Shearman & Sterling advised Landesbank Baden-Württemberg on the financing of the acquisition of Erdo Group by Deutsche Private Equity GmbH (DPE). DPE purchased a majority stake of Erdo to facilitate further international expansion of the business.

Erdo is a leading provider of roofing, cladding and lightning protection installations, with a focus on the maintenance and renovation market. Erdo serves customers from various end markets in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgian Flanders.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised BNP Paribas, HSBC France, ING Bank N.V., French Branch and Natixis, as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners, as well as mandated lead arrangers, arrangers and lenders, on €600 million syndicated loan facilities for Elis.

The facilities include senior term and revolving facilities and will be used by Elis to improve its financial profile and partially refinance the existing bridge term facility agreement that was entered into relation to its acquisition of Berendsen.

Goltsblat BLP, the Russian practice of the international law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), has advised a syndicate of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and International Investment Bank (IIB) on a project finance transaction for the construction of two hydro-power plants with a total capacity of 49.8MW in the Republic of Karelia, northwest Russia.

The RUB 8.15bn facility will be repaid in 12 years. This is also a pilot project in Russia for the New Development Bank set up by the BRICS countries, as the creditors have used its resources for funding.

The Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure team projects team at Simmons & Simmons advise EKF Denmark's Export Credit (EKF).

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised the Global Climate Partnership Fund on a US$20 million corporate loan to Singapore-based Cleantech Solar Asia Pte. Ltd., a solar-as-a-service solution provider which finances, installs, operates and maintains rooftop solar power plants for businesses in the Asia Pacific region.

The loan will allow Cleanteach Solar to finance more pan-Asia rooftop solar power plants which will in turn help corporates in the region to attain their goal of being sustainable and responsible business leaders, and also hedge against volatile power prices.

Slaughter and May has advised Gocompare.com Group plc (“GoCompare”) in relation to an unsolicited approach from ZPG plc regarding a potential acquisition of GoCompare. The Slaughter and May team worked closely throughout with Nick Edwards, Chief of Staff, General Counsel and Company Secretary of GoCompare.

Contacts

John Papanichola (partner) and Adrian Amer (associate)

Ashurst advised Societe Generale on the financing of the acquisition of 2,600 residential and 110 commercial units by real estate investor Velero Partners. The portfolio with a total size of 173,000 square meters generates an annual net cold rent of €9.2 million. The objects are mainly located in the NRW region cities of Essen, Duisburg, Gelsenkirchen and Bochum. The parties have agreed not to disclose the identity of the seller, the financing volume and the purchase price.

Latest IPO Raises £45m For US Technology Firm Boku And Its Investors

Leading direct carrier billing company, Boku, has raised £45m on its London Stock Exchange IPO in a deal on which Irwin Mitchell advised the company’s broker, Peel Hunt.

This is the third IPO that Irwin Mitchell has acted on since the summer and follows Warehouse REIT’s £150m IPO and Destiny Pharma £65m IPO.

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised a syndicate of seven international banks led by HSH Nordbank AG (“HSH”), in its capacity as agent and security trustee, in relation to a senior secured term loan facility of US$460m made available to Capital Product Partners L.P. (“CPLP”). The facility was arranged by HSH and ING Bank N.V., London Branch (“ING”), each acting as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners. BNP Paribas (“BNP”) and National Bank of Greece S.A.  (“NBG”), also acted as arrangers.

Wey Education PLC (an AIM quoted company) has announced a firm placing to raise £5 million. Burges Salmon’s corporate team has advised WH Ireland (as nomad and broker) in connection with the placing.

Using state of the art digital technology, Wey Education operates two main divisions: (i) a non-selective fee paying secondary school specialising in online education; and (ii) a B2B operation serving other educational companies and schools.