Manufacturer of specialty agricultural equipment Ploeger Oxbo Group has attracted NPM Capital as a new major shareholder (40%) to support its long-term growth strategy. This strategy is aimed at bolstering innovation and product development to further strengthen Ploeger Oxbo’s leading position in its worldwide niche markets.

Clifford Chance acted as legal counsel in the arrangement and structuring of the debut sovereign Sukuk issuance within the framework set out by the reform of Act 33-06 in relation to securitisation in 2013.

Top 40 law firm Trowers & Hamlins were delighted to act for bLEND Funding Plc, the new capital markets aggregator set up by The Housing Finance Corporation (THFC), on the establishment of its £2bn medium term note (MTN) programme and subsequently on its inaugural £250m issue of notes and the on-lending of the proceeds to three housing associations.

Trowers provided legal advice to THFC on all aspects of the establishment of bLEND as a new vehicle within the THFC group.

Frankfurt/Main – London-based Thomas Cook Group has renewed and expanded its issuance platform for short-term bonds. The Group’s commercial paper programme now has a maximum value of EUR 500 million. Apart from Thomas Cook Group plc, now also Thomas Cook Airlines Treasury plc may issue bonds under the programme. The latter will be guaranteed by Thomas Cook Group plc. BayernLB (Bayerische Landesbank) is acting as arranger and dealer.

An international CMS team in Frankfurt and London headed by lead partner Oliver Dreher advised BayernLB on the transaction.

Jones Day represented Crédit Agricole Home Loan SFH, as issuer, in connection with its issuance of CHF150 million (US$152.4 million) Soft Bullet Covered Bonds. The French law governed Covered Bonds issued pursuant to the €35 billion Covered Bond Program of Crédit Agricole Home Loan SFH are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Contact: Christine Van Gallebaert, Natalia Sauszyn

Fried Frank acted as lead counsel to Bank of America Merrill Lynch International, Credit Suisse International, and Goldman Sachs Bank USA as lead arrangers in connection with a refinancing of a US$1.250 billion and €650 million facility for SIG Combibloc Group, a market-leading provider of aseptic carton packaging solutions for the food and beverage industry, which was taken public on the SIX Swiss Exchange by Onex Corporation in October 2018.

Davis Polk advised the underwriters in connection with an SEC-registered offering of $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.100% fixed-rate senior notes due 2023, $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.550% fixed-rate senior notes due 2028 and $500 million aggregate principal amount of floating-rate senior notes due 2023 of ING Groep N.V.

ING Groep N.V. is a global financial institution based in the Netherlands that offers banking services worldwide to more than 37 million customers in over 40 countries.