Baker McKenzie has advised CASINO, a long-standing player in the French retail market and one of the global leaders in food trade, in the creation of the joint venture CD SUPPLY INNOVATION by CASINO and DIA.

This new entity will gather the two partners’ retail brand expertise as well as their experience in logistics and supply management. It will be in charge of purchasing retail brand and low-price goods for the two groups, however only for a part of their suppliers and while preserving their commercial and operational independence.

Having previously represented Argos Soditic with respect to their investment in BMF Group in 2011, Baker McKenzie advised Argos Soditic in connection with their exit. The founding Bartholet family will remain invested and chairman Roland Bartholet will continue to strive for growth with his new financial partner. A strategic objective of the transaction was to enable the company to further enhance its strategic development in China and other growth regions in Asia.

The Baker McKenzie team who advised Argos Soditic comprised of Martin Anderson and Jingjin Guo.

Baker McKenzie advised UBS AG, Australia Branch and Moelis Australia Advisory Pty Ltd as joint lead managers and underwriters of the A$60 million accelerated renounceable entitlement offer by Centuria Property Funds Limited (in its capacity as Responsible Entity of the Centuria Metropolitan REIT).

The transaction marks the largest Polish direct investment in Vietnam to date

Baker McKenzie has advised Dat Vi Phu Pharmaceutical JSC ("Davi pharm"), a rapidly growing pharmaceutical company in Vietnam, in its sale of 70% stake to the Adamed Group, the second largest pharmaceutical company in Poland. The USD 50 million transaction marks the largest Polish direct investment in Vietnam to date.

Baker McKenzie has advised CASINO, a long-standing player in the French retail market and one of the global leaders in food trade, in the creation of the joint venture CD SUPPLY INNOVATION by CASINO and DIA.

This new entity will gather the two partners’ retail brand expertise as well as their experience in logistics and supply management. It will be in charge of purchasing retail brand and low-price goods for the two groups, however only for a part of their suppliers and while preserving their commercial and operational independence.

Baker McKenzie advised National Australia Bank Limited (NAB) as Sole Lead Manager and as Initial Subscriber on the issue of A$41,200,000, 7% fixed rate secured notes, due 2022, by Kooragang Island Tank Terminals. 

Baker McKenzie lead partner on the deal, Duncan McGrath, said: "The deal -- undertaken by a private company in a part of the market typically accessed by ASX-listed issuers -- clearly demonstrates the increasing depth and sophistication of the market.

Baker McKenzie and its Indonesian member firm HHP Law Firm have jointly advised on the world's first Komodo bond issuance, by PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk, one of Indonesia's leading infrastructure providers.

Baker McKenzie acted as Australian and U.S. legal counsel to Macquarie Capital (Australia) Limited and J.P. Morgan Australia Limited, as joint lead managers of a fully underwritten A$100 million institutional placement and subsequent share purchase plan by Steadfast Group Limited. The proceeds from the capital raising will be used by Steadfast Group to fund its A$95 million acquisition of Whitbread Insurance Group and provide funds for future growth.

Baker McKenzie, Head of Capital Markets, Craig Andrade stated:

Baker McKenzie advised LKQ Corporation on the acquisition of the Stahlgruber GmbH. Stahlgruber is one of the leading European wholesale distributors of aftermarket spare parts. The seller is STAHLGRUBER Otto Gruber AG. The acquisition includes all national and international subsidiaries of Stahlgruber GmbH for a purchase price of 1.5 billion euros. The transaction is subject to all required regulatory approvals.

Leading global law firm Baker McKenzie acted for Stonewall on a pro bono basis in its first ever intervention before the Court of Appeal. The case concerns the rights of transgender people and, specifically, the right of a transgender woman to have direct contact with her children who belong to the ultra-orthodox Charedi Jewish Community. The case raised the questions of human rights and discrimination, in evaluating a child's welfare.