Clifford Chance has advised UBS, UniCredit and HSBC acting as joint lead managers in connection with the issue of a EUR 500 million bond of O2 Telefónica Deutschland Finanzierungs GmbH. The bonds are guaranteed by Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG.

The maturity of the bonds is 2021 and their coupon is 2.375 per cent.

The Clifford Chance team comprised partner Sebastian Maerker and senior associate Dr. Felix Biedermann (both Banking & Capital Markets, Frankfurt).

Dentons is pleased to announce that it has acted for the Management Team of Marlin Financial Group (Marlin) on its secondary buyout for £295 million which completed on 10 February 2014.

Marlin was backed by private equity house Duke Street which sold its stake to Cabot Credit Management (Cabot), which is backed by JCFlowers and Encore Group.

Nicholas Plant, partner and head of Dentons' private equity practice in the UK and Africa, said: "We are delighted to have acted for the management team on what was a very competitive auction and a fantastic deal for them."

Ashurst has advised Nomura as senior and mezzanine lender on the £237 million refinancing of Camden Market and Stables Market in north London. The facilities refinance debt provided by IBRC (formerly known as Anglo Irish Bank) and provide a bridge to a major redevelopment of part of the site.

London's High Court has delivered its judgment today on a multi-million dollar fraud against Otkritie, one of the largest financial services providers in Russia. Otkritie was defrauded by a group of former employees and their associates.  Today's judgment paves the way for the recovery of millions in already frozen assets and awards significant damages to Otkritie. Hogan Lovells has advised Otkritie throughout the dispute.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised a group of 25 lenders on a US$4 billion reserve-based lending (RBL) facility for Lundin Petroleum. The transaction was coordinated by HSBC as documentation bank and BNP Paribas as facility agent, and is sized on the basis of Lundin's assets in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway and France.

Burges Salmon has advised specialist financial services investment company NMG Holdings on its acquisition of Equity Direct Broking Limited (EDB). EDB trades as well-known affinity broker Equity Insurance Partnerships (EIP), providing personal lines insurance products for a number of UK’s top brands including Santander, first direct, Renault and Honda.

The full press release can be viewed on the NMG website.

Macfarlanes has advised leading acquirer and manager of consumer debt Cabot Credit Management (CCM) on its acquisition of Marlin Financial Group, a leading specialised debt buyer, for £295m.

The transaction brings together two complementary businesses, with Marlin's robust operation in collecting on non-performing debt and CCM's success with semi-performing debt.  Marlin will form part of the CCM group but continue to operate under the existing Marlin brand.

In relation to a secured refinancing transaction of HSH Nordbank, Allen & Overy LLP has advised Citigroup in its capacity as co-arranger with HSH Nordbank.

OCEAN FUNDING 2013 generates funding of up to 700 million US-Dollar for HSH Nordbank. The transaction is collateralised with a portfolio of approximately 30 shipping loans originated by HSH Nordbank. OCEAN FUNDING 2013 is the first transaction of its kind in the German market and could pave the way for similar asset-based financings relating to shipping loans and other asset classes.

DWF has advised Car Loan 4U, the UK’s leading online car finance specialist, on its £8 million investment from leading UK venture capital firm, Scottish Equity Partners (SEP). The investment will enable Car Loan 4U to accelerate its growth and build on its position as the UK market leader.

Slaughter and May advised Legal & General on the acquisition of 13 care homes from Prestbury Investments, for a total purchase price of just over £70 million. The portfolio consisted of 12 freehold properties and one long leasehold property and the homes are let to Methodist Homes ('MHA'), a leading care home provider.

Legal & General has lowered the current rents for 13 care homes by providing MHA with long term stable financing, with leases that have annual RPI-linked rent reviews, creating stability and certainty.

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