Fieldfisher has acted for the company AKKA Technologies on its first Schuldschein bond private placement for 140 million euros. AKKA Technologies placed a Schuldschein-type bond (private placement subject to German law). Strong demand from German and Asian investors prompted the Group to almost double the initial amount of the placement to €140 million, with two tranches maturing in 5 and 7 years and a mix of fixed and variable interest rates.

Baker & McKenzie advised Mercedes-Benz Bank AG as lead counsel in its fifth public ABS.  Notes with an aggregate principal amount of EUR1 billion secured by auto loan receivables were issued as 'Compartment 5' on 22 October 2014. Originator of the receivables is Mercedes-Benz Bank AG. Issuer is Silver Arrow SA, Compartment 5. The Compartment 5 bonds' interest rates are very low with a spread of 27 basis points above the reference rate. Commerzbank AG, Lloyd's Bank, BNP Paribas, DZ BANK and Unicredit Bank AG were commissioned with the placement of the Compartment 5 bonds.

A regulated and recognised listing agent with the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE), Arthur Cox Listing Services (ACLS) has built a worldwide reputation and client base. The leading listing agent for the ISE, by volume,  ACLS has acted on many innovative and ‘firsts’ transactions seeking a listing in Ireland.

Davis Polk advised Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as representatives of the several underwriters in connection with an SEC-registered offering by Textron Inc. of $350 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.875% notes due 2025. 

Davis Polk advised J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as underwriter in connection with a public offering by International Business Machines Corporation of $1.1 billion principal amount of its floating-rate notes due 2021.  

The Davis Polk team included partner John B. Meade and associates Roshni S. Banker and Courtney Collins. Partner Michael Mollerus and associate Ethan R. Goldman provided tax advice. All members of the Davis Polk team are based in the New York office.

Davis Polk advised J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC as joint book-running managers and the initial purchasers on a Rule 144A and Regulation S offering by K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. of $250 million aggregate principal amount of 8.00% senior notes due 2019. The notes are guaranteed by Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and substantially all of its subsidiaries. Davis Polk also advised J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC as solicitation agents in connection with K.

Davis Polk advised Lloyds Banking Group plc, a public limited company incorporated in Scotland, on its SEC-registered offering of $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.5% subordinated Tier 2 notes due 2024. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Lloyds Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Nomura Securities International, Inc. acted as joint bookrunning managers.   

Taylor Wessing has advised Grand City Properties S.A. on its successful placing of EUR 500 million fixed-rate secured bonds with a coupon of 2 per cent, which was over-subscribed. Grand City Properties S.A. is a specialist real estate company focused on investing in and managing turnaround opportunities in the German real estate property market. It is using the proceeds of the bond issue to refinance its series B bonds (as described below) and for other corporate purposes.

Deacons has advised the sole sponsor Haitong International Capital Limited and the underwriters in relation to the global offering and Main Board listing of Austar Lifesciences Limited in Hong Kong.  Austar Lifesciences issued its prospectus on 28 October 2014. It is seeking to raise up to HK$390 million (subject to the exercise of over-allotment option) from the offering.

Eversheds has advised New World China Land Limited (NWCL) on the establishment of its US$1.5 billion Medium Term Note Programme and its first issuance under the Programme.

Eversheds' appointment demonstrates its growing reputation for debt capital markets issuance in Asia.