DLA Piper has been advising a banking consortium managed by SEB AG and comprising SEB AG, Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale, Deutsche Hypothekenbank (Actien-Gesellschaft), ING Bank and Coreal Credit Bank AG on the refinancing of a retail property portfolio with 38 locations in Germany. The financing amounted to more than 275 million euros. Each of the participating banks is contributing to the financing with an equal share (20 per cent).

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised the Joint Lead Managers of National Australia Bank’s (NAB) offer of new convertible preference shares (NAB CPS). The offer is to raise A$1.4 billion with the ability to raise more or less.

NAB CPS are expected to be quoted on the ASX and offered at an issue price of $100 each. The offer is expected to open on 21 February 2013.

Hogan Lovells has advised long-standing client Hawksford International on the acquisition of Key Trust, a trust and corporate services provider. The deal completed on 8 February 2013 for an undisclosed sum.

Hawksford is a leading independent wealth structuring company specialising in preserving and enhancing wealth. It was established in October 2008 following a management buyout of Rathbone Trust Company Jersey Limited, backed by UK private equity company Dunedin, on which Hogan Lovells also advised.

The International law firm Clifford Chance advised the mandated lead arrangers and the lenders on all the aspects of Nareva Holding and International Power-GDF Suez' project to build the Tarfaya wind farm (in the South of Morocco) with a capacity of 300 MW, from the bid phase in 2009 until the financial close in December 2012. The Clifford Chance team was composed of Mustapha Mourahib, Partner, Benjamin de Blegiers, Counsel, and Ouns Lemseffer, Associate.

Le cabinet d'avocats Clifford Chance a conseillé Société Générale et HSBC dans la mise en place d'une opération de titrisation d'un portefeuille de prêts de différentes classes. Le financement d'un montant de USD 340,000,000 repose sur le transfert au fonds commun de titrisation Water Dragon du bénéfice de droits réels sur ledit portefeuille créés sous le régime de la directive collatérale.

Olswang has advised key client Nationwide on the outsource of its application development and maintenance in support of its internet bank and mobile bank, to technology partner IBM.  This is the first step in a major transformation programme which will see the Building Society implement an innovative multi-source technology strategy.

Kristian Laingchild, Managing Counsel of the Business Legal Team said:

International legal practice Norton Rose has advised a consortium of banks led by KfW IPEX-Bank, UniCredit and Bremer Landesbank on the financing of the offshore wind farm Butendiek in the North Sea. The consortium finances this large-scale project with loans in the total amount of approximately €937m; the overall investment volume is about €1.3bn. The remaining funds are raised by the group of investors consisting of Industriens Pension, Marguerite, PKA, Siemens Project Ventures and wpd.

Hogan Lovells has closed two transactions for Macquarie Capital Securities Limited ("Macquarie") for a combined value of over US$90 million in the past two weeks.

Allen & Overy has acted for the underwriting banks on the term loan facilities equivalent to around USD4.4 billion, a high yield bridge equivalent to around USD900 million, a senior secured note bridge equivalent to around USD2.3bn and other facilities for the financing of Liberty Global's USD23.3bn cash and stock bid for Virgin Media.

Clyde & Co has advised National Australia Bank and Barclays Bank on a US$111m bank loan facility to Enstar, a Bermuda-based insurance management provider. The loan financed in part Enstar's $252m acquisition of SeaBright, a workers' compensation insurance company incorporated in the United States.

The Clyde & Co London team was led by partner Chris Lenton and included Susannah Amini with support from partner Robert Ansehl and senior counsel Susan Lee of the firm's New York office.