Allen & Overy has advised a group of loan facility and bonding facility providers in the refinancing and debt restructuring of Interserve plc, the international support services and construction group, announced on 30 April.

Led by partners Jochen Seitz (Frankfurt) and Pierre Reuter (Luxembourg) Hogan Lovells has advised on the update of the EUR 10 billion debt issuance programme of the Luxembourg subsidiary of Norddeutsche Landesbank – Girozentrale.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised Mediobanca – Banca di Credito Finanziario S.p.A., as original lender and agent, on a term loan facility granted to Kryalos SGR S.p.A., acting as managing company of the close-ended real estate alternative investment fund 'Tyre' – Fondo di Investimento Alternativo Immobiliare di Tipo Chiuso Riservato.

The term facility will be used to finance the acquisition of the HQ1 building in Milan, the headquarters of Pirelli & C. S.p.A.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised Consolidated Energy Finance S.A., a financing subsidiary of Switzerland-based leading international methanol and fertilizer manufacturer Consolidated Energy Limited AG, on the issuance of two high yield bonds with a total volume of US$525 million.

The $125 million floating rate notes will be due in 2022. The $400 million fixed rate notes will be due in 2026 and have a coupon of 6.50%. Both bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

Travers Smith LLP is advising Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (as lead financial adviser, nominated adviser and joint bookrunner) and Numis Securities Limited (as financial adviser and joint bookrunner) on the proposed £61.4 million acquisition of the MeetingZone Group and connected £50.0 million placing by LoopUp Group plc.

Loyens & Loeff advised SGG Group and their main shareholder, Astorg, on the acquisition of Iyer Practice, a family-run business offering advisory and compliance solutions to corporates and private clients in Singapore and Hong Kong. 

Loyens & Loeff assisted with the structuring of this acquisition that involved Corporate, Tax and Banking & Finance advice.

Loyens & Loeff thus accompanies SGG Group's growth in the Asian market by reinforcing its presence in key locations.

Author

    Anne-Marie Nicolas

A combined team from Hogan Lovells' Singapore and Beijing offices advised China Development Bank ("CDB") in connection with its US$270m loan to the Chinese aircraft lessor, Comsys (Tianjin) Leasing ("Comsys"). The loan was utilised to facilitate a series of transactions involving Comsys (as arranger), Veling (a UK and Mauritius-based aircraft lessor) and Emirates (lessee) and relating to the acquisition of an A380 aircraft by Comsys ultimately leased to and operated by Emirates.

South African food company, Libstar Holdings, has raised ZAR3bn from its successful IPO with shares commencing trading on the main board of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. This comprised a primary raise of R1.5billion and a secondary sell-down of R1.5billion from existing shareholders. International investors showed significant interest in the company, comprising over 30% of the final book of demand.

Linklaters acted for Standard Bank and JP Morgan as joint global coordinators on the transaction.

Ashurst advised the Mandated Lead Arranger on the financing of the acquisition of the Prefere Resins Group (Prefere) by Silverfleet Capital. Seller of the leading manufacturer of phenolic resins is the German private equity firm Capiton AG and the Prefere management. The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial terms of the transaction.

Capiton acquired a majority stake in Prefere from international chemicals group Dynea Chemicals Oy in February 2014 as part of a buy-out.