Shearman & Sterling advised J.P. Morgan, as sole global coordinator, on WIND Hellas' high yield "tap" offering of €95 million 10% senior secured notes due 2021.

The proceeds of the offering, which closed on December 7, 2017, will primarily be used for general corporate purposes, including financing potential future acquisitions and capital expenditure investments.

Allen and Overy has advised Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Standard Chartered Bank on the issuance of USD3 billion of notes in two series by the Federal Republic of Nigeria under its Global Medium Term Note Programme, the largest ever bond issuance by Nigeria.

International law firm Hogan Lovells has advised Banco Votorantim S.A., a Brazilian financial institution that is jointly controlled by the Votorantim Group and Banco do Brasil, in its issuance of US$300 million of Basel III-compliant Tier 1 subordinated notes.

The structure of the offering is unique in that the notes are perpetual with a call option after five years and were issued with a coupon of 8.25%, which resets every five years based on a spread over 5-Year U.S. Treasury bonds.

Macfarlanes has advised Xafinity plc, the pensions actuarial, consulting and administration business, on its proposed acquisition from Punter Southall Group Limited ("PSGL") of its actuarial consulting, pensions administration and investment consulting businesses for a total consideration of up to £153m.

Jeantet assisted Société Générale de Banque au Liban (SGBL), a Lebanese corporate and investment bank, in connection with the sale of KBL Richelieu Banque Privée and KBL Monaco Private Bankers by KBL European Private Bankers SA, the parent company of a group of private banks and management companies located in Luxembourg. As a result, subject to the approval of the competent regulatory authorities, private banking and portfolio management activities of KBL European Private Bankers SA in France and Monaco shall be transferred to SGBL.

Sidley advised BBVA Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as joint bookrunners, on Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria’s offering of US$1 billion Non-Step-Up Non-Cumulative Contingent Convertible Perpetual Preferred Tier 1 Securities listed on the Irish Stock Exchange.

Shearman & Sterling advised Barclays, DNB Markets, UniCredit Bank, BNP Paribas, BofA Merrill Lynch, Lloyds Bank, NatWest Markets and Société Générale on Thomas Cook's €400 million high yield bond offering.

The offering comprised €400 million of 3.875% senior notes due 2023. The proceeds of the offering will be used to refinance existing indebtedness of the Thomas Cook Group.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised Santander Consumer Bank AG (Santander), as sole transaction counsel, on a €850 million securitisation of consumer loans which is rated by Standard & Poor's and DBRS Ratings.

Bearer bonds with a total nominal value of €850 million, which are backed by Santander's consumer loan receivables, have been issued by a German special purpose entity. UniCredit Bank AG acted as Arranger, and UniCredit Bank AG and Banco Santander S.A. acted as Joint Lead Managers.

Slaughter and May is advising Legal & General on the sale of its Mature Savings business to the ReAssure division of Swiss Re for £650 million. The Mature Savings business, which is largely closed to new business, has around 1 million customers who hold traditional insurance based pensions, savings and investment products. The business includes both unit linked business and Legal & General’s with-profits fund. It generated £105 million of operating profit in 2016 and had assets of £30 billion at 30 June 2017.

King & Wood Mallesons (“KWM”) advised lead underwriters for Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (“Alibaba”) on its successful completion of SEC-registered public offering of USD 7 billion senior unsecured debt and the listing on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”) on 6 December, 2017, with tenure of 5.5 years, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years and 40 years. This offering sets the record of the Asian non-banking corporation’s USD debt this year.