RSS Feed (News Only) https://www.cliffordchance.com/rss/rss-feed-news.xml RSS XML Feed of News Thu, 28 Mar 2024 01:05:00 GMT M&A corporate Global Financial Markets Insurance Intellectual property Project development & finance Emerging markets PFI PPP Regulatory enforcement & white collar Employment, incentives & pensions Construction Tax Antitrust, EU & trade Funds & investment management Public policy Real estate Capital markets Financial regulation Restructuring & insolvency TechDigital Environment Litigation, dispute resolution & risk management Islamic finance Transport & logistics Consumer goods & retail Insurance Industrials Energy & resources Healthcare, life sciences & chemicals Private equity Government & public sector bodies Telecommunications, media & technology Funds & investment management Real estate Banks Spain United Kingdom Netherlands Italy Luxembourg Belgium Germany France Western Europe Europe Canada United States North America Latin America Morocco Africa Saudi Arabia Middle East Australia and Oceania India South Asia Hong Kong China Japan Singapore Thailand Asia M&A corporate Global Financial Markets Insurance Intellectual property Project development & finance Emerging markets PFI PPP Regulatory enforcement & white collar Employment, incentives & pensions Construction Tax Antitrust, EU & trade Funds & investment management Public policy Real estate Capital markets Financial regulation Restructuring & insolvency TechDigital Environment Litigation, dispute resolution & risk management Islamic finance Transport & logistics Consumer goods & retail Insurance Industrials Energy & resources Healthcare, life sciences & chemicals Private equity Government & public sector bodies Telecommunications, media & technology Funds & investment management Real estate Banks Spain United Kingdom Netherlands Italy Luxembourg Belgium Germany France Western Europe Europe Canada United States North America Latin America Morocco Africa Saudi Arabia Middle East Australia and Oceania India South Asia Hong Kong China Japan Singapore Thailand Asia 2024-03-28T01:05:00Z Clifford Chance advises HSBC on the launch of market-first digital gold token for Hong Kong retail investors https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-hsbc-on-the-launch-of-market-first-digit.html <p>The product represents the first tokenised real-world asset issued by a bank for retail investors and leverages distributed ledger technology (DLT). This innovation enables enhancement to liquidity and market accessibility of an asset traditionally perceived as less liquid with higher investment barriers.</p> <p>Partners Rocky Mui and Terry Yang co-led a team of lawyers from the Hong Kong office including counsel Andre Da Roza, Foreign Legal Counsel Lin Lu, associates Greg Chan and Winni Choi.</p> <p><b>Partner Rocky Mui</b> said, &quot;This represents an important milestone in the development of asset tokenisation for Hong Kong, and we expect to see continued growth in this area, particularly for the APAC region. We are proud to be working with HSBC's team of product, technology and legal experts on this innovative product.&quot;</p> <p>This project extends Clifford Chance's established track record of advising on pioneering digital asset transactions. Notable matters include advising on <a href="https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/01/clifford-chance-advises-hsbc-as-sole-settlement-bank-in-hong-kon.html">HSBC's appointment as the sole settlement bank in Hong Kong for FPS and Thailand's PromptPay QR payment programme</a>, <a href="https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2022/11/clifford-chance-advises-on-singapore-s-first-industry-pilot-for-.html">Singapore's first industry pilot for cross-currency transactions on tokenised deposits</a>, and the launch of the <a href="https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/01/clifford-chance-acts-as-counsel-to-vaneck-on-pioneering-bitcoin-.html">first bitcoin spot ETFs in the US for VanEck</a>.</p> Financial regulation Global Financial Markets Banks Hong Kong M&A corporate Thu, 28 Mar 2024 01:05:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-hsbc-on-the-launch-of-market-first-digit.html 2024-03-28T01:05:00Z Clifford Chance advises Helical on the sale of central London commercial property 25 Charterhouse Square https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-helical-on-the-sale-of-central-london-co.html <p>25 Charterhouse Square is a six-storey building providing 45,000 sq ft of modern office space and is home to a range of occupiers including marketing agency, Anomaly; the FTSE-listed betting and gaming company, Entain; and the communications consultancy, Hudson Sandler.</p> <p>Clifford Chance has worked with Helical plc on the asset since the inception of the project in 2014, from the original site acquisition, the redevelopment and lettings, to the current sale.</p> <p>The Real Estate deal team was led by Partner Ian Painter in London with support from Senior Associate Rose Tinker, construction advice was provided by Partner Ed Bretherton, Head of UK Real Estate Construction Marianne Toghill and Senior Associate Adam Waite; and Environment &amp; Planning advice was provided by Head of Environment &amp; Planning Nigel Howorth and Senior Associate Katie Kempthorne.</p> <p>Ian Painter commented: <i>&quot;25 Charterhouse Square is yet another example of Helical's much sought after best in class developed assets. It is a well-located asset with great transport links coupled with superb sustainability credentials which has proven to be attractive to a broad tenant mix. We have been delighted to advise on this project from the beginning and to support Helical in the full life cycle of this development scheme over the last 10 years.</i></p> <p><i>This is a further example of our work advising Helical in the Farringdon area where our team has supported on Kaleidoscope and The JJ Mack Building, and we are currently advising on the redevelopment of 100 New Bridge Street. Being an integral part of Helical's team in delivering these ground up development schemes is a fulfilling experience for us and one that brings great job satisfaction.&quot;</i></p> United Kingdom Real estate Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:28:37 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-helical-on-the-sale-of-central-london-co.html 2024-03-27T12:28:37Z Clifford Chance advises Egeria on debt financing for the acquisition of Meyer Menü https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-egeria-on-debt-financing-for-the-acquisi.html <p>The acquisition financing will be provided by a club of lenders. The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details.</p> <p>Egeria is an independent investment company focused on mid-sized companies in the DACH region and the Netherlands. Clifford Chance regularly advises Egeria, for example recently on the debt financing for the bold-on acquisition of the French district energy company Solice by Egeria's portfolio company Isoplus Group.</p> <p>The acquisition financing team of Clifford Chance was led by partner Simon Reitz (Global Financial Markets, Frankfurt) and further comprised senior associate Peter Gierl (Global Financial Markets, Munich), as well as partner Olaf Mertgen and senior associate Steffen Waadt (both Tax, Frankfurt).</p> Tax Germany Global Financial Markets Wed, 27 Mar 2024 10:30:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-egeria-on-debt-financing-for-the-acquisi.html 2024-03-27T10:30:00Z Clifford Chance advises the joint lead managers in respect of a US$500 million sukuk issuance by Arabian Centres Company (trading as Cenomi Properties) https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-the-joint-lead-managers-in-respect-of-a-.html <p>The transaction involved the refinancing of existing sukuk certificates for Cenomi Properties, the largest mall operator in Saudi Arabia.</p> <p>Clifford Chance's team was led by partner and Global Head of Islamic Finance Qudeer Latif with support from legal consultant Shauaib Mirza (London), senior associate Mohsin Abbas (Dubai) as well as partner Paul Deakins (London). The US team supporting on the transaction comprised partner and Global Head of Capital Markets Michael Dakin (London), legal consultant Terrence Moloney (Sydney), and lawyer Geoffrey Adonu (London). Saudi law support was provided by AS&amp;HCC by partner Yasser Al-Hussain, and senior associates Ali Ansari and Mohammed Al-Ghazzawi.</p> <p>The US$500 million sukuk issuance was facilitated in collaboration with joint lead managers: anb capital, Dubai Islamic Bank P.J.S.C., Emirates NBD Bank P.J.S.C., GFH Financial Group B.S.C., Goldman Sachs International, HSBC Bank plc, J.P. Morgan Securities plc, Kamco Investment Company K.S.C.P., Mashreqbank psc (acting through its Islamic Banking Division), Sharjah Islamic Bank P.J.S.C., and Warba Bank K.S.C.P.</p> <p>Clifford Chance also advised the dealer managers, Goldman Sachs International and HSBC Bank plc on the tender offer.</p> <p>The Bank of New York acted as paying agent and delegate and was represented by a Clifford Chance team based in our London office led by partner Bruce Kahl and supported by associates Struan Murray and Katie Buckton.</p> <p>Qudeer Latif comments, &quot;This transaction reinforces our market leading expertise in structuring and executing the most complicated international sukuk transactions for issuers based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We congratulate the Cenomi Properties team on the issuance of another successful benchmark sukuk.&quot;</p> <p>Consistently ranked Band 1 in legal directories, Clifford Chance was awarded 15 awards at the Bonds, Loans &amp; Sukuk Awards 2023 and 8 awards at the IFLR Middle East Awards 2023. Clifford Chance was also named Banking and Finance Law Firm of the Year at The Legal 500 MENA Awards 2024, UAE Banking &amp; Finance Law Firm of the Year at the Chambers Middle East Awards 2024, Islamic Finance News (IFN) Law Firm of The Year and IFN Banking &amp; Finance Law Firm of The Year at the IFN Deal of the Year Awards 2023, International Law Firm of the Year at the IFLR Middle East Awards 2023, and International Law Firm of the Year (Middle East) at the Middle East Legal Awards 2023.</p> Consumer goods & retail Global Financial Markets Capital markets United States Saudi Arabia Wed, 27 Mar 2024 06:47:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-the-joint-lead-managers-in-respect-of-a-.html 2024-03-27T06:47:00Z Clifford Chance advises Sacyr on its EUR 500 million corporate financing https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-sacyr-on-its-eur-500-million-corporate-f.html <p>This EUR 500 million syndicated senior financing was granted by Banco Santander as agent and Banco Santander, Société Génerale, Sucursal en España and CaixaBank as Bookrunners, Mandated Lead Arrangers and lenders. Banco Santander and Société Génerale also acted as Sustainability Coordinators in this financing with ESG criteria through which the Sacyr group assumes sustainability commitments.</p> <p>The Clifford Chance team was led by partner Eugenio Fernández-Rico, together with senior associate Antonio Sánchez-Cirujano and associate Elena Euba. </p> Spain Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:01:16 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-sacyr-on-its-eur-500-million-corporate-f.html 2024-03-26T15:01:16Z Clifford Chance advises Česká spořitelna on another successful acquisition executed by Oriens Group https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-eska-spoitelna-on-another-successful-acq.html <p>The transaction involves the acquisition of full shareholding interest in S&amp;K TOOLS spol. s r.o. by Czech Machining Holding, s.r.o., a subsidiary of Oriens Fund III. Building upon recent acquisition of SANBORN, an innovative manufacturer in the energy, petrochemical, and transport industries, this transaction further strengthens Oriens Fund III‘s expanding portfolio, capitalizing on its expertise in high-precision manufacturing.</p> <p>S&amp;K TOOLS specializes in custom manufacturing of hydraulic components and tools for the automotive and engineering industries. The company offers a diverse range of products, including clutches, turbines, motors, pumps, shafts, fasteners, and stampings. Its services encompass CNC machining, grinding, external gear rolling, and deep drilling, showcasing their commitment to precision.</p> <p>Operating as an independent privately-owned industrial holding, Oriens focuses on private equity investments in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia. The company excels in acquiring medium-sized firms and effectively transforming them into successful, sizable entities.</p> <p>The Banking &amp; Finance Clifford Chance team advising on the financing was led by counsel Dominik Vojta and supervised by partner Miloš Felgr, with strong support from junior lawyers Tomáš Kubala and Sára Bartlová and paralegal Radek Sikora..</p> Banks Industrials Tue, 26 Mar 2024 11:57:12 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-eska-spoitelna-on-another-successful-acq.html 2024-03-26T11:57:12Z Clifford Chance advises Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH on financing the development, construction and operation of Germany's first land-based terminal for liquefied gases https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-hanseatic-energy-hub-gmbh-on-financing-t.html <p>The official ground-breaking ceremony for the energy hub in the Stade industrial park is scheduled to be held in the coming weeks. The facility is set to receive its first cargo in 2027. In a first expansion phase, an emission-free LNG terminal is to be put into operation, the infrastructure of which is also authorised for bio-LNG and synthetic natural gas (SNG). This will later be followed by ammonia as a carbon-neutral, hydrogen-based energy carrier.</p> <p>With a total capacity of 13.3 billion cubic metres of LNG per year, the Hanseatic Energy Hub will play an important role in securing the energy supply and supporting the energy transition in both Germany and wider Europe. In addition, the FSRU “Energos Force”, one of five floating LNG terminals chartered by Germany’s federal government and on site since March 2024, will continue to secure the gas supply in the short term until the more efficient land-based terminal is completed.</p> <p><b>Florian Mahler, partner at Clifford Chance: </b>&quot;This is another landmark transaction in the energy and energy transition sector in Germany and globally, showing our strong capabilities and integrated team approach. Securing the first project financing of a land-based LNG terminal in Germany is a huge achievement for all parties involved.&quot;</p> <p>With this mandate, Clifford Chance is emphasising its strategic focus on the energy sector and advising on the energy transition. Its global energy and infrastructure practice group is being continuously expanded, most recently with the opening of an office specialising in the energy transition sector in Houston, USA for which many new partners have been recruited.</p> <p>Clifford Chance advised with an international team led by partner Florian Mahler. The team comprised counsels Georg Lübbehüsen (Frankfurt) and Nicolas Cookson, associates Marius Fritz, Iryna Karpliuk and Brianna Harcus, transaction lawyer Muhammad Vantra (all Düsseldorf) and trainee solicitor Tim Bitterlich (London, all Global Financial Markets), partner Mathias Elspaß, counsel Zaid Mansour and associate Marie Sofie Karle (all Energy, Düsseldorf). Hedging advice was provided by partner Anne Louise Drakeford (London), counsels David Neu (Munich) and Radoslav Lolov (Frankfurt) as well as associate Christopher Banks (Munich, all Global Financial Markets). The Luxembourg office advised with partner Martin Wurth, senior associate Donald Sefer, associate Tjasa Perger and trainee lawyer Victor Hilbertz (all Global Financial Markets). From Madrid, partner Iñigo Villoria (Litigation &amp; Dispute Resolution), partner Eugenio Fernández-Rico and associates Álvaro Cabaleiro and María González (all Global Financial Markets) provided support. Further team members were partner Daniel Mathew Winick and associate Ronald Britt, II (both New York).</p> United Kingdom Global Financial Markets United States Germany Spain Tue, 26 Mar 2024 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-hanseatic-energy-hub-gmbh-on-financing-t.html 2024-03-26T10:00:00Z Clifford Chance advises BOC Macau and the lender group on the acquisition finance for the privatisation of Vinda https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-boc-macau-and-the-lender-group-on-the-ac.html <p><b>Lead partner Edith Leung </b>said, &quot;We are delighted to advise BOC Macau and the lender group on the financing of this significant privatisation. This deal is particularly noteworthy for being one of the largest to utilise RMB in funding an offshore acquisition. Moreover, the transaction underscores our team's proficiency in leveraging their comprehensive understanding of the Hong Kong Takeovers Code and the Securities and Futures Ordinance to facilitate a seamless and effective transaction.&quot;</p> <p>Edith was supported by counsel Michael Pallaras, senior associate Anthony Chan, associate Agnes Tse and trainee solicitor Alice Tsui, as well as partner Bryan Koo on the Hong Kong Takeovers Code aspects and partner Rocky Mui and counsel Andre Da Roza on the regulatory aspects.<b></b></p> <p>Clifford Chance had separately <a href="https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2023/12/clifford-chance-advises-global-hygiene-and-health-company-essity.html">advised global hygiene and health company Essity on the sale of its majority stake in Vinda.</a> </p> Consumer goods & retail Global Financial Markets Hong Kong M&A corporate Tue, 26 Mar 2024 03:12:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-boc-macau-and-the-lender-group-on-the-ac.html 2024-03-26T03:12:00Z Clifford Chance advises the Joint Bookrunners on TSKB's successful offering of 144A/Reg S AT1 Notes https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-the-joint-bookrunners-on-tskb-s-successf.html <p>TSKB's vision is to maintain sustainable growth in Turkey by adding value to the Turkish economy (principally through supporting the private sector with medium and long-term financing), which reflects the TSKB's goals of being the pioneering bank in Turkey’s sustainable development and extending resources to contribute to the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.</p> <p>This successful issuance by TSKB was one of the first AT1 offerings by a Turkish issuer in recent years and is expected to help TSKB further strengthen its regulatory capital. </p> <p>The Clifford Chance team was led in Paris by Olivier Plessis, together with Alex Bafi; in London, with Paul Deakins, Johannes Juette, Ayan Koshal, Garo Yaghsezian and Thalia Stanberry; in Istanbul, with Sait Eryilmaz, AliCan Altiparmak, Bilgesu Çakmak and Aykan Karpuzcu; and in New York, with Avrohom Gelber and Michaela Morr on US tax matters.</p> United States Western Europe United Kingdom France North America Capital markets Tax Europe Mon, 25 Mar 2024 14:57:52 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-the-joint-bookrunners-on-tskb-s-successf.html 2024-03-25T14:57:52Z Clifford Chance advises Solarpack on the senior financing for the largest solar plant in Peru https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-solarpack-on-the-senior-financing-for-th.html <p>The financing, signed with BBVA, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole and Natixis under a project finance structure, is the first renewable project in Peru financed on the basis of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between private parties.</p> <p>Moreover, the loan has been qualified as green financing under Solarpack's Green Financing Framework, in accordance with the Green Loan Principles established by the Loan Market Association.</p> <p>The San Martín solar plant, with a total installed capacity of almost 300 MW, is currently under construction and is expected to generate more than 819 GWh per year, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 440,000 homes. It will also prevent the emission of more than 564,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.</p> <p>In addition to the senior financing package, Solar San Martín entered into a revolving credit facility for approximately USD 19 million, with BBVA as senior lender, to fund the tax requirements for the construction of the project.</p> <p>The deal marks a significant milestone for Solarpack, as its largest project financing transaction to date. It reaffirms the company's commitment to environmental sustainability and represents a step forward in its mission to provide sustainable and economically viable energy solutions for its customers.</p> <p>The Clifford Chance cross-border team comprised partner José Guardo, senior associate Eduardo Sánchez, associate Gabriel Miranda and trainee Yago López, from Global Financial Markets (Madrid), along with counsel Patricio Abal and special legal consultant Pedro Buchanan, from Global Financial Markets (Washington DC).</p> Spain Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:49:31 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-solarpack-on-the-senior-financing-for-th.html 2024-03-22T15:49:31Z Clifford Chance advises Virgin Money UK plc on its £2.9 billion acquisition by Nationwide Building Society https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-virgin-money-uk-plc-on-its-p2-9-billion-.html <p>The transaction was led by partners David Pudge and Katherine Moir, with support from partners Sonia Gilbert, Chinwe Odimba-Chapman, Simon Sinclair, Sue Hinchliffe, Stephen Reese and Simon Crown. Additional support also came from director of public M&amp;A Rui Huo, and associates Caoimhin Eastwood, Catherine Freeman, Tom Masters, Adele Mosdell, Sabra Ferhat, Farhan Shahid, Joseph Sherlock, Julia Clark-Leonard, Florence Wong, Charles Morris and Sophie Wilkinson. </p> <p>Clifford Chance has a history of facilitating major transactions in the financial sector and working alongside Virgin Money UK, with the firm's involvement in CYBG's demerger from NAB and the subsequent acquisition of Virgin Money in 2018, which led to the establishment of Virgin Money UK plc.</p> United Kingdom Fri, 22 Mar 2024 12:29:42 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-virgin-money-uk-plc-on-its-p2-9-billion-.html 2024-03-22T12:29:42Z Clifford Chance advises Allegro Funds on its acquisition of BPO business Nutun Australia https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-allegro-funds-on-its-acquisition-of-bpo-.html <p>Lead partner Mark Currell said, &quot;We are delighted to have advised Allegro Funds on their strategic carveout of Nutun Australia, a move that exemplifies Allegro's astute investment approach in identifying high-potential businesses. This transaction also highlights our team's ability to deliver seamless legal advice across private equity and acquisition finance.&quot;</p> <p>Mark was supported by counsel Marcus Berghouse, senior associate Sarah Jenkins and associate Adrian Packer. Partner Elizabeth Hundt Russell and senior associate Alexander Sorgese advised on the acquisition finance aspects of the deal.</p> <p>Allegro Funds specialises in investing in turnaround, transformation and special situations, and has assets under management in excess of AU$4 billion.</p> <p>Nutun is a leading provider of BPO services to a blue-chip customer base that includes the largest banks, insurers, utilities and telecommunication providers in Australia and New Zealand.</p> <p>Clifford Chance previously advised <a href="https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2023/06/clifford-chance-advises-allegro-funds-on-sale-of-pizza-hut-austr.html">Allegro on the sale of Pizza Hut Australia to Flynn Restaurant Group</a>.</p> Australia and Oceania Global Financial Markets Banks Funds & investment management M&A corporate Fri, 22 Mar 2024 05:08:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-allegro-funds-on-its-acquisition-of-bpo-.html 2024-03-22T05:08:00Z Clifford Chance advises Zenith Energy on the sale of its Irish and Dutch terminals to Sunoco https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-zenith-energy-on-the-sale-of-its-irish-a.html <p>Zenith Energy is leading the way in the transition to a cleaner energy future by pioneering a safer and more sustainable liquid storage model. Zenith Energy is a Texas based midstream company and a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus LLC.</p> <p>The Clifford Chance team was led by Jeroen Thijssen and further consisted of Sabine van den Heuvel, Bart Stuyfzand, Mies Rijperman, Robert Bulte, Camille Fantozzi (Corporate M&amp;A), Liesbeth Buiter, Kris Soomers, Mariam Al-Zubaidy (Energy &amp; Infrastructure), Mark-Jan Arends, Charlotte Hosten, Zoë van den Broek (Notarial), Titus de Vries, Angela McEwan, Jackie Jones, Priyanka Paurana (Global Financial Markets), Jurre Jurriens, Bruno Weisser Lopez (Antitrust), Sanne Blankestijn, Merle van den Berg, Iga Mamczarz (Employment), Michiel Sunderman, Stern Flik, Alec Sanderson, Cile Arnoldy (Tax) and Wijnanda Rutten (Pensions).</p> Netherlands Thu, 21 Mar 2024 14:05:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-zenith-energy-on-the-sale-of-its-irish-a.html 2024-03-21T14:05:00Z Clifford Chance counsels Volkswagen on its agreement with XPENG to jointly-develop electric vehicles in China https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-counsels-volkswagen-on-its-agreement-with-xpeng-.html <p>Partners Ling Ho and Kelly Gregory led the Clifford Chance team in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Dusseldorf. The team also included partners Yong Bai and Dimitri Slobodenjuk, counsel Zibo Liu and senior associates Sharon Zhang, Charmaine Kwong, Peter Zhao and Arne Gayk.</p> <p>Ling said, &quot;We are delighted to support companies' strategies to make mobility more sustainable. We are proud to bring together our expertise in cross-border transactions, IP, antitrust and technology collaborations for the swift completion of the transaction.&quot;<br> &nbsp;</p> Intellectual property Transport & logistics China Hong Kong M&A corporate Industrials Thu, 21 Mar 2024 04:58:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-counsels-volkswagen-on-its-agreement-with-xpeng-.html 2024-03-21T04:58:00Z Clifford Chance advises Cisco on securing EU Commission clearance for $28 Billion Splunk acquisition https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-cisco-on-securing-eu-commission-clearanc.html <p>The EU Commission's decision marks the end of a global antitrust approval process that Clifford Chance has helped navigate through over the last months.</p> <p>The Clifford Chance team, with its deep understanding of the technology sector and its global footprint, has led the EU merger control process and has provided comprehensive legal advice across multiple jurisdictions. The Clifford Chance team was led by Milena Robotham in Brussels, Katrin Schallenberg in Paris and Nelson Jung and Stavroula Vryna in London. They were supported by senior associates Maarten Kennis (Brussels), Sian Fagan (London), and Sara Ortoli (Paris), and associates Josh Kennion (London), Charley Bailliard (Paris), Bram Van Der Beken (Brussels), Zala Majhenic (Brussels) and Faye Thomas (Brussels).</p> United Kingdom France Belgium Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:46:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-cisco-on-securing-eu-commission-clearanc.html 2024-03-18T13:46:00Z Clifford Chance advises banking consortium on the conclusion of a syndicated loan agreement for enercity AG https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-banking-consortium-on-the-conclusion-of-.html <p>The revolving credit facility of €500 million with a term of up to five years supports further investments in renewable energies and efficiency technologies and accompanies enercity on its path to decarbonization. enercity plans to make significant investments in wind power, photovoltaics, electromobility, the expansion of smart grids and the heating transition in the coming years. The planned investment volume is around €1 billion per year until 2030.</p> <p>Hanover-based enercity AG is a provider of sustainable and intelligent energy solutions. With sales of more than €8 billion and more than 3,000 employees, the Group is one of the largest municipal energy service providers in Germany (as of the 2022 financial year). The company supplies around one million people with electricity, heat, natural gas and drinking water. In addition, enercity offers energy-related services relating to electromobility, energy efficiency, decentralized customer solutions, telecommunications and smart infrastructure. enercity's motivation is to improve the quality of life of its customers.</p> <p>The Clifford Chance team consisted of partner Christof Häfner, counsel Georg Lübbehüsen and associate Franziska Buchholz (all Global Financial Markets, Frankfurt).<br> &nbsp;</p> Global Financial Markets Mon, 18 Mar 2024 10:30:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-banking-consortium-on-the-conclusion-of-.html 2024-03-18T10:30:00Z Clifford Chance advises BUKO on its acquisition of Road Traffic Solutions Limited https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-buko-on-its-acquisition-of-road-traffic-.html <p>The acquisition marks BUKO’s first step outside the Netherlands and represents a targeted expansion into a new high-growth market. Headquartered in Barendrecht, the Netherlands, BUKO Traffic &amp; Safety employs c. 400 people and successfully oversees several thousand projects annually. <a href="https://www.equistonepe.fr/newsdetail/entry-into-the-uk-market-equistone-portfolio-company-buko-traffic-safety-acquires-road-traffic-solutions-limited/700">Read more about the acquisition here</a>.</p> <p>The Clifford Chance team was led by Jeroen Thijssen and further consisted of, among others, Ruben van Diepen, Bruno Weisser Lopez, Martijn van Beusekom, Hannah van Dijk, Michiel Sunderman, Stern Flik, Alec Sanderson, Tjerk de Jonge and Ceren Akgöl in Amsterdam and Matthew Scully, Georgia Mitchell, Francesca Baker, Emma Mack, Florence Wong, David Baxter, David Saleh, Victoria Parkhomenko and Daniel Ng in London.</p> United Kingdom Netherlands M&A corporate Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:30:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-buko-on-its-acquisition-of-road-traffic-.html 2024-03-14T07:30:00Z Clifford Chance advises on Randstad’s inaugural issuance of €500 million Fixed Rate Notes listed on Euronext Amsterdam https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-on-randstad-s-inaugural-issuance-of--500.html <p>The Notes are listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes. <a href="https://www.randstad.com/s3fs-media/rscom/public/2023-02/RandstadEMTNupdateBaseProspectus.pdf" target="_blank">Read more about the offering in the base prospectus</a>. </p> <p>This transaction builds on Clifford Chance's market-leading Debt Capital Markets practice and sector expertise in a wide range of offering securities. The Clifford Chance team consisted of Jurgen van der Meer, Dewi Walian, Marina Sarkisjan and Dounia Endlich (Global Financial Markets) and Nolan Groenland, Robin Houtveen and Johan Anton Niesten (Tax).</p> Netherlands Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:28:06 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-on-randstad-s-inaugural-issuance-of--500.html 2024-03-13T09:28:06Z Clifford Chance advises amedes and the investor consortium of OMERS Infrastructure, Goldman Sachs and AXA IM Alts in connection with the acquisition of MVZ Laaff https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-amedes-and-the-investor-consortium-of-om.html <p>MVZ Laaff GmbH operates medical laboratories at the Freiburg, Heilbronn and Ulm locations with a focus on dermatopathology, general pathology, immunohistology, molecular pathology and cytology. MVZ Laaff GmbH was founded in 1992 by Prof. Dr. Helmut Laaff as Institute for Dermatohistology Pathology Molecular Pathology.</p> <p>amedes is a leading German laboratory service provider and operates various medical care centers with different specialist areas across Germany. Work in the medical care centers focusses, among other things, on the areas of laboratory medicine, human genetics, cytology, pathology, gynecology, reproductive medicine and endocrinology. With the acquisition of MVZ Laaff GmbH, amedes intends to strategically strengthen and expand its laboratory services in Baden-Württemberg. The transaction closed in February.</p> <p>The Clifford Chance team led by partner Mark Aschenbrenner and associate Max Petzelberger (both Private Equity, Munich) comprised partner Anselm Raddatz (Private Equity, Dusseldorf), senior associate Sina Schwirz (Corporate, Munich), partner Dominik Engl (Tax, Frankfurt), partner Katia Gauzès, associates Mélissa Kdyem and Nina Aymé, trainee lawyers Nihad Agadazi and Marie Georg (all Corporate, Luxembourg) as well as partner Jonathan Dillon and senior associate James McMillan (both Corporate, London).</p> <p>The amedes inhouse team was led by Carolin Tetzel (General Counsel/Legal), Dominik Masson (Vice President/M&amp;A), Philip Mertes (Senior Project Manager/M&amp;A) and Sven Breckwold (Senior Project Manager/M&amp;A).<br> </p> Luxembourg Germany Private equity M&A corporate Tue, 12 Mar 2024 17:30:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-amedes-and-the-investor-consortium-of-om.html 2024-03-12T17:30:00Z Clifford Chance advises Encavis on refinancing of solar projects https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-encavis-on-refinancing-of-solar-projects.html <p>&quot;We are proud to have been able to count such an important player in the energy transition among our clients for years&quot;, says Christof Häfner, Partner at Clifford Chance. Encavis is listed on the MDAX and is one of the leading independent power producers with (onshore) wind and solar parks in twelve European countries and a total generation capacity of around 3.6 gigawatts.</p> <p>The refinancing was provided by ABN AMRO Bank N. V. (NL), Coöperatieve Rabobank U. A. (NL), Bankinter S. A. (ES) and NatWest Bank Europe GmbH (GER/UK). It includes €181.5 million Term Loan Facilities (hedged by interest rate swaps), as well as €13 million Letter of Credit Facilities and €8.5 million Debt Service Reserve Facilities.</p> <p>The Talayuela plant, located in the region of Extremadura, has a generation capacity of 300 MWp. La Cabrera, located in Andalusia, has a generation capacity of 200 MWp. Both projects have been in operation since the end of 2020/beginning of 2021 and are among the first European utility scale solar projects to be realized and operated without public subsidies.</p> <p>The cross-border team of Clifford Chance comprised partner Christof Häfner, associates Franziska Buchholz and Luana Tamod, transaction lawyer Lisha Xu (all Frankfurt), associate Lucy Garratt (Munich, all Global Financial Markets), partner José Guardo, associates Pablo Cancelo, Sofia Riano and Marta Ruiz, paralegal Ana De la Torre (all Global Financial Markets), partner José Luis Zamarro, associate Mónica Romero (both Public Law, all Madrid).</p> Germany Mon, 11 Mar 2024 14:04:00 GMT https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2024/03/clifford-chance-advises-encavis-on-refinancing-of-solar-projects.html 2024-03-11T14:04:00Z