14 October 2008 - Gide Loyrette Nouel Paris acted for the sponsors in connection with the concession of the new Prado Sud Tunnel in Marseille:

On 2 October 2008, Vinci and Eiffage completed the financing arrangements for the Prado Sud Tunnel in Marseille. 
 
At the end of a competitive tendering procedure launched in 2007, the special purpose company Prado Sud, a company owned by Vinci and Eiffage, signed a concession agreement with the Marseille Provence Métropole Urban Community for the financing, design, construction, maintenance and operation of the Prado Sud Tunnel. The tunnel will be around 1.5 km in length, will be an extension of the existing Prado Carénage Tunnel and will link the A 50 motorway to the local road network at Avenue du Prado II and Boulevard Michelet. The concession came into force on 14 March 2008 for a term of 46 years. The commercial operation of the tunnel is due in spring 2013.  

The project financing, structured as a club deal, involves an investment of € 189 million, € 152 million of which is senior debt maturing in 10 years time. A € 2.7 million contribution to equity by the shareholders of the concession holder and a € 10 million subsidy from the Marseille Provence Métropole Urban Community complete the finance package.  

Vinci and Eiffage have been advised by Gide Loyrette Nouel throughout the deal process, from preparation of the tender submitted to the Marseille Provence Métropole Urban Community to completion of the project financing arrangements. The Gide Loyrette Nouel legal team, led by Thomas Courtel and Eric Cartier-Millon (partners), included Bénédicte Mazel (public law), Alexandre Balia (project finance), Véronique Quèruel (corporate), Maïke Lorenzo (structured finance), Mathilde Bonnet (project finance), Déborah Aflalo (derivatives) and Estelle Carrère (project finance).