The New York, London and Moscow offices of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP have advised NLMK, a global steel producer, and its U.S. subsidiaries in a $250 million revolving ABL facility to refinance existing indebtedness. Bank of America Merrill Lynch International was appointed as sole coordinator and bookrunner and mandated lead arranger for the facility. JPMorgan Chase Bank and Citibank acted as mandated lead arrangers. Bank of America was appointed as facility agent, collateral agent and issuing bank.

Ashurst advised private equity firm Capvis on the financing of the acquisition of a majority stake in Wer liefert Was GmbH (WLW).

The leading B2B online marketplace was sold by majority shareholder Paragon Partners as well as by Nordic Mezzanine Fund III and the company's management.

The Ashurst team was led by partner Dr Bernd Egbers and counsel Christiane Bestgen. They were assisted by transaction manager Susanne Kasnitz (all finance, Munich).

Ashurst advised NIBC Bank Deutschland AG (NIBC) and SEB AG (SEB) on the financing of the acquisition of a majority stake in Utimaco Group, a leading global provider of specialist professional cyber security and compliance solutions, by EQT Mid Market Investment Strategy (EQT Mid Market).

The sellers, PINOVA Capital, BIP Investment Partners and the Utimaco management will all re-invest and remain minority investors. The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction.

Modern Times Group (MTG), a Swedish digital entertainment company, has agreed to sell its 50% shareholding in FTV Prima Holding, the second largest private Czech broadcaster, in a transaction valued at EUR 116 million. The buyer, Denemo Media, is a Czech joint venture between Denemo Invest, controlled by businessman Vladimir Komar via Alphaduct, and GES Media Asset owned by Ivan Zach. This transaction, which is subject to Czech regulatory approval, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017 and will return FTV Prima entirely back to Czech ownership.

Ashurst is advising Credit Suisse International in relation to the £26.4 million recommended cash offer for NetPlay TV plc by Betsson AB (publ). 

Dechert LLP advised Ares Management Limited (“Ares”) on the provision of their financing package in support of Midlothian Capital Partners ("MCP") and a consortium of investors, in partnership with co-founder Miles Dewhurst and the management team, agreement to acquire Park Leisure 2000 Limited (“Park Leisure”), the UK’s leading luxury holiday park operator, for a value of £103 million.

White & Case has advised Accent Equity on the financing of the acquisition of a majority stake in Eco Log.

Accent becomes co-owner of Eco Log alongside existing owner Stig Linderholm, and will support Eco Log's further expansion in Sweden and internationally.

Herbert Smith Freehills is advising long-standing client British American Tobacco (BAT) on a recommended offer to acquire the remaining 57.8% of Reynolds it does not already own, which amounts to a total current value of US$49.4 billion. The acquisition will create the world’s largest listed tobacco company by sales.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Transaction Committee of independent Reynolds directors established to evaluate the BAT offer. It has also been approved by the Boards of Reynolds and BAT.

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW“) advised Iccrea Bancaimpresa S.p.A. (“Iccrea”), the corporate banking arm of Credito Cooperativo, on two financings for companies operating in the maritime sector that are part of Greece’s Zouros Group.

The first financing was provided to Leon Z Maritime Company, Panther Z Maritime Company and Thalassa Z Maritime Company and will be used to refinance said companies’ financial exposure and meet general corporate needs.

Macfarlanes has advised Goldman Sachs Private Capital in relation to a new structured credit facility backed by bridging loans originated by Together Financial Services, trading as Together. With Goldman Sachs’ support, this programme will run until January 2021, assisting Together in increasing their bridging finance lending capabilities.

Established in 1974, Together is a specialist lender that offers short-term finance, secured loans, auction finance, buy-to-let and commercial mortgages to a number of niche markets.