Hogan Lovells has advised the Department for Transport (DfT) on the financing of the £2.7 billion East Coast phase of the UK’s Intercity Express Programme (IEP) which closed Tuesday 15 April 2014. More >>

Addleshaw Goddard’s African Business Group has recently advised Seven Energy International Limited (“Seven Energy”) in securing US$255 million of new equity capital which will enable the Group to further develop gas supply opportunities in Nigeria’s domestic energy market.

Temasek, the Singapore investment company, has committed US$150 million, the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”), a member of the World Bank Group, has committed US$75 million, and the IFC African, Latin American, and Caribbean Fund (“IFC ALAC Fund”) has committed US$30 million. The investments will be in two tranches, the timing of which is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions in the investment agreements.

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International law firm Clifford Chance is advising the Italian group Risanamento in relation to the €1.225bn sale of its French real estate portfolio representing one of the most significant transactions in France since 2007.

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Clyde & Co has advised Sanpower Group Co. Limited (Sanpower Group) in relation to its acquisition of an 89% stake in British retailer House of Fraser. The deal, signed on 3 April 2014 and valued at approximately GBP 480 million (USD 800 million), is the Sanpower Group’s first major investment in the UK retail sector and China’s largest foreign retail investment to date.

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Cooley LLP announced today that it advised 2U, Inc. on its $119.3 million initial public offering. 2U is a leading provider of cloud-based software-as-a-service solutions that enable leading nonprofit colleges and universities to deliver high quality education to qualified students, anywhere. It now trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “TWOU.”

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Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Shunfeng Photovoltaic International Limited on the acquisition of 100% interests in Wuxi Suntech Power Co. Ltd. from its administrator for RMB3 billion (US$482 million).

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Shearman & Sterling represented Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as joint bookrunning managers in connection with The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.’s offering of $500 million 4.20% Senior Notes due 2024.

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Paul, Weiss represented Bank of America Merrill Lynch and the other initial purchasers in connection with Videotron Ltd.’s high yield offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior notes due 2024 in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S. Videotron is a leading Canadian telecommunications company engaged primarily in cable broadcasting and pay-television services, internet access, and cable and mobile telephone services. Paul, Weiss also represented Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Citigroup as dealer managers, in connection with the concurrent tender offer by Quebecor Media Inc., Videotron’s parent, for any and all of its outstanding 7.75% senior notes due 2016.

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Skadden is advising Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. in its proposal to acquire all of the common shares of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited for $3.2 billion, announced April 14. More >>

Davis Polk is advising affiliates of the Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division in connection with the consortium acquisition with affiliates of The Blackstone Group L.P. of Ipreo Holdings LLC from affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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