Linklaters has advised Barry Callebaut on the issuance of a corporate bond of €450m. The proceeds received from the issuance of the corporate bond will be used to refinance existing liabilities.

The Barry Callebaut Group with its registered office in Zurich (Switzerland) is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products. The company does business on all levels of the value chain of cocoa processing. Barry Callebaut operates more than 50 production facilities globally and generates an annual sales volume of approximately €5.6bn.

Allen & Overy LLP advised a syndicate comprising 35 banks on the successful issue of a tier 2 subordinated bond by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft with a volume of EUR 750 million. The bond pays a fixed coupon of 4.50 per cent. and matures in 2026 (ISIN: DE000DL40SR8).

The Allen & Overy team comprised partner Christoph Enderstein, counsel Michael Becker and associate Christoph Pohl (all International Capital Markets, Frankfurt).

Linklaters has advised the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of the People’s Republic of China in its RmB 3 billion debut London bond sale. This is the first time the sovereign has listed a bond on the London Stock Exchange.

The deal follows a number of moves from the Chinese regulators over the last few years to internationalise the RmB or yuan and to make it a major international currency.

Cadwalader has advised on the first securitisation of marketplace loans in Europe. The firm advised the arranger of a securitisation backed by £130m of loans to UK SMEs originated on the Funding Circle platform. This is the first public, rated securitisation of marketplace loans in Europe.

Baker & McKenzie assisted AND Inc., a Japanese SPD* business support system supplier, with the launch of "Smile20," a cash flow improvement support service that utilizes a special purpose company to provide assistance for medical institutions across the country. Baker & McKenzie provided legal advice on the securitization of medical materials and medicines accounts receivable, as well as on structured financing arrangements.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier advises Vivendi on a 1.5 billion euros bond issuance made up of two tranches with maturities of 5 and 10 years, respectively.

The first tranche in an amount of 1 billion euros bears interest at a rate of 0.75% per year and matures in 2021. The second tranche in an amount of 500 million euros bears interest at a rate of 1.875% per year and matures in 2026.

The notes will be admitted to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris.

CMS has advised PJSC Uralkali on its new $1.2bn pre-export finance facility arranged by, among others, ING BANK N.V., NATIXIS, AO UNICREDIT BANK, SBERBANK EUROPE AG, SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE AND PUBLIC JOINT-STOCK COMPANY ROSBANK. It is the largest syndicated loan in the company’s history.

The Firm represented NXP B.V. and NXP Funding LLC in connection with a Rule 144A and Regulation S offering of $850 million of 4.125% Senior Notes due 2021 and $900 million of 4.625% Senior Notes due 2023. NXP intends to use the proceeds from the offering, together with cash on hand, to (i) effect the repayment of certain amounts drawn under NXP’s existing secured term loan B, and (ii) redeem all of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.’s outstanding Senior Secured Notes due 2021.

Hoist Kredit AB (publ), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hoist Finance AB (publ), the parent company of the Hoist Finance group, has established an EUR 750,000,000 Euro Medium Term Note Programme, by registering an offering circular with the Irish Stock Exchange.

Beijing/Hong Kong: Herbert Smith Freehills has advised State Grid Corporation of China on a dual-currency four-tranche issue of senior notes, raising US$2.1 billion for the world's largest utility.

The firm advised State Grid Corporation of China as guarantor and its wholly owned subsidiary State Grid Overseas Investment (2016) Limited as issuer on the issuance of:

US$500 million 2.125% Senior Guaranteed Notes due 2021
US$500 million 2.375% Senior Guaranteed Notes due 2026
€500 million 1.25% Senior Guaranteed Notes due 2022