Preato Capital has sold Sefina Finance to Dollar Financial Group U.K. Ltd. The consideration for the shares is approximately SEK 300 million, of which approximately SEK 200 million was paid in cash at closing, and the remaining SEK 100 million to be paid in cash installments during 2011. In addition, the seller is entitled to additional cash payments over the next two years based on the financial performance of the divested business.

More >>

SNR Denton announced its client, MatlinPatterson sold 100% of its share in Toga Investments SARL (the holding company of the Cerruti group) to a subsidiary of Trinity Ltd for approximately €53 million. The deal was announced in Hong Kong on December 22, 2010.

More >>

Marking another pro bono victory, on December 22, 2010, international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP successfully secured asylum for a 27-year old Kenyan man who sought refuge in the United States based on persecution he suffered in Kenya upon coming out publicly as a homosexual. The Kenyan penal code criminalizes homosexual acts with a prison sentence of up to fourteen years, and known or suspected homosexuals in Kenya are routinely subjected to violence, threats, harassment, and blackmail. The client, a committed activist for the rights of homosexual and transgender individuals in East Africa, was himself cut off from his family, brutalized by classmates, evicted from his apartment, threatened with death, and blackmailed by police after providing a rare interview on national television in which he admitted to being homosexual and talked about the plight of gay and transgender individuals.

More >>

McDermott represented Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) in connection with the signing of a definitive agreement by its affiliate to acquire the full service lease, contract maintenance, commercial rental and dedicated contract carriage businesses of The Scully Companies, Inc., a leading provider of full service truck leasing, short-term rental of commercial vehicles and maintenance services throughout the western United States.  Ryder System, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 500 provider of leading-edge transportation, logistics and supply chain management solutions.

More >>

On December 10, 2010, the Inter-American Development Bank (“IDB”) closed on a US$30 million “green loan” to the Peruvian bank, BBVA Banco Continental. The proceeds of the loan are intended to finance projects that encourage energy efficiency and/or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Peru.

More >>

On December 28, it was announced that Waterland Private Equity has acquired the RHM Group clinics and nursing homes from its founder, represented by Willkie, and plans a strategic expansion of the company’s presence in the German nursing and rehabilitation market through acquisitions. The transaction is subject to antitrust approval of the Federal Cartel Authority. Founded 30 years ago, RHM has established itself as one of the leading, integrated medical health companies in Germany. RHM owns approximately 1,300 beds in specialized clinics for rehabilitation and acute care, provides about 600 beds for nursing care for the elderly, and offers both ambulatory and stationary health services in its six locations in Germany.

More >>

SNR Denton has advised Lucara Diamond Corp. (“Lucara”) on its successful share-for-share takeover of African Diamonds plc (“AFD”), a U.K. company whose securities were traded on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange.  The acquisition was carried out by way of an English court-approved cancellation scheme of arrangement involving a conditional three-cornered demerger.

More >>