MinterEllison has advised McGrathNicol in its capacity as deed administrators of Baralaba Coal Company Limited (formerly Cockatoo Coal Limited) (Baralaba) in relation to its sale and recapitalisation.

Baralaba implemented a Deed of Company Arrangement proposed by Liberty Metals and Mining Holdings, LLC (LMM) whereby LMM acquired the shares in Baralaba subsidiary Cockatiel Coal Pty Ltd (now known as Baralaba Coal Company Pty Ltd) and certain other nominated subsidiaries.

MinterEllison is very pleased to have advised Steinhoff Asia Pacific Group Holdings Pty Ltd (Steinhoff Asia Pacific) as it secured its funding requirements for the next 12 months with a $300m refinance provided by its existing syndicate of six local and international banks.

Kirkland & Ellis advised Basalt Infrastructure Partners, an independent infrastructure equity investment firm with over US$2 billion under management, which recently closed its second fund, Basalt Infrastructure Partners II. The fund exceeded the initial fundraising target of US$1 billion, closing with final commitments of US$1.285 billion from over 30 global pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, fund of funds and other institutional investors.

The Board of Directors of Investment AB Latour (publ) has established a programme for issuance of bonds, so called Medium Term Note programme, with an aggregate nominal amount of SEK 4 billion or the equivalent thereof in EUR. In addition, Latour has prepared a base prospectus, which has been approved and registered by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen).

The Swiss utility ewz, the public utility company of the City of Zurich, is further expanding its renewable energy portfolio by acquiring the two onshore wind farm projects "Autremencourt" and "Vihiersois" from Hamburg-based Nordex SE.

Global bank BNP Paribas has acquired the wealth management and insurance activities of ABN AMRO in Luxembourg. International law firm Clifford Chance has advised BNP Paribas on this major European banking transaction.

In the course of the transaction, the Luxembourg arm of BNP Paribas, BGL BNP Paribas, acquires all of the shares in the Luxembourg private bank ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. and its insurance subsidiary ABN AMRO Life S.A.

A whiplash fraudster, who deliberately slammed on his brakes to cause a motor accident, has received an immediate two-month prison sentence and been ordered to pay £14,000 in costs by the courts. Evidence obtained from the defendant driver by the Counter Fraud team at international law firm DAC Beachcroft, on behalf of insurer client, Churchill Insurance, proved the fraudster had been lying.

Global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has advised the Russian Export Center (REC), an institution with specific expertise in export transactions and procedures, on a strategic c.US$30 million investment (with additional c. US$45 million being a callable element) in Class "C" shares of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), a supranational trade finance bank.

King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has advised Super Retail Group on its acquisition of the outdoor equipment and clothing retailer, Macpac, for NZ$144 million (A$135 million).

Macpac is a vertically integrated retailer which currently has 54 retail stores across Australia and New Zealand, as well as an online webstore which services a number of other countries. Super Retail Group intends to consolidate its existing Rays business with Macpac, under the Macpac brand.

King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) have advised APA Group (APA) on its entitlement offer (PAITREO) of new APA securities, which was launched today. 
 
The KWM team was led by M&A Partners David Eliakim and Will Heath, supported by Senior Associate Anna Chen, and associates Chloe Johnston and Evelyn Peter.
 
The entitlement offer will be used to assist in the funding of APA’s growth projects and capital expenditure program, the funding of the redemption of APA Subordinated Notes, and for other general corporate purposes.