Herbert Smith Freehills has advised new client Element Financial Corporation on the purchase of GE Capital Corporation’s fleet management operations in the US, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand for an all-cash purchase price of US$6.9 billion. Element, one of North America’s leading fleet management and equipment finance companies, is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2015.

White & Case LLP has advised the syndicate of banks led by Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Société Générale on the initial public offering of Europcar on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, initiated by its principal shareholder, Eurazeo.

Hill Dickinson’s corporate team has acted on behalf of RBS in their funding of the buy-out of Bredbury Hall, a hotel and entertainment venue in Stockport.

The iconic 147 bedroom complex, which includes a restaurant, nightclub and conference centre, has been sold after 15 months in administration to Bangladeshi businessman, Golam Sarwar.

Sarwar is now planning a £1m refurbishment and has appointed hotel management specialists, Onecall Hospitality, on a three year rolling contract to operate the complex.  

Enterprise Ventures, which specialises in providing finance for small businesses, has launched a new private capital loan fund with £40m backing from Santander UK plc and Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

Enterprise Ventures SME Loans will provide up to £1m to help small firms fuel growth. The loans will be available to established and ambitious SMEs in all sectors and in all areas of the UK, building on Enterprise Ventures’ strongholds in the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised HSBC on the HK$1.3 billion issuance of new shares by South East Group Limited. South East Group Limited is an investment holding company that invests in and develops properties in the People’s Republic of China, and is listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

HSBC acted as financial adviser to China Minsheng Jiaye Investment Co., Ltd. (Offeror), the real estate arm of China Minsheng Investment Corp., Ltd. on the proposed issuance

Clifford Chance has advised ABN AMRO Bank N.V. ("ABN AMRO") on raising EUR 500 million by issuing its inaugural 'Euro Green Bond'. It is for the first time that a Dutch commercial bank issues this type of bond. This product enables investors to (indirectly) invest in mortgages of highly energy-efficient homes, loans for solar panels on existing homes and sustainable commercial property.

Baker & McKenzie advised Acorns Grow Australia Limited (AGA) on the establishment of its micro-investing product platform in Australia. AGA is the product of a joint venture between Acorns, Inc. and Instreet Investment Limited. The aim of the joint venture is to develop and launch the Acorns product in Australia.

Clifford Chance advised KfW IPEX-Bank on the financing of a state-of-the-art silicon metal production plant in Húsavík in the north of Iceland.

The credit amounts to a total volume of approximately US-$194 million (approximately EUR170 million) and has a 15 year-term. The financing structure includes a Hermes cover and untied loan guarantees under Germany’s UFK programme.

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised a consortium of international banks on the € 1.275 billion financing of the “Veja Mate” offshore wind farm located in the German North Sea. The consortium consisted of the mandated lead arrangers Banco Santander, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, KFW IPEX-Bank, Natixis and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. KfW and the Dutch export credit agency EKF also participated in the financing.

Stephenson Harwood has advised Numis Securities, a leading institutional stockbroker and corporate advisor, in its role as broker and adviser to model trains maker Hornby plc on Hornby's plans to delist the business from the main market and move to AIM. As well as model trains, Hornby owns the Scaletrix, Corgi and Airfix brands.