International law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP represented Barclays Bank PLC as administrative agent and Barclays and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as lead arrangers in connection with an approximately $657 million senior secured credit facility for Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE: OEH) and its subsidiaries (the "Belmond Group"). The transaction closed and funded on March 21, 2014.

Watson, Farley & Williams is pleased to announce it advised Nordea Bank Norge ASA (“Nordea”) in relation to a US$500 million syndicated loan facility made available to Euronav NV. Euronav plans to use the senior secured credit facility to finance part of the cost of acquiring 15 very large crude carrier (VLCC) vessels from Maersk.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised China Development Bank Corporation (CDB) on a new strategic cooperation agreement with Barclays. This follows a previous cooperation memorandum that was signed in 2007.

The new agreement extends the banks’ cooperation to cover the international loan market and to Africa in particular, as well as covering investment banking and retail banking. The agreement is global and spans a range of services.

Wang Yi, corporate partner in the Beijing office of Norton Rose Fulbright, commented:

After five years of controversy and legal debates the Commercial Court of Paris confirmed on 7 April the end of the safeguard procedure of HoLD, which is the owner of Coeur Defense property development.

Clifford Chance advised Bank of America Merrill Lynch on the EUR935 million refinancing structure of Coeur Defense, for Lone Star, thereby permitting the end of the safeguard procedure of Coeur Defense.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised SHUAA Capital and Emirates NBD on the IPO and admission to trading on NASDAQ Dubai Limited of Emirates REIT (CEIC) Limited, the UAE-based real estate investment trust.

This is both the first Nasdaq Dubai IPO since 2009 and the first Shari'a compliant, regulated real estate investment trust to be incorporated in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).  The intention to list was announced on 11 March 2014 and admission took place on 8 April 2014.

Linklaters advises Société Générale, CEPAC, BPI and Natixis on the project financing of a portfolio of three photovoltaic power plants located in France and developed under the September 2011 public call for tenders

Linklaters has advised Charity Bank on Big Society Capital’s investment of up to £14.5m by way of subscription for ordinary shares in a landmark deal announced today.

Clifford Chance advised an international banking syndicate on the extension of the term of its existing syndicated credit facility ahead of schedule and at more favourable terms for Brenntag AG. The volume of the credit facility amounts to EUR 855 million, USD 910 million, CHF 85 million and CAD 80 million. The term of the loan agreement was extended to another five years.

Clifford Chance has advised Harbin Bank on its HK$8.8 billion (approx. US$1.13 billion) global offering and listing on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. The Company sold a total of 3,023,570,000 shares at HK$2.90 each. Harbin Bank started trading in Hong Kong on Monday, 31 March 2014.

White & Case LLP has advised a group of banks including SEB AG and DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale as arrangers on the financing for the acquisition of energy supplier Ferngas Nordbayern GmbH and its high-pressure natural gas grids.

The former E.ON subsidiary has been acquired by the European Diversified Infrastructure Fund of First State Investments, the global asset management business of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.