Deals – 29 January 2009

Khaitan & Co acted as sole legal counsel to Bahrain Telecommunications Co BSC and Millennium Private Equity Ltd in relation to their acquisition of 49 percent shareholding in S Tel Ltd India. Partners Murali Neelakantan and Kalpana Unadkat led the deal, valued at US$225 million.

Kim & Chang acted as Korean local counsel to Nomura in their acquisition of assets of Lehman Brothers in Korea. The deal marks part of the company’s global acquisition of Lehman assets, represented in Korea by the transfer of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) Seoul Branch assets, supplier contracts and employees to the Nomura Seoul Branch. The firm advised on all aspects of the transaction including the transactional structure, obtaining relevant approvals from Korean supervisory authorities, as well as advising on HR related matters.

Henry Davis York acted for RMB Australia Holdings Ltd trading as MotorOne Finance in the sale of a substantial Australian automotive loan portfolio to BMW Australia Finance Ltd. The transaction was structured as an asset sale and required resolution of complex formulas for price calculations and adjustments, assignment, Uniform Consumer Credit Code, privacy and GST issues. The transaction team was led by partners Ben Mortimer and Grahame Cooper.

Minter Ellison advised the Government of the State of Queensland, Australia on its Airport Divestment Program, which involved the sale of the Government’s 12.4 percent shareholding in Brisbane Airport to a number of existing shareholders, the long term lease of Mackay Airport, and the long term lease of Cairns International Airport. The total value realised for the assets was A$1.028 billion. Brisbane corporate partner Andrew Rentoul led the transaction team.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP advised Standard Chartered Bank, together with ING Bank NV and Rabobank, in relation to a US$125 million loan facility made available to Lamnalco Ltd. Standard Chartered acted as structuring bank and as agent and security trustee in the refinancing transaction. The firm’s advisory team was led by partner Chris Lowe.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP acted for a syndicate of lenders led and arranged by DVB Bank America NV in relation to financing the sale and manage-back of certain containers between the DCM Deutsche Capital Management AG group and Dong Fang International Investment Ltd. The transaction team was led by international finance partner Madeline Leong.

Winston & Strawn LLP’s associate Hong Kong firm Luk & Co, represented Mandarin Oriental Holding Co Ltd on the sale of its 50 percent interest in the Mandarin Oriental in Macau to Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau SA. The agreement is conditional on, amongst others, the approval of STDM shareholders. The deal was led by partner Michael P Phillips.