Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised on the issuance of US$500m guaranteed notes due 2023 (‘the Notes’) by SF Holding Investment Limited, at an interest rate of 4.125 per cent per annum. The Notes are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by S.F. Holding Company Limited and were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 27 July 2018.
TLT has advised Blackfinch Investments on its acquisition of a 6.4MW 1ROC accredited wind project in Scotland. TLT also advised Santander who provided project finance to part-fund the deal.
Blackfinch has over 25 years in fund management with a strong background in renewable energy investment and is looking to expand its portfolio as the renewable energy market continues to evolve and deliver strong returns for investors.
Ashurst is advising Lazard & Co., Limited in relation to the £1.448 billion recommended cash offer for John Laing Infrastructure Fund Limited ("JLIF") by Jura Acquisition Limited (a newly formed company owned by a consortium jointly-led by funds managed by Dalmore Capital and funds managed by Equitix).
International law firm Ashurst advised European Investment Bank (EIB) on the €3.5 billion financing for Open Fiber, the broadband company owned by Enel and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP).
EIB is one of the key lenders of the transaction, participating to the financing with a €350 million ticket.
The credit facilities have a seven year tenor, with Unicredit, Société Générale and BNP Paribas acting as underwriters, global coordinators, global bookrunners, initial MLA and original lenders in syndication with CDP and other banks.
A team from Clifford Chance has advised CDB Aviation Lease Finance DAC (“CDB Aviation”) on a long-term lease of three Boeing 737-800 aircraft to a Russian carrier, Nordwind Airlines (“Nordwind”).
The first 737-800 was delivered to the airline on 27th July, the second aircraft was delivered on 1st August, and the third remaining aircraft is expected to deliver toward the end of August. The 737-800s are configured in a single economy class layout and will be operated on Nordwind’s domestic routes.
London—Dentons has advised Metro Bank on providing funding to real estate investment company Aprirose to facilitate the acquisition of Wear Inns Limited, a pub group specialising in the acquisition and management of pub premises in Yorkshire and the North East of England.
The deal follows on from Aprirose's acquisition of a portfolio of 73 pubs from Mitchells & Butlers in summer 2017. Dentons also advised Metro Bank on providing funding for that purchase.
London—Dentons has advised the joint bookrunners, Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited and BMO Capital Markets Limited, on the US$110 million fundraising and AIM listing of Jadestone Energy Inc., the independent oil and gas production company focused on the Asia Pacific region. The fundraising was upsized from the initially announced US$95 million, and Jadestone, which is listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange, expects to be admitted to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange on 8 August 2018.
Ashurst has advised National Australia Bank Limited ('NAB') in relation to the A$110 million facilities provided to Vitalharvest REIT in connection with its listing on the Australian Stock Exchange ('ASX').
VitalHarvest is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on agriculture. It owns one of Australia’s largest aggregations of citrus orchards and one of Australia’s largest aggregations of berry farms. The initial assets were independently valued at A$238.4 million.
Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised Cassa di Risparmio di Asti S.p.A. and its subsidiary Cassa di Risparmio di Biella e Vercelli – Biverbanca S.p.A., as originator and notes subscriber, on the disposal of a portfolio of non-performing loans (NPLs) comprising ipotecari mortgage loans and unsecured loans.
The loan portfolio was sold to Maggese S.r.l., a securitization vehicle created ex lege 130/99, for an aggregate gross total amount of approximately €697 million.
International law firm Ashurst advised NatWest Markets plc, Lloyds Bank plc and Ulster Bank Ireland DAC on €300 million underwritten term and revolving facilities for Applegreen plc, a major petrol forecourt retailer headquartered in Ireland, to be used to finance its proposed acquisition of a majority stake in Welcome Break and to refinance existing facilities.