Ashurst advised an international consortium of banks comprising Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft, IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG, ING Bank N.V. and Société Générale on the financing of the acquisition of the CHRIST jewellery stores by finance investor 3i. CHRIST, a unit of German retailer Douglas, was sold by Al Beauty SCA, a company indirectly controlled by the Kreke family and Advent International.

Simpson Thacher represented Toys “R” Us - Delaware, Inc. (“Toys-Delaware”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toys “R” Us, Inc.

Clifford Chance has advised SEB AG on a syndicated loan by SEB AG and IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG for the financing of the acquisition of MEDIAN Kliniken by Waterland Private Equity.

MEDIAN Kliniken is a German clinic operator with medical specialisms in neurological, cardiological, psychosomatic and orthopaedic rehabilitation. The group consists of 45 hospitals across Germany with more than 9,000 beds and around 7,500 employees.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is advising Ares Management Limited as lender in respect of a £135 million PIK loan to support a management buyout by a consortium led by chief executive Matthew Riley. HSBC Bank plc, ING Bank N.V. and Lloyds Bank plc provided £265 million of senior term and revolving facilities.

Daisy Group is an AIM-listed UK supplier of internet and telecommunications services including hosting, broadband internet connections and VOIP.

The consortium includes investment firms Toscafund and Penta Capital.

Simpson Thacher is representing Tesoro Logistics LP (“TLLP”) in connection with the committed financing for its announced acquisition of 100% of the outstanding equity interests of QEP Field Services, LLC (“QEPFS”), including up to $2.5 billion in senior unsecured bridge financing and a $900 million revolving credit facility.  The bridge financing will be reduced by the amount of gross proceeds TLLP receives from a public offering of its common units and a private placement of its debt securities.

Hogan Lovells advised EuropaCorp, the French mini-major co-founded by Luc Besson, on its US$600 million credit facilities.

EuropaCorp announced it has arranged for US$600 million in financing, in large part to support plans for a larger slate of English-language movies. The new lines of credit include a US$400 million senior line of credit with a US$150 million accordion to allow for future expansion and a US$50 million second lien credit facility.  At closing, the facilities triple EuropaCorp’s financing ability.

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP advised KKR on its agreement to arrange €241 million in direct lending for the Spanish pizza chain, TelePizza.

The new investment means KKR will own over 24% of TelePizza as part of the PIK-based deal, which will provide the company with cash for acquisitions and to refinance its existing senior, second lien and mezzanine debt. The terms of the investment are confidential, with completion scheduled to have occurred by the end of October 2014.

Advising Helaba in connection with the financing (€ 95m facility) of the acquisition of the office tower “Tour Blanche” (Paris La Défense) by LaSalle Investment Management and Quantum Global Real Estate.

CONTACTS

    * Anne-Laure Eymeri
    * Guillaume Rossignol
    * Jean-Guillaume Touzé

Watson, Farley & Williams has advised ING Bank N.V. (“ING”) as sole bookrunner and facility agent for a syndicate of banks on a US$340 million loan facility made available to Euronav NV (“Euronav”).

Davis Polk advised Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as lead arranger in connection with an amendment to Tempur Sealy International, Inc.’s existing $1.44 billion senior secured credit facilities under which Bank of America, N.A. acts as administrative agent.