Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Les Echos – Le Parisien group, a leading French media group, on its acquisition of a 55% majority stake in ChangeNOW.

ChangeNOW is an international summit, established in 2017, which seeks to help accelerate the transition to a more sustainable world. The annual summit brings together successful changemakers and thought leaders from across the world to share their visions and experiences, and support sustainable, effective solutions. The most recent event, which was held in January in Paris, brought together 28,000 participants and 350 speakers, with more than 100 countries being represented.

The partnership with Les Echos – Le Parisien will enable ChangeNOW to increase its exposure, and overcome the ever-changing, evolving environmental and social challenges facing it. The transaction follows on from the launch of Les Echos Planète website in January 2020, further demonstrating the media group’s commitment to the green finance sector as it strengthens its position in this area, and diversifies its range of events.

“This transaction illustrates the firm’s ability to negotiate strategic agreements and equity investments between large groups and start-ups, in a context where investments in positive, committed and innovative projects are likely to grow,” said Guillaume Briant, partner, Stephenson Harwood.

The Stephenson Harwood team was led by partner Guillaume Briant, who was supported by associate Doriane Al Masri. Partner Olivier Couraud and associate Jeanne-Eve Lepinay-Diday provided advice on the tax aspects of the deal.