Gide has advised Bank of Communications, China’s fifth-largest commercial bank and the largest based in Shanghai, on the establishment of a branch in France of its Luxembourg subsidiary.

Located in Paris, the new branch will offer more support to the growing number of Chinese investments in Europe. Bank of Communications currently operates in four other European countries.

Gide’s advice covered all aspects of the project, including banking regulatory, corporate, tax, real estate and labour matters.

Olswang has advised Kaupthing ehf on the sale of its 50 per cent interest in the Fitzroy Place development to Ashby Capital LLP. The sale valued Kaupthing's stake at £217.1m, with Aviva Investors retaining its 50 per cent share of the joint venture which owns Fitzroy Place.

Fitzroy Place comprises approximately 250,000 sq ft of office and retail space as well as a health centre and 290 apartments. Olswang had originally advised Kaupthing on the establishment of the joint venture with Aviva Investors in 2010 and the subsequent development of the scheme.

Clyde & Co has advised CM International Financial Leasing Co. Ltd. (CMIG Leasing), one of the largest new leasing companies in China, on its recent acquisition of two companies from another Chinese-based leasing company and subsequent lease and bank financing of two new build container ships (vessels).

The container ships were built by Shanghai Jiangnan-Changxing Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. and have been bareboat chartered to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC).

NautaDutilh assisted Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten (BNG) in the issuance of its first USD Sustainability Bond. BNG’s Sustainability Bonds are innovative in that the proceeds will be used to support the best-in-class sustainable municipalities in the Netherlands.

Selection of the most sustainable municipalities is based on a methodology developed in partnership with the Tilburg Sustainability Center of Tilburg University. This methodology ranks the municipalities according to their sustainability performance.

We advised Cramo Plc and Nordea Bank Danmark A/S in the voluntary tender offer of Cramo’s EUR 100 million bond issued in 2012. The tender offer was successfully completed with an uptake of approximately EUR 83.7 million. We simultaneously acted as sole legal counsel to both Cramo as the issuer and Nordea Bank Finland Plc and OP Corporate Bank plc in their capacity as Joint Lead Managers in a new EUR 150 million bond issue. The transactions enable Cramo to reduce its financing costs and simultaneously extend its average debt maturity profile.

Global law firm Clyde & Co has advised CM International Financial Leasing Co. Ltd. (CMIG Leasing), one of the largest new leasing companies in China, on its recent acquisition of two companies from another Chinese-based leasing company and subsequent lease and bank financing of two new build container ships (vessels).

The container ships were built by Shanghai Jiangnan-Changxing Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. and have been bareboat chartered to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC).

Shearman & Sterling advised BOCI Asia Limited, Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited, CMB International Capital Limited, Haitong International Securities Company Limited and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited as underwriters on the US$208 million global offering and initial public offering of VPower Group International Holdings Limited (VPower) on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

White & Case LLP has advised BNP Paribas and J.P. Morgan, as mandated lead arrangers, bookrunners and underwriters, on the US$13.1 billion bridge loan facility that was established to finance the acquisition of the WhiteWave Foods Company (WhiteWave) by Danone.

Osborne Clarke has advised figo GmbH on its investment by Deutsche Börse AG. DB1 Ventures, the Corporate Venture Capital arm of Deutsche Börse Group, has participated in a Series B financing round for the Hamburg-based FinTech company and is investing a seven-digit amount for a significant minority stake. Further investors are reputable business angels from Germany.

Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Cenkos Securities plc and Zeus Capital in connection with the launch of Civitas Social Housing PLC, the first Real Estate Investment Trust targeted at the social housing market.

Civitas Social Housing PLC will be listed on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and trade on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. Cenkos Securities plc is the sole sponsor and financial adviser, and Cenkos Securities and Zeus Capital are the joint placing agents.