Overview
Matthieu is a Counsel in the Brussels tax group with extensive knowledge of Belgian and international direct and indirect tax law (including corporate income tax, VAT and registration duties). He has broad experience in domestic and cross-border transactions and reorganisations, including tax due diligences, tax planning, structuring of (real estate or M&A) transactions and solving complex tax issues. He is also very active in tax audits and tax litigation work.
Matthieu is a member of the Belgian High Council of Finance ("Conseil supérieur des finances/Hoge raad van financiën") and of the Walloon Council of Taxation and Finance (“Conseil de la Fiscalité et des Finances de Wallonie”).
Matthieu regularly publishes articles about the various fields of tax law in Belgian and international periodicals. He also holds several academic mandates, including lecturer in corporate income tax and accounting law at the Catholic University of Louvain and at the Catholic University of Namur.
Quote from Legal500: "Matthieu Possoz practice is really broad (both direct and indirect taxation). He has a deep understanding of the market, and his track record is impressive. He also covers the full range of tax topics, which is very rare and a serious asset in the Belgian market."
Work Highlights
Matthieu has advised and represented clients in a broad range of industries. His recent experience includes:
- Indosuez Wealth Management (Crédit Agricole group) on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Banque Degroof Petercam followed by a voluntary public takeover bid on the remaining shares, for a total transaction value of €1.55 bn
- the tax aspects of public M&A transactions
- advising a Belgian insurance company in the context of post-M&A issues after the acquisition of another insurance company
- advising a French company on the cross-border merger with a related Belgian company. Said merger is one of the biggest cross-border mergers ever realised on the Belgian market
- the tax treatment of investment funds both at the level of the fund and of the investors
- advising a Belgian investment company on the reorganisation of its investment in a US private equity fund
- advising financial institutions and listed companies in relation to the tax aspects of the issuance of hybrid financial instruments
- advising a Belgian insurance company on the acquisition of nine real estate companies owning together as major assets a real estate office complex with parking of approximately 70,000m2. The team took the lead both with regard to the tax structuring of the transaction and the due diligence exercise (all taxes)
- advising a real estate group on the acquisition of 30% of the shares in a European real estate group headquartered in Luxembourg. Said file included the tax structuring of the transaction and a full tax due diligence exercise
- assisting clients in the framework of tax audits/tax litigations
Admissions