Watson, Farley & Williams (“WFW”), a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that it has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on its financing provided to JSC Circle Maritime Invest (????? ???????? ??????), (CMI).

CMI is a marine services company incorporated in Kazakhstan and the facility is secured over a Kazakhstan-flagged vessel operating in the Caspian Sea.

Drawdown under the facility took place on 27 December 2012.

WFW partner Richard Dibble and assistant Nigel Willis acted for EBRD.

Watson, Farley & Williams (“WFW”), a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that it has advised ING Bank N.V. (London Branch) on a US$160m post-delivery export-finance-backed loan facility for the Sovcomflot (SCF) Group, for the financing of two new multifunctional icebreaking supply vessels.

The London office of international legal practice Norton Rose has advised lenders the UK Green Investment Bank, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Siemens Bank on the financing of Dutch pension fund PGGM and Ampere Equity Fund’s interest in Walney offshore wind farms, off the coast of Cumbria.

The value of the term loan and working capital facility is approximately £225 million and represents the first time the UK Green Investment Bank has provided direct lending support to a project financing.

Watson, Farley & Williams (“WFW”), a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that it has acted for Nordea Bank Norge ASA on a US$300m reducing revolving credit facility to CMB NV, which signed in December 2012.

The proceeds will be used to refinance existing debt, to part-finance six Samjin newbuildings due for delivery in 2013/4, and for general corporate purposes. It is secured on various Belgian and Hong Kong registered ships.

The Singapore office of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP (“WFW”), a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that it advised Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd (“BGC”) in relation to the raising of US$183,644,000 to fund the acquisition of BGC’s 5th Newbuild LNG vessel to be chartered under a long term charter to Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd. WFW also advised BGC in relation to the shipbuilding contract, shipping services agreements, depot spares agreement and charter documents for the newbuild LNG vessel.

Osborne Clarke has advised long-standing client Funding Circle on its successful application for a £20m share of a £55m government initiative intended to stimulate small business lending in the UK.

The government's decision to invest directly in peer-to-peer lenders (though its business finance partnership scheme) is part of its flagship credit-easing policy.

Watson, Farley & Williams (“WFW”), a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that it has advised a consortium of eight banks on a US$700m seven-year term loan and revolving credit facility to Sovcomflot (“SCF”).

The eight leading international banks included Citibank, N.A., London Branch, Bank of America N.A., BNP Paribas S.A., DVB Bank SE, ING Bank N.V., London Branch, Nordea Bank Norge ASA and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB as mandated lead arrangers and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc. as arranger.

The deal is a sign of the resurgence of the Asia Pacific project finance market and overseas acquisitions by Japanese utilities and trading companies