A&O Shearman

Throughout July and August, we've been on a remarkable journey diving into the essence of South Asian identity, embracing the threads of community, faith, and family that weave together to form the vibrant tapestry of our heritage. It's been a time of reflection and celebration, honoring the deep historical roots that each member brings to the table. Cultural reflections: • Amith's linguistic connection: discovering a slice of home in the UK, Amith stays connected to his roots through the melodious sounds of the Telugu language. • Maaya's dual heritage: Maaya holds her British Indian heritage close to her heart, celebrating the exuberance of Indian festivals that paint her world in a kaleidoscope of colors. • Piya's spiritual compass: from the heart of her Indian hometown, Piya draws inspiration from the profound teachings of Sikhism that guide her life's path. • Sanjeet's introspection: Sanjeet contemplates the essence of her British Panjabi Sikh identity, acknowledging its ever-present influence in her life. • Leela's culinary fusion: at the family dinner table, Leela presents a feast for the senses, blending the rich flavours of Sri Lankan Tamil and Bengali cultures. The stories and pictures shared by our South Asian colleagues from around the world have been nothing short of inspiring. Their personal journeys across the diverse cultures of South Asia highlight the unifying power of community, the richness of shared experiences, and the beauty of simply being yourself. Thank you to everyone who opened up about their lives, helping us all to appreciate our collective heritage. #AOShearman #SouthAsianHeritageMonth #DEI

As the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region embarks on a transformative journey, the business landscape is being reshaped by the introduction of more stringent merger control and foreign investment regulations. This pivotal shift is steering the region towards a new chapter of economic development and corporate governance. Experts Hugh Hollman, Matthew Readings, Arianna Fletcher, and Suzanne N. have analyzed the emerging trends and regulatory changes sweeping across key MENA jurisdictions. Their insights, featured in Global Legal Insights - Merger Control 2024, shed light on the proactive measures being adopted by countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These nations are not only enhancing their regulatory frameworks but also setting a precedent for others to follow. Discover more and stay ahead of the curve: https://ow.ly/IUt450T4Wqi #AOShearman #LegalInsights #MergerControl

Our capital markets team have partnered with Citi and BMO to support on AIIB’s inaugural issuance on Euroclear’s Digital Financial Market Infrastructure platform (“D-FMI”). “We were pleased to be able to use our breadth and depth of experience in capital markets and financial markets regulation across English and Belgian law to find solutions to the legal and regulatory issues inherent in new and developing market infrastructures such as the D-FMI platform”. Peter Crossan, lead partner The D-FMI platform enables the creation, issuance and settlement of fully digital international securities and is linked to Euroclear’s conventional settlement platform, providing investors with the opportunity to hold digitally native notes through their existing access to the traditional Euroclear architecture. Get an in depth look of the broader team involved and transaction here: https://ow.ly/3xIt50T4LbZ #AOShearman #DigitalInnovation #FinancialTechnology

We are expanding our high-yield capabilities with our newest U.S. Debt Finance partner, Alyssa Simon Adam Hakki, co-chair of our global executive committee and board and U.S. chair, said: “Alyssa Simon is a talented and seasoned high yield/leveraged finance professional whose experience both within a large investment bank and as outside counsel at a leading firm further enhances A&O Shearman’s capacity to meet the financing needs of our U.S. and global clients.” Read more about Alyssa here: https://ow.ly/bwtL50T1eC7 #AOShearman

Our multi-disciplinary team supports EQT's acquisition of a majority stake in Eutelsat Group’s carved-out ground station infrastructure business. The ground station business consists of approximately 1,400 antennas across more than 100 locations globally, enabling satellite communications for Eutelsat Group, OneWeb, and other third-party customers. “This transaction was a perfect opportunity to combine our leading financial sponsor M&A practice in Paris with our globally recognized digital infrastructure practice in London. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work again with EQT, especially on a groundbreaking transaction in the satellite and space sector” Tom Levine, partner Get an in depth look of the broader team involved and transaction here: https://ow.ly/71Jp50SYozS #AOShearman #DigitalInfrastructure

We are excited to announce partners Manuel Orillac, Denise M. Grant, and Sami Asad Mir have been named co-heads of our award-winning Latin America practice. This dynamic trio brings years of experience to their new leadership roles, reflecting our core offerings in Latin America and the Caribbean, including finance and capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, project development, restructuring, and disputes. With their extensive experience and leadership, they are well-positioned to drive our continued growth and success in this dynamic market. As Adam Hakki, co-chair of our executive committee and board and U.S. chair, noted, “Manuel, Denise and Sami are perfectly suited to leverage our global platform to serve Latin American, Caribbean and international clients at the highest level in their most important matters, as we expand and diversify our presence in this fast-growing market.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eefpx6rt #AOShearman

We advised OCI Global on the USD2.35 billion sale of its equity interests in its Clean Ammonia project to Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Clean Ammonia project is the world’s first large-scale, low-carbon intensity hydrogen-based greenfield ammonia facility, expected to produce first ammonia in 2025. The project is under construction in Beaumont, Texas. Read more about the deal and project here: https://ow.ly/QsS850STXb8 Corporate partner Romain Dambre led our team with support from a cross-disciplinary team including Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure partner Kent Rowey, Compensation, Employment and Governance partner Brian Jebb, Environment and Regulatory partner Ken Rivlin, Tax counsel John Hibbard, London Corporate and OCI relationship partner Andrew Schoorlemmer and Amsterdam Corporate partner Tim Stevens. #AOShearman

Exscientia and Recursion have entered into a definitive agreement to combine their businesses to create a leading technology-first, end-to-end drug discovery platform. “We are delighted to work with Exscientia and bring the capabilities of A&O Shearman to bear in supporting the combination with Recursion. Our work on this major life sciences transaction demonstrates the ability of A&O Shearman to bring together a multi-disciplinary transatlantic team to provide expert advice on highly complex cross border issues. It underlines the strength we bring to the global M&A marketplace.” Matthew Appleton, M&A partner Both companies are listed on Nasdaq. The transaction is expected to complete by early 2025, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions including approval of both Exscientia and Recursion shareholders. Our transatlantic team, working closely alongside Exscientia general counsel Dan I., is led by M&A partners Matthew Appleton, Clare O'Brien, Nick Withers and Christopher Glenn. Get an in depth look of the broader team involved and transaction here: https://ow.ly/L9f950STL1V #AOShearman #MergersandAcquisitions

Enstall's expertise and Schletter's global reach to create a solar mounting powerhouse with a landmark deal for the energy sector. This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone for Enstall, strengthening their global footprint in Germany and Central Europe with a product portfolio covering both rooftop and ground-mount segments. Our cross-border team advised Avenue Capital Group and Robus Capital Management on the sale of German Schletter Group to Enstall. Partners Monika Przygoda, Jasper de Jong, and counsel Dr. Sebastian Remberg led the team alongside James Funder, Aziz Bouhbouh, Dirk-Jan Steffens and Dr. Jonas Schuck. The seamless cooperation between our offices in the Netherlands, Germany and UK exemplifies our commitment to providing top-tier legal services in complex international deals. Read more here: https://ow.ly/myj750SS8vp

Lone Star, a leading private equity firm, has joined forces with Ares Management in a groundbreaking GBP755 million preferred equity investment into Quintain. Quintain has transformed the Wembley Park estate in London into a premier mixed-used neighbourhood. This transaction is a significant development in the evolution of the Wembley Park estate’s development. The cross-practice team who advised on the deal was led by private equity partner Peter Banks and senior associate James Funder, with financing advice provided by real estate finance partner John Coburn and tax advice by partner James Burton. Read more here: https://ow.ly/OEje50SQ64F