Allen & Overy advised the Russian state-owned banks, Sberbank of Russia and VTB Capital plc (the investment banking division of JSC VTB Bank), as arrangers and lenders under a USD1.7bn public-to-private acquisition financing facility and related refinancing facilities totalling USD1.75bn on the forthcoming public offer for the ordinary shares of Eurasian Natural Resources Company plc (LSE: ENRC) by Eurasian Resources Group B.V., which was announced to the London Stock Exchange on 24 June 2013.

Slaughter and May, Hong Kong, advised MTR Corporation Limited and MTR Corporation (C.I.) Limited, as the issuers, on the increase in the aggregate nominal amount of notes which may be outstanding at any one time under their debt issuance programme from US$3 billion to US$4 billion. Notes issued under the programme may be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Allen & Overy has advised Oswestry, a bid company established by Malcolm Walker, the founder and executive chairman of the business, on its acquisition of Iceland Foods Group Limited for GBP1.45 billion.

The bidder has been formed by the Iceland Foods management team, led by Malcolm Walker, with Tarsem Dhaliwal, Nigel Broadhurst and Nick Canning, who will together own 43% of the business.

Allen & Overy LLP is advising Co operative Group Limited (the Group) and The Co operative Bank plc (the Bank) on the comprehensive plan announced yesterday to generate capital for the bank and provide stability.

The Group has agreed to support the capital requirements which will involve:

  *  An Exchange Offer to investors in the Bank’s subordinated capital securities. At least GBP1bn of Common Equity Tier 1 capital will be generated in        2013 from the Exchange Offer.

Global legal practice Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Rickmers Holding GmbH & Cie. KG, parent of Rickmers Group, on the issue of its corporate bond in an amount of €175m.

The bond has a term of five years and an annual interest rate of 8.875 per cent. It has been traded in the open market, Entry Standard, of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since June 11, 2013, with participation in the Prime Standard for corporate bonds.

Slaughter and May, working with Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, advised INEOS Finance plc and INEOS US Finance LLC on the repricing of its existing term facilities and the raising of an additional EUR350 million and US$640 million of term loans. The proceeds of the new term loans were used to, amongst other things, redeem INEOS Finance plc’s senior secured notes due 2015.

Hogan Lovells has advised the mandated lead arrangers on the acquisition of The Gym, which closed on 13 June, further demonstrating its expertise in the area of unitranche lending.

The Hogan Lovells banking team advised Proventus Capital Partners as Unitranche provider and HSBC as super senior RCF provider in relation to Phoenix Equity Partner's acquisition of a majority stake in The Gym group.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Huaneng Hong Kong Capital Limited on its US$400 million dollar sale of five-year 3.375% bonds.

The bonds were guaranteed by China Hua Neng Group Hong Kong Limited, with the China Huaneng Group providing a keepwell deed and equity interest purchase undertaking. The bonds were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 13 June 2013. This is the first US dollar bond the group has launched since 1997.

Slaughter and May advised Workspace Group plc ('Workspace'), London's leading provider of office space to new and growing companies, on the agreement of a debt refinancing package.

Simmons & Simmons has acted on a significant student accommodation deal which will see the University of Hertfordshire add 3,000 high-specification units to its College Lane campus in Hatfield.

The scheme, valued at £190m, will allow for the construction of 2,500 new on-campus student accommodation units, in addition to refurbishing 500 existing units. The accommodation will be developed, maintained and operated as part of a 50-year agreement which was uniquely financed using a £145m index-linked senior secured unwrapped bond.