Gilbert Noel

Gilbert Noel practises in the area of company, corporate and financial services law. He has worked extensively on international projects utilising Mauritius special-purpose vehicles, in particular for the structuring of joint ventures and financing transactions.

Prior to joining Appleby in 2007, he trained as an analyst at Merrill Lynch in 1993. He was a consultant for four years in the financial services sector, at Multiconsult Ltd (1994-1995) and then at Ernst & Young Financial Services Ltd (1995-1997). He then joined l’Express as a financial journalist until 1999. Thereafter, he practised as an attorney until 2003, when he was the adviser to the Minister of Financial Services and Corporate Affairs, involved in the preparation and drafting of relevant legislation. He was also a visiting lecturer in financial services law for fourth-year accounting students at the University of Mauritius in 1993. He resumed private practice at the beginning of 2004.

Gilbert was a founder member and was previously the vice-chairman of the International Fiscal Association of Mauritius.

He speaks both French and English.

Some recent examples of work include advising:

• On a US$1 billion bridge facility to Addax Petroleum by BNP Paribas, with Standard Chartered Bank as lenders
  
  
  
• Lehman Brothers in relation to applicable insolvency proceedings (both involuntary and voluntary winding-up) and directors’ duties advice under Mauritius law, to Lehman Brothers Opportunity Limited, a Mauritian entity, following a US$400 million creditor action initiated in the United Kingdom
  
  
  
• ICICI bank in connection with a US$350,000 financing between GMR Enterprises and ICICI bank for acquisition of shares in companies outside India. A trustee was in place in connection with this structure involving several jurisdictions, including Mauritius
  
  
  
• Rascom with respect to a facility of about US$111 million as regards the financing of a second satellite for the African region. The financing was composed of a consortium of banks, including the African Development Bank
  
  
  
• With respect to Real Estate Investment Trusts for investments in China amounting to more than US$1.5 billion

• Corporate Finance