International law firm McDermott Will & Emery represented Blue Gem Capital Partners LLP,  a London-based private equity fund, in connection with the acquisition of 70% of the share capital of Dr. Vranjes Firenze S.r.l., a leading Italian manufacturer and distributor of diffusers, home fragrances and other interior fragrance products.

Dr. Vranjes is a global luxury brand in the market of interior fragrances. Its products are distributed in over 70 countries and sold in 14 international mono-brand stores and in the most prestigious department stores.

With a team led by Frankfurt-based partner Thomas K. Schrell, the business law firm of Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek advised a bank consortium led by Kreissparkasse Biberach as arranger on a consortium loan for Peach Property Group of up to EUR 60 million. The group is an investor specializing in portfolio management in Germany, focusing on residential properties. The growth financing serves to supplement the usual mortgage loans in the acquisition of real estate portfolios.
 

On July 6, 2017, Zur Rose Group AG, the leading "pure play" e-commerce pharmacy in Europe, completed its initial public offering (IPO) and listing on SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: ROSE / ISIN: CH0042615283) with a total placement volume of CHF 252 million. The base offering consisted of up to 1,806,052 registered shares with a greenshoe option of up to 270,908 registered shares. The trading of the shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange commenced on July 6, 2017. The IPO closed on July 10, 2017 and the option closing occurred on July 17, 2017. The banking syndicate comprised UBS AG and Joh.

Addleshaw Goddard advised joint bookrunners Barclays, HSBC and RBC Capital Markets on the largest bond issuance by a housing association to date.

The deal, which completed on 20th July, saw one of London's biggest housing association, London & Quadrant Housing Trust, access the strong demand from investors with a £500 million issuance, split between a 12 and 40 year dual tranche structure of £250 million each. Prudential, also advised by Addleshaw Goddard, acted as bond trustee and security trustee.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (‘Freshfields’) has acted for Mastercard on its successful defence of the largest claim ever brought before the UK courts - a proposed consumer class action claim relating to interchange fees, being brought on behalf of around 46 million consumers, for a period ranging over 16 years and for damages claimed in excess of £14 billion.

Mayer Brown advised a syndicate of banks on the underwriting and placement of EUR 3.5 billion Notes by Volkswagen Leasing GmbH issued under the EUR 25 billion debt issuance programme of Volkswagen Financial Services Aktiengesellschaft and further issuers.

The issue is divided into three separate notes, each guaranteed by Volkswagen Financial Services Aktiengesellschaft. Two notes have a floating rate of interest and are due 6 July 2019 and 6 July 2021, respectively, while the third series has a rate of interest set at 1.375 percent and is due 20 January 2025.

Noerr has provided legal assistance on setting up the hardship fund formed to compensate the victims of the G20 riots in Hamburg. A team led by Hamburg partner Volker Land advised Hamburgische Investitions- und Förderbank (IFB Hamburg), the investment and development bank managing the fund.

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Zenith Bank Plc (Zenith Bank) and Quantum Fund Management (Quantum), the family office of Jim Ovia, the founder and majority shareholder of Zenith Bank, on the sale of a majority interest in Zenith Life Insurance. The deal also sees Prudential agreeing exclusive bancassurance partnerships with Zenith Bank in Nigeria and Ghana.

Credit Suisse AG acted as joint-lead manager together with UBS AG. The bonds will be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Homburger acted as counsel to Credit Suisse AG. The Homburger team consisted of partners René Bösch (Financial Services), Stefan Oesterhelt (Tax), counsel Eduard De Zordi and paralegal Bettina Oertle (both Financial Services).

Deutsche Bank AG London Branch, acting through Deutsche Bank AG Zurich Branch acted as joint-lead manager together with Gazprombank, J.P. Morgan and VTB Capital. The bonds will be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Homburger acted as counsel to Deutsch Bank AG Zurich Branch. The Homburger team consisted of partners René Bösch (Financial Services), Stefan Oesterhelt (Tax), counsel Eduard De Zordi and paralegal Bettina Oertle (both Financial Services).