The financing was extended by funds advised by Permira Debt Managers, one of Europe's leading specialist debt investors.

Willkie client Permira Credit Solutions III G.P. Limited, advised by Permira Debt Managers, financed the acquisition of Technogroup IT-Service by Vitruvian Partners.

Founded in 1990, Technogroup offers third party maintenances services for IT systems in data centers, in particular insurance-like technology maintenance services. Technogroup serves over 4,000 customers across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Lawyers of Clifford Chance's Prague office have advised European Investment Bank (EIB) on its up to EUR 50m equity investment into Inven Capital, an internally managed, qualified-investor, Czech SICAV fund, fully-owned by the regional energy group CEZ, to support the growth of clean energy and smart technology SMEs and midcaps.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised the lenders, including Crédit Agricole, Société Générale, BNP Paribas, UBI, Siemens Bank and ING Bank, on a €280m limited recourse refinancing of a 106 MW Italian solar portfolio owned by Cubico Sustainable Investments (Cubico), one of the world’s leaders in providing renewable energy across the Americas and Europe. The portfolio comprises Italy’s second largest solar park by energy generating capacity, a 43 MW park located in Cellino San Marco, in the province of Brindisi (Apulia Region).

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (“Freshfields”) has advised China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited, the lead financial advisor and lead placing agent in the strategic placement of US$3.97 billion of H-shares by China Everbright Bank Company Limited (‘China Everbright Bank’) to Overseas Chinese Town Enterprises Company and China Everbright Group Limited.

The deal closed on 22 December 2017. The shares are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Mayer Brown JSM acted as the legal adviser for Essence Corporate Finance (Hong Kong) Limited as Sole Sponsor in relation to China Futex Holdings Limited’s listing on Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

China Futex is engaged in the research and development, manufacturing and sales of both single and double circular knitting machines.

The Mayer Brown JSM team was led by Corporate & Securities partner Derek Tsang.

Slaughter and May, Hong Kong, advised Credit Suisse (Hong Kong) Limited, as manager, in relation to the HK$928.2 million secondary block trade of shares in Xiabuxiabu Catering Management (China) Holdings Co., Ltd. held by General Atlantic Singapore Fund Pte. Ltd. The block trade represents approximately 6.3% of the issued share capital of Xiabuxiabu Catering Management (China) Holdings Co., Ltd.

Linklaters advised J.P Morgan, acting as the presenting bank alongside BNP Paribas, in relation to a potential takeover bid, followed by a squeeze-out targeting shares in the SFR group initiated by Altice.

The Linklaters team was managed by Marc Petitier, a partner in the Corporate division. Cyril Abtan, partner, dealt with the aspects of the counter-guarantee for the presenting banks. They were assisted by Maxime Le Bivic, associate. Luis Roth, a partner in Capital Markets dealt, with all the American law aspects of the deal. He was assisted by Sonny Ha, associate.

CMS has provided advice to Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego in relation to financing the construction of a Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Edinburgh co - owned by the Polish family company Polcom Group. The value of the project is GBP 14 million.

Baker McKenzie advised UBS AG, Australia Branch and Moelis Australia Advisory Pty Ltd as joint lead managers and underwriters of the A$60 million accelerated renounceable entitlement offer by Centuria Property Funds Limited (in its capacity as Responsible Entity of the Centuria Metropolitan REIT).

Dechert LLP is acting as lead global counsel on the potential sale of Albea S.A. to PAI Partners by an affiliate of Sun European Partners (the European advisor to Florida-based private-equity firm Sun Capital Partners). The deal is reportedly valued at US$1.5 billion. 

Albea S.A. manufactures plastic packaging products for the beauty and personal care market. PAI Partners is a Paris-based private equity firm.