DUBAI, 1 May 2013 - Hogan Lovells has advised Mashreqbank and a syndicate of Islamic and conventional banks, on an AED2bn (US$545m) Islamic and conventional facility made available to GEMS Education, one of the UAE's leading education providers.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Mashreqbank and Noor Islamic Bank have acted as arrangers and book runners for the financing, with United Arab Bank as a participant bank.

Simmons & Simmons is advising J.P. Morgan Limited and Numis Securities Limited on the recommended offer for May Gurney Integrated Services PLC by Kier Group plc

Simmons & Simmons is advising J.P. Morgan Limited and Numis Securities Limited on the recommended offer for May Gurney Integrated Services PLC (“May Gurney”) by Kier Group plc (“Kier”). The offer is to be implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement, pursuant to which Kier will acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of May Gurney.

Slaughter and May is advising Standard Chartered PLC (the 'Company') on the implementation of a partial two-way fungibility programme enabling the redemption of Indian Depository Receipts ('IDRs') issued by the Company into ordinary shares of the Company ('Shares') and the conversion of Shares into IDRs.

The Shares to be released on redemption of IDRs will be registered on the UK share register and traded on the London Stock Exchange.
 
Contacts

Corporate: Nilufer von Bismarck (partner), Richard Marron (associate)

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Goldman Sachs International (Lead Manager) in relation to Drillsearch Energy Limited’s (Drillsearch) five-year Convertible Bond offer, announced today. The offering is to raise a minimum of US$100 million, with a US$25 million upsize option.

The funds raised from the offer will be used to refinance Drillsearch’s short term A$100 million Commonwealth Bank of Australia bridge facility and, for amounts raised over A$100 million, to support ongoing work programs.

Wragge & Co's energy and infrastructure finance experts have advised a syndicate of banks on a reserve-based lending facility worth up to $500 million for exploration and production company, Petroceltic International.

Partner Kieron Dwyer said: "This was a fantastic transaction to be involved in. It demonstrates our ability to advise leading lenders in the upstream oil and gas industry on significant exploration and production transactions, especially in emerging markets."

International law firm Pinsent Masons has advised Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Santander UK, HSBC Bank plc and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc on certain banking facilities forming part of £535 million worth of financing arrangements for Costain Group PLC in connection with its proposed all-share merger with May Gurney Integrated Services PLC.

The merger, which was announced to the markets on 27 March, will – if completed – create one of the leading integrated services providers in the UK.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised the lead manager, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, on the issue of S$50 million 4.3% notes (the "Notes") by Tata International Singapore Pte Ltd. The Notes, which are due by 2018 and guaranteed by Tata International Limited ("TIL"), were listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ("SGX-ST").

The Dubai office of Clifford Chance LLP has advised Sharjah Islamic Bank PJSC (SIB) in relation to its US$1.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme, which was established on 8 April 2013. The inaugural issuance of US$500 million 2.95% trust certificates due 2018 under the programme took place on 16 April 2013 and represents the first senior sukuk from a financial institution from the region this year.  The orderbook was over six times subscribed at close of the transaction with a strong orderbook comprising of institutional investors from the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Clifford Chance Paris advised BNP Paribas and the other lead managers on the issue by Banque PSA Finance of 1.2 billion euros of bonds benefiting from the guarantee of the French State.

Banque PSA Finance provides financing for the commercial activities of the PSA automobile group. The bond are listed on Euronext Paris, have an interest rate of 0.625% per annum and a maturity of three years.  The French State guarantee meant that the bond issue was able to obtain a rating of AA+ from Standard & Poor's and Aa1 form Moody's.

Simmons & Simmons Advises Greenhill & Co. International on CPPGroup Plc’s Disposal of its North American Business

Simmons & Simmons is advising Greenhill & Co. International LLP, a leading independent global investment banking firm focused on mergers and acquisitions, financial restructuring and merchant banking, as sponsor to CPPGroup Plc (“CPP”) on the disposal of CPP’s North American business for a total cash consideration of US$40 million (approximately £26.1 million). The disposal was announced on 17 April 2013.