Deals – 12 February 2009

Allens Arthur Robinson acted for DEXUS Property Group in a comprehensive deal that saw the sale of a one-third interest in its new premier office tower development in Sydney. The firm advised DEXUS on the complete transaction including the development, construction, anchor tenant leasing and disposal of its part interest to Cbus Property. Partner Mark Stubbings led the team on this matter.

Allens Arthur Robinson acted for Henderson Group plc on a capital raising valued at approximately A$106 million. The deal involved the placement of shares/CHESS Depositary Interests, representing approximately 9.9 percent of Henderson’s existing issued ordinary shares, to institutional and other investors. Sydney-based partners Alex Ding and Victoria Poole led the team of advisors.

Allens Arthur Robinson acted for Newcrest Mining Ltd in it’s A$750 capital raising exercise. Partners Robert Simkiss and Robert Pick led the advisory team on the transaction.

Allens Arthur Robinson advised Qantas Airways Ltd on its recent capital raising. The transaction raised A$500 million for the airline via an institutional placement, and will be followed by a share purchase plan for Qantas retail shareholders. Sydney-based partner Tom Story led the team with the support of firm chairman Ewen Crouch on the transaction.

Partners Robert Simkiss and Robert Pick led the Allens Arthur Robinson team that advised Tabcorp Holdings on its recent capital raisings via institutional share placements and share purchase plans. The transaction raised approximately A$300.

Allens Arthur Robinson acted for Wesfarmers Ltd on its equity capital raising which secured a minimum of A$2.9 billion. The deal, incorporating an accelerated pro rata entitlement offer, is marked by an institutional component of A$2 billion, with an additional placement of A$900 million to two strategic investors and a retail entitlement offer. Sydney-based partner Tom Story led the team in this matter.

AZB & Partners advised Brenntag Holding GmbH in relation to its acquisition, through its subsidiary Brenntag (Holding) NV, of 100 percent shareholding in Rhodia Chemicals India Private Ltd. The firm was involved in conducting the legal due diligence of Rhodia India and advised Brenntag on various Indian law issues. Yogesh Bhattarai Vaishali Sharma led the transaction, valued at approximately €3,483,000.

Baker & McKenzie acted for ETF Metal Securities Australia Ltd on four new structured products, which are the first products to be admitted to trading status on ASX’s new AQUA Platform. In addition, a fifth ETF Metal Security, being ETFS Physical Gold, is the first product to be moved from the ASX main list to the new AQUA platform. Partner Bill Fuggle led the transaction’s advisory team.

Clifford Chance has advised Airbus on a joint venture with a group of Chinese industrial partners for a manufacturing centre in Harbin, in north east China.The manufacturing centre will produce aircraft composite material parts and components for the Airbus A350 XWB and Airbus A320 families of aircraft. Kelly Gregory led the team advising the company.

Colin Ng & Partners LLP acted for Penguin in their recent rights issue. The exercise raised about S$6.1 million in net proceeds for the company. Tan Min-Li, partner and co-head of the firm’s corporate finance practice group, led the transaction.

Colin Ng & Partners LLP advised BreadTalk Group Ltd in an approximately US$5 million joint venture with Sanpou Co Ltd. Pursuant to the joint venture agreement, BreadTalk and Sanpou will be investing a total of S$1.5 million and US$4 million shareholdings in the joint venture companies in the proportion of 60 percent and 40 percent respectively. Lisa Theng, head of corporate advisory and a partner in the corporate and commercial practice group, was lead partner on the transaction.

Deacons cross border team, led by partners Ian McCubbin and Shaun McRobert, acted for Ansteel Iron & Steel to complete an $A162 million equity placement with WA’s Gindalbie Metals. Gindalbie shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of the deal, which will include Ansteel acquiring 190.7 million shares in Gindalbie following FIRB approval.

Lovells has advised Gale International LLC on the Framework Agreement for a new state-of-the-art ecological city in Changsha. Gale and the Changsha Municipal People’s Government of Hunan Province signed a Framework Agreement to plan, develop and operate Meixi Lake District, a 1,675 acre new ecological city in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province. The district will include various sub-projects, all set within an integrated, people-friendly lake environment and surrounded by abundant green space. The advising team advising was led by Shanghai corporate partner Andrew McGinty.

Lovells has advised HK Electric on its HK$5.68 billion acquisition of a 45 percent stake in three China power plants from major shareholder Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. Under the terms of the agreement the client will acquire the entire issued share capital of Outram, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Cheung Kong. The team advising on the agreement was led by Asia corporate head Jamie Barr.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques acted as Hong Kong legal advisers to the sponsor and underwriters in relation to the listing of CVM Minerals Ltd on the main board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, raising approximately HK$133 million. It was the first-of-its-kind listing of a mineral company under Chapter 18 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules, which does not require the usual track record listing requirements. Conrad Chan was the lead partner on the transaction.

Stephenson Harwood has advised fully integrated tanker company Transpetrol Maritime Services on the financing of an 82,000cbm Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) for delivery from Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea, and the re-financing of two Panamax tankers. The team was led by finance partner Arlene Dourish.