Clairfield in France is expanding its services to companies, their shareholders, and private equity funds by adding debt advisory expertise led by Bénédicte Leneveu, founder & CEO of Pretium Partners.

True to its international DNA and commitment, Clairfield aims to provide borderless financing solutions in an increasingly sophisticated and pan-European market. Bénédicte Leneveu will contribute to building a coordinated debt advisory practice in France and across different offices, delivering best-in-class advice on structuring, and fundraising locally and for cross-border transactions.

Bénédicte Leneveu joins Clairfield as Partner Debt Advisory. She has more than 25 years of experience in financing and debt advisory. Bénédicte spent 15 years at Deutsche Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, and ING, where she was responsible for structuring and syndicating mezzanine and senior financing for LBO and corporate transactions. In 2013, Bénédicte joined Barclays to establish and lead the midcap leveraged finance team in France, overseeing senior and mezzanine financings between EUR 15 and 500 million. She extended the offering to PPP and project financing and was later appointed head of corporate risk in France. In 2014 Bénédicte founded Pretium Partners, an independent debt advisory firm, supporting both companies and private equity firms.

Clairfield is also welcoming Charlotte Cahon as Vice President Debt Advisory. She spent the last four years with Bénédicte at Pretium Partners working closely with CFO and PE funds throughout the debt-raising process. She began her career in private equity at Amundi Private Equity Funds and in transaction services at Oderis Consulting, after graduating from EM Lyon with a master’s degree in financial engineering, and from Paris-V Descartes University with a master’s in business law, banking & finance.

The two join a team of 25 people in France, complemented by the resources of over 400 professionals in Clairfield’s offices worldwide, to support strategic divestitures, LBOs, capital development, and external growth transactions both in France and internationally.

Clairfield’s debt advisory activity involves assisting SMEs and large corporates in financing their development, organically or through external growth. It also supports private equity funds and their portfolio companies, especially in the context of LBOs, refinancing, or external growth. Bénédicte Leneveu will leverage Clairfield’s international debt advisory resources, particularly in Europe, where relationships with lenders and financiers exist in all countries, giving Clairfield a unique multiplied capacity.

“We have a long history of collaboration with Bénédicte, a recognized professional in this practice, and I am delighted that she is now joining our team to develop a dedicated debt advisory offering in France, integrating this essential expertise into our business,” says Thierry Chetrit, co-founder of Clairfield International.

“Joining Clairfield allows us to both capitalise on our structuring and fundraising know-how and develop a unique offering of tailor-made support for our clients internationally. I am delighted to starting 2024 with Thierry Chetrit and his team, whom I have worked with for years and hold in high regard,” says Bénédicte Leneveu.