Norton Rose Fulbright has advised German financial services group Wüstenrot & Württembergische AG (W&W) on the sale of its subsidiary Wüstenrot Bank AG Pfandbriefbank (Wüstenrot Bank) to Bremer Kreditbank AG (BKB). At the same time, a comprehensive sales cooperation agreement was signed with the bank under new ownership, whereby mutual financial products can be supplied and the sales force further increased. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised a syndicate of banks including UniCredit S.p.A., UBI Banca S.p.A. and MPS Capital Services Banca per le Imprese S.p.A. on a €80m financing for the integrated water management system of Pavia province (Lombardy, Italy), managed by Pavia Acque S.c.ar.l. (“Pavia Acque”). The facility will be used for further investment in the water management sector, in line with Pavia Acque’s 2016 – 2033 Investment Plan.

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (“BTMU”), Japan’s largest bank, as facility agent for a syndicate of international lenders comprising itself, Development Bank of Japan Inc. and Societe Generale on the US$180m refinancing of two K-Line LNG vessels, “Arctic Voyager” and “Arctic Discoverer” which are time chartered to Statoil ASA, the world’s largest offshore operator.

Davis Polk advised the dealer managers in connection with a cash tender offer by Rio Tinto Finance plc to purchase certain of its euro-denominated debt securities.

HSF London's finance team has advised the mandated lead arrangers on their successful acquisition financing for GlaxoSmithKline's $13 billion buyout of Novartis' 36.5% stake in their consumer healthcare joint venture.

The team involved in negotiating the financing was led by partner Will Nevin with the assistance of senior associate Elliot Beard and key associates Oliver Henderson and Ben Robinson.

Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited – part of the SMBC Group – on a bilateral investment facility, provided by SMBC Group to Almacantar, secured on the retail elements of Centre Point.

The provision of this facility by SMBC Group, a global provider of commercial banking services, to Almacantar, a property investment and development company, follows the successful development by Almacantar of the iconic tower.

Ashurst has advised Judo Capital in one of Australia’s largest pre-revenue capital raisings. The capital raise is from a consortium of domestic and international investors and is being conducted in two tranches.

The capital raise will fund Judo Capital's goal of becoming the first true “challenger bank” for Australia’s small and medium-sized business (SME) market. Judo provides flexible business loans, lines of credit, equipment loans, finance lease and home loans for our business lending customers.

Charles Russell Speechlys has advised the institutional and management shareholders of Small World Financial Services Group Limited, a leading multi-channel cross-border payment service provider, on the sale of Small World to European private equity firm, Equistone. 
 

Dentons has advised on a INR1,896 crore (approximately US$291.4 million) qualified institutional placement follow-on share offering by Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC). HDFC is the largest housing finance institution in India, with over US$60 billion of gross loans outstanding as of 31 December 2017 and a market capitalisation of over US$42 billion as of 31 December 2017.

Ashurst is advising Bank of America Merrill Lynch in relation to the £53 million recommended cash takeover of FreeAgent Holdings plc by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (RBS Group).

FreeAgent is a provider of cloud-based Software-as-a-Service accounting software solutions and mobile applications designed specifically for UK micro-businesses (defined as sole traders and companies with fewer than 10 employees) and their accountants. RBS Group and FreeAgent have an existing commercial partnership, which, following a successful pilot, has seen expanding customer numbers.