They are joining existing Natixis Partners managing director Gilles Bonnier and will together co-lead a new team of 8 dedicated professionals.
The announcement – which fits within Natixis' strategy of strengthening its position in the real estate segment – is aimed at taking advantage of a favourable momentum for M&A activity in France, according to Geyer. ‘There is a tremendous push in the market in terms of sustainability. This, together with the impact from e-commerce, is forcing traditional real estate companies to adapt and is also driving M&A activity,’ added De Gastines.
Activity is expected to origin from across all sectors and particularly from the residential and hospitality segments, where Natixis has already secured a number of major mandates, he added.
The team’s focus will encompass a wide range of complex deals including the structuring of private transactions, equity raising, partnerships as well as sale-and-leasebacks.
De Gastines joined BNP Paribas Group in 1997, following a first experience with Crédit Lyonnais Americas in New York.
Gilles Bonnier was CFO within different companies including Foncière des Régions, Gecina or Tishman Speyer.
Bertrand Geyer started his career in 2000 as a financial analyst with Global Equities and spent the past 15 years with Natixis Group finalising numerous merger and acquisition transactions alongside listed real estate players as well as major corporates.
