Year.
He also has substantial experience acting for bidders on a wide range of domestic and cross-border merger and acquisition deals, including privatisation transactions (he acted as counsel for purchasers/bidders in the privatization of Distrigaz Nord, BCR, and Electrica Muntenia SUD).
His unique expertise and experience allows him to offer Biris Goran clients focused, business-oriented advice on their financing and acquisition needs.
Chambers 2008 adds “poaching Christian Mindru from Gide Loyrette Nouel has added invaluable financial expertise to the [Biris Goran] practice, which is particularly important given the firm’s propensity to act for borrowers”.
- Ongoing legal advisor to the borrower as regards a financing by way of sale and lease back
- Legal advisor to the borrower as regards the restructuring of an acquisition finance loan
- Legal advisors to the borrower, Portico Investments Limited for a loan worth EUR 75 million from ING Lease to refinance the company's investments in Hungary, Czech Republic and Romania
- Legal advisors to the borrower as regards the restructuring of a EUR 45 million loan and the increase of the facilities
- Legal advisors to the borrower as regards the restructuring of a 15 EUR million loan
- Legal advisors to the bank, the lessee as well as to the borrower and lessor on a EUR 26 million sale and lease back transaction
- Legal advisors to the borrower and sponsors on a real estate financing for the development of a mall in Transylvania, Romania valued at EUR 40 million
- Legal advisors to the borrower and sponsors on a real estate financing for the development of a mall in Transylvania, Romania valued at EUR 40 million
- Legal advisors to the borrower on a real estate refinancing of a hotel in Bucharest, in total amount of EUR 32 million
- Legal advisors to the borrower and sponsors on an acquisition finance of a majority stake of Proiect Bucuresti SA, the former state-owned architectural services company and one of the largest in Romania (transaction value confidential)
- Legal advisors to the borrower and sponsors on a real estate financing for the construction of the first phase of a residential complex in the city of Brasov in total amount of EUR 14 million
- Legal advisors to the borrower and sponsors on a real estate financing for office development in Bucharest, in total amount of EUR 11 million
- Legal advisors to the borrower and sponsors on a real estate acquisition financing from a trustee in bankruptcy in total amount of EUR 10 million
- Legal advisor to a club of banks as regards a Euro 232 million financing for the construction and development of a mall, the acquisition of a commercial gallery, the construction of the first Ikea Store in Romania and the construction and development of office buildings, all in the Baneasa neighborhood
- Legal advisor to both the arranger and facility agent and the borrower in relation to an EUR 100 million multiple currency credit facility, the second largest real estate development financing on the Romanian market in 2005
- Legal advisor to the lead arranger as regards an LBO financing in Romania, chosen by Acquisition Finance Magazine as Romanian 2006 Acquisition Finance deal of the Year
- Legal advisor to a major french distribution and retail company in relation to a Euro 50 million financing obtained for real estate acquistions and development in Romania, Serbia and Bosnia
- Legal counsel to the issuing and confirming banks as regards a USD 65 million uncommitted letter of credit facility secured by stocks of crude and refined oil
- Legal advisor to a joint venture between the subsidiary of an international company in the water treatment sector and the Municipality of Bucharest, concessionaire of water supply in Bucharest, with respect to a EUR 80 million project finance for a Potable Water Treatment Plant, as well as regards the tender documentation and EPC contract awarded pursuant to a public procurement tender
- Legal advisor to a major French group in relation to the implementation of a multiple jurisdictions Euro 65 million master loan granted to it by an international financial institution, and subsidiary loans to the group’s subsidiaries operating in various Eastern European countries, including Romania
- Legal advisor to the lead arranger as regards a Euro 35 million multiple currencies limited recourse financing for the construction and operation of a feed centre, a milk farm and a dairy plant near Bucharest
- Legal advisor to both the arranger and facility agent and the borrower in relation to a EUR 50 million multiple currency credit facility, the first syndicated credit facility governed by Romanian law and not backed by a state guarantee
- Advice to the EBRD in relation to the implementation of a complex USD 100 million financing post privatization transaction entered into with the number one international steel company
- Legal advisor to the lead arranger as regards a Euro 21 million limited recourse financing for the construction and development of a mall in Pitesti Romania
- Legal advisor to the arranger and facility and security agent in relation to a EUR 20 million syndicated credit facility granted for the development of a do-it-yourself retail chain in Romania
- Ongoing legal advisor to EU-based Bongrain, a leading international player in the milk processing sector and which is listed on the Euronext Paris exchange, in the acquisition of a controlling interest in Delaco Distribution, one of Romania’s main dairy suppliers
- Legal advisor to the purchasers on the occasion of a Management Buyout and ongoing legal advisor to the shareholders on a private equity deal
- Legal counsel to the seller of Upground in the indirect (share deal) forward sale of a real estate development to RREEF (approximately EUR 340 million) in the largest real estate transaction in Romania to date
- Legal counsel to the shareholders as regards the multi-million EUR investment by AGF Private Equity in leading online social strategy game www.erepublik.com
- Legal counsel to E.ON Ruhrgas AG, one of the world’s largest utilities group, in connection with the 304 million Euros acquisition of Distrigaz Nord
- Legal advisor to a Spanish utilities company as regards the privatisation of Electrica Muntenia Sud, the electricity supply and distribution company for the city of Bucharest
- Legal counsel to BNP Paribas in the privatisations of BCR (1st Romanian commercial bank)
- Advise to a foreign investment fund in connection with the sale of its participation in a Romanian lighting company
- Legal assistance to Ixia Inc, an American leading global provider of IP network testing solutions listed on NASDAQ, on the occasion of the purchase of the shares of G3 NOVA Technology operating on the Romanian IT sector
- Legal advisor to a Sodexo as regards the acquisition of 100% of the shares in a Romanian competitor
- Legal advisor to the sellers as regards the sale of their shareholding in a Romanian IT company to Mysis plc, a global supplier of IT solutions to the banking industry
- Legal advisor to Norbert Dentressangle as regards the acquisition of 100% of the shares in a Romanian transportation company
- Senior Foreign Associate, Gide Loyrette Nouel, Paris & Bucharest offices (2001 - 2007)
- Associate, Fasken Martineau, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (1995 - 2001)
- Co-author “Securitization in Romania, Bold legislative changes create an encouraging environment” in the 2006 Global Securitization Guide
- “IT Start-ups: How To”, – Bucharest, Romania, conference coordinator, (September 2009)
- Secured lending in Romania – Amsterdam, Netherlands, Guest Speaker (December 2004)
- Securitisation in Romania – New draft laws – Bucharest, Romania, Guest Speaker (October 2004)
- Securitisation in Eastern Europe – Paris, France, Guest Speaker (November 2003)
- Post-Privatisation Restructuring - Legal and Contractual Restrictions - Bucharest, Romania, Guest Speaker (October 2003)
- Legal issues of Project Finance - Bucharest, Romania, Guest Speaker (January 2003)
- Christian has also provided ISDA with memorandums on the redenomination of the Romanian currency, implementation of EU Collateral Directive in Romania and close-out netting under Romanian Law
- University of Montreal, Faculty of Law, Montreal, Canada (Law Degree, 1993)
- University of Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (B.Sc. Business Administration, 1989)