Linklaters has advised the Belgian Belfius Bank NV/SA in relation to the establishment of a Programme for the issuance of German registered covered bonds (Namensschuldverschreibungen or “N-bonds”) under Belfius' €10,000,000,000 Mortgage Pandbrieven Programme. Investors in the N-bonds benefit from a dual recourse: on the one hand, they have recourse against a pool of cover assets segregated for the benefit of the investors under the Programme; on the other hand, they have recourse against the general estate of the Issuer.

Global legal practice Norton Rose Fulbright has advised J.P. Morgan and Bank of America Merill Lynch as global coordinators on EUR 900 million high-yield bond offering of P4 Sp. z o.o. (Polish Mobile Network Operator MNO operating under the ”PLAY” brand). The funds raised were used for refinancing PLAY's existing funding arrangements and distribution to PLAY’s shareholders.

Pinsent Masons has advised European Investment Bank (EIB) on a £350 million debt facility for housing association Sanctuary Group. The agreement will help finance Sanctuary’s development programme involving the construction and renovation of over 20,000 homes across the UK.

Formed in 1969, Sanctuary Group manages more than 96,000 homes across England and Scotland, providing general rented, sheltered and home ownership accommodation.

King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin has advised Salamanca Group, the Merchant Banking and Operational Risk Management business, on its acquisition of Investec Trust Group (Investec Trust), from Investec Bank plc. (Investec).

The complex multi-jurisdictional acquisition, which required King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin to work with legal advisers in the British Virgin Islands, Mauritius, Jersey, Switzerland and South Africa to obtain the necessary consents, was granted regulatory approval on Friday 31st January.

Shoosmiths advised Singapore-based Freight Investor Services Pte Ltd (FIH) on the strategic sale, for an undisclosed double digit million USD consideration, of a majority shareholding in Cleartrade Exchange Pte Ltd (CLTX) to European Energy Exchange AG (EEX), the leading energy exchange in Europe which is part of the Deutsche Börse Group.

Partner Ben Turner and associate Gareth Davies led Shoosmiths' transaction team.

Turner said: "We were delighted to advise FIH on the achievement of its strategic ambitions for CLTX.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised the joint lead managers of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited’s (ANZ) offer of new Tier 1 hybrid securities known as ANZ Capital Notes 2 (Notes) and concurrent reinvestment offer and buyback of ANZ’s CPS1 securities (Offer). The Offer will seek to raise A$1 billion, with the ability to raise more or less.

The Notes are perpetual, fully paid, mandatorily convertible and subordinated, offered at an issue price of A$100 and are expected to be quoted on the ASX.

Watson, Farley & Williams has advised HSH Nordbank AG (“HSH”) on its innovative venture to transfer 10 distressed vessels out of HSH’s non-core portfolio to the Navios Group (“Navios”).

The fleet comprises five medium or large range product tankers and five panamax or sub-panamax container vessels, with an average age of six years and a market value in the region of US$218m.

Macfarlanes has advised the British Bankers Association on its sale of BBA LIBOR to ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a NYSE company.

The sale agreement was signed in July 2013 and a process of transition has been undertaken since that time.  Completion was achieved on 31 January.

Hong Kong: Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised the joint lead managers and bookrunners on the issue of US$500 million 4.25 per cent credit-enhanced bonds due 2019 by China Shipping Overseas Finance 2013 Limited, an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of China Shipping (Group) Company.

Clifford Chance has advised the joint lead managers and bookrunners on the issue of US$500 million subordinated perpetual capital securities callable 2019 by Moon Wise Global Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greentown China Holdings Limited, a leading property developer in China. The joint lead managers and joint bookrunners were BNP Paribas, Hong Kong Branch, Deutsche Bank AG, Singapore Branch, Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Macquarie Capital Securities Limited, Standard Chartered Bank and UBS AG, Hong Kong Branch.