International legal practice Norton Rose LLP has advised Barclays Capital as arranger on the establishment by Piraeus Bank S.A. of a €3 billion covered bond programme, as well as the first issue of €1,250,000,000.

International law firm Salans was the principal legal adviser for Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI) in its asset acquisition of the steel production facilities in Redcar (known as Teesside Cast Products). The deal exchanged on 24 February 2011, following the entry into a Memorandum of Understanding in August 2010. This major steel production site was sold to SSI by Tata Steel Group, who in turn had inherited the site as part of its takeover of Corus UK Limited in 2007.

The Firm recently represented J.P. Morgan and Jefferies & Company in an offering by Dave & Buster’s Parent, Inc. of $180,790,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of 12.25% Senior Discount Notes due 2016, generating gross proceeds of approximately $100 million.  The offering was conducted in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S.

The international law firm Clifford Chance advised Azelis S.A. and its shareholder, the international private equity company 3i, on the acquisition of the S&D Group Limited, London. The transaction will take place subject to the approval of antitrust authorities.

Shearman & Sterling is representing Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, in its definitive agreement to acquire Athena Diagnostics, an esoteric laboratory specializing in genetic testing for neurological disorders, from Thermo Fisher Scientific for $740 million in cash. The transaction is expected to be completed early in the second quarter of 2011 following the satisfaction of customary conditions.

Davis Polk advised Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. as dealer managers on a cash tender offer by Honeywell International Inc. for up to $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.625% notes due 2012.

Hogan Lovells is advising News Corporation on the proposed acquisition of Shine Group, the international television production group. News Corporation has announced its intent to acquire Shine Group Limited for an enterprise value of £415 million ($673 million). The parties will now proceed with the regulatory filings required for the transaction, while continuing to negotiate the final terms of a definitive agreement. “We are very pleased to be advising News Corporation on this acquisition,” said Stephen H. Kay, Managing Partner of Hogan Lovells’ Los Angeles office. “We have assisted News Corporation with previous strategic transactions and are excited to have the opportunity to do so again.”

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in association with LVN & Associates (LVN) has advised Thang Long Thermoelectric JSC (Thang Long) as investor and sole developer on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract worth US$645 million with Wuhan Kaidi Electric Power Co., Ltd. (Kaidi). 

SNR Denton announced today that it has doubled the size of its Africa network as 10 new associate firms join, giving the firm the largest footprint of any international law firm on the continent. The firm will now have a presence in 21 countries in Africa.