Charles Russell Speechlys has recently acted as legal adviser to R.J. O’Brien Europe Limited (“RJO Europe”) on its acquisition of The Kyte Group Limited (“Kyte”) from GFI Group (“GFI”) for an undisclosed sum.

RJO Europe is an affiliate of Chicago-based R.J. O’Brien & Associates (“RJO”), the oldest and largest independent futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States. Established in 2011, its regulated R.J. O’Brien (UK) Limited operation serves Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Slaughter and May advised Arrow Global Group PLC (Arrow Global), a leading European purchaser and manager of debt portfolios, on the formalisation of a strategic origination and servicing partnership with CarVal Investors (CarVal). The formalisation of this partnership includes a five year agreement between Arrow Global and CarVal to jointly original Portuguese investments and the establishment of a formal five year servicing commitment with CarVal.

Davis Polk is advising a GO Scale Capital-led consortium on its acquisition of an 80.1% interest in Philips’ combined LED components and Automotive lighting business. The transaction values the business at an enterprise value of approximately $3.3 billion. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2015, subject to closing conditions, including customary regulatory approvals.

King & Wood Mallesons has acted on Affinity Education Group Limited’s pro-rata accelerated renounceable entitlement offer (AREO) of new ordinary shares to existing shareholders, advising the joint lead managers CBA Equities Limited and Canaccord Genuity (Australia) Limited.

The offer consists of an accelerated institutional entitlement offer and a retail entitlement offer to raise approximately $75 million.

Shearman & Sterling advised Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank (CACIB) as arranger, agent and lender on the financing arrangements for the acquisition of JM Bruneau by Weinberg Capital Partners from Argosyn, a jointly controlled entity of German retail group Otto and the Mulliez’ family.

The financing arranged by CACIB includes acquisition loans available to the acquiring entity and a revolving credit facility available to this entity, JM Bruneau and the group's subsidiaries.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Norddeutsche Landesbank (Nord LB), on debt funding provided to Renewable Energy Systems Limited (RES) for the refinancing of the construction and development of Jacks Lane and Woolley Hill Wind Farms in the UK.

Jack Lane Wind Farm is a 15MW, 6 turbine wind farm, located near King’s Lynn, Norfolk in England and Woolley Hill Wind Farm is a 10MW 4 turbine wind farm located in Ellington, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire in England. The wind farms will generate electricity equivalent to the needs of around 18,000 homes.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Challenger Life Company Limited on its $133 million acquisition and lease back arrangement of The NEXT Hotel at 76 Queen Street, Brisbane.

The recently renovated The NEXT Hotel, strategically located on Queen Street Mall Brisbane, is a mixed used development comprising a 1,827 sqm retail podium and a 304 room 4.5 star hotel operated by the Silverneedle Hospitality Group.

Simmons & Simmons is advising J.P. Morgan Cazenove and Numis as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Corporate Brokers in connection with the placing by Cambian Group plc (“Cambian” or the “Company”) of new ordinary shares in the Company (the “Placing Shares”) with institutional investors to raise approximately £26m announced on 27 March 2015 (the “Placing”).

We advised Investec in its role as Sponsor and Joint Bookrunner, Credit Suisse in its role as Global Co-ordinator and Joint Bookrunner, and Barclays and TD Securities in their role as Joint Bookrunners in connection with the firm placing and placing and open offer of 215,000,000 new ordinary shares in Irish Residential Properties REIT plc raising approximately €215m million. The new shares were admitted to the main market of the Irish Stock Exchange on 26 March 2015.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Goldman Sachs and Wilson HTM as joint lead managers in relation to Touchcorp Limited’s (Touchcorp) initial public offering and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). The offer consisted of an institutional offer, broker firm offer and chairman’s list offer (Offer) and values Touchcorp at A$162.3 million at the offer price of A$1.40 per share.

Touchcorp listed on the ASX on 2 April 2015.