Slaughter and May advised Santander Consumer Finance Oy (SCF) as originator and Santander Global Banking & Markets (SGBM) as arranger in relation to the first ever publicly offered Finnish auto loan ABS transaction.

The transaction involved the issuance of EUR 439,000,000 fixed rate Class A notes (the "Class A Notes"), EUR 48,800,000 fixed rate Class B notes (the "Class B Notes") and EUR 25,555,000 fixed rate Class C notes (the "Class C Notes"), in each case due 2021.

Travers Smith Head of Corporate Spencer Summerfield, Tax Partner Simon Yates and Senior Corporate Associate Daniel Simons have advised The Bank of London and The Middle East, the largest Islamic bank in Europe, in connection with the implementation of a corporate reorganisation and its introduction and admission to trading on NASDAQ Dubai.

The Milan office of global law firm Eversheds has advised UniCredit S.p.A. and a syndicate of banks, including Release S.p.A., Banco Popolare S.C., Banca Popolare di Milano S.C.a R.L., Banca Popolare dell’Emilia Romagna Società Cooperativa, GE Capital Interbanca S.p.A. and Unipol Banca S.p.A., on the sale of the Setai Fifth Avenue Hotel and Residences in Manhattan, New York, to Pacific Fifth Avenue Corporation (Langham Group).

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised VTB Capital on a RUB 14 billion concession project related to the construction and operation of the toll-road bridges over the rivers Kama and Bui in the Republic of Udmurtia.  The project, which began in May 2013, will see VTB Capital provide a 15-year RUB 5 billion loan to the regional government for the construction.

Ashurst advises Berenberg on the financing of the acquisition and public takeover of Bien-Zenker AG by investment company ADCURAM. ADCURAM takes over the majority of Bien-Zenker by way of acquiring the shares held by ELK Fertighaus Aktiengesellschaft and in addition makes a public takeover offer for the shares in free float.

The Ashurst team was led by banking partner Dr Tom Beckerhoff, assisted by counsel Miriam Petri (Real Estate), associate Axel Walch and transaction manager Dominique Blaurock (both Banking, all Frankfurt).

Cravath represented the underwriters, led by J.P. Morgan Securities, BofA Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo Securities, in connection with the US$874 million initial public offering of class A common stock of Premier, Inc., a national healthcare alliance. The shares were listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The transaction closed on October 1, 2013.

Hong Kong, China, 7 October 2013 – Baker & McKenzie advised the joint sponsors - BOCI Asia Limited (“BOCI”) and J.P. Morgan Securities (Far East) Limited - and the joint global coordinators - BOCI and J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited, as Hong Kong and US law counsel, on the HK$2,016 million global offering of Nexteer Automotive Group Limited ("Nexteer"), a global leading automotive steering and driveline systems supplier. The shares commenced trading on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 7 October 2013.

The Firm represented the underwriters led by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated in connection with a registered offering by Ralph Lauren Corporation of an aggregate of $300 million principal amount of 2.125% senior notes due 2018.

Hong Kong, Dubai: Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (MEXIM), on the international law aspects regarding the establishment of its US$1 billion multicurrency sukuk programme. The programme was arranged by BNP Paribas, CIMB, HSBC and Maybank. The sukuk programme is based on the Islamic principle of wakala.

Simpson Thacher represented the underwriters, led by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., UBS Securities LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC in connection with the public offering by Fiduciary/Claymore MLP Opportunity Fund of 2,850,000 of its common shares of beneficial interest.