Allen and Gledhill LLP has advised PTT International Company Limited (PTTI) and its wholly owned subsidiary Lints Limited (Lints) on a sale and purchase agreement for the acquisition of 60 percent of the issued shares in the capital of Straits Bulk & Industrial Pty Ltd, an Australian incorporated entity which holds 47.1 percent of the issued shares in the capital of Straits Asia Resources Limited (SAR). Following the acquisition, Lints is required to make a mandatory conditional cash offer for all of SAR’s shares excluding those already owned, controlled or agreed to be acquired by Lints. Partners Prawiro Widjaja and Song Su Min from Allen and Gledhill were involved.

Allens Arthur Robinson has advised Aristocrat Leisure Limited on its recent institutional placement, which raised A$200 million (approximately US$145.4 million). Equity raised will be used to strengthen the company’s balance sheet in light of the current economic environment. Sydney-based partner Victoria Poole led the team from Allens.

AZB & Partners has advised the International Financial Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank, in respect of its equity financing in Jain Irrigation Systems Limited (JISL) through subscription of equity shares. The firm also advised the IFC on reviewed authorisations, board resolutions and Indian regulatory matters. A public listed company, JISL is one of India’s leading agri-business companies and manufacturers of irrigation systems and plastic pipes and sheets. Gautum Sahu of AZB & Partners was involved.

Baker & McKenzie has advised UBS who acted as underwriter and lead manager of the A$80 million (approximately US$58.1 million) accelerated rights issue by STW Communications Group Ltd, Australia’s largest marketing communications group. The institutional component of the entitlement offer, valued at A$60 million (approximately US$43.6 million), was successfully completed on 23 April 2009. Partner Craig Andrade led the Baker & McKenzie legal team with partner Andrew Reilly providing specialist US legal advice.

Clayton Utz has advised a leading renewable energy business Hydro Tasmania in the A$132.2 million (approximately US$96.1 million) strategic sale of its Roaring 40s China wind farm portfolio to its joint venture partner China Light and Power (CLP). The deal, which reached financial close on 24 April, was led by corporate partner Nick Miller for Hydro Tasmania. Roaring 40s will continue to operate in Australia as a 50/50 joint venture between Hydro Tasmania and CLP.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP represented the Republic of Korea (ROK) in its U.S. SEC-registered offering of US$1.5 billion 5.750 percent notes due 2014 and US$1.5 billion 7.125 percent notes due 2019. Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Samsung Securities were the joint lead managers and bookrunners, and BNP Paribas, Calyon, Morgan Stanley, Nomura and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc were the co-managers for the transaction. The Cleary team was led by Hong Kong-based partner Jinduk Han. This offering was a takedown from the ROK’s US$7 billion debt shelf registration statement filed with the SEC in March 2009.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP represented Barclays Capital, Citi, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, ING and Hana Daetoo Securities as joint lead managers in a Rule 144A and Reg S offering by Hana Bank of US$1 billion of 6.5 percent notes due 2012. The offering is guaranteed by the Republic of Korea under Hana Bank’s US$6 billion Global Medium Term Note Program. This was the first debt offering by a Korean bank following the introduction of Korean Government’s guarantee program in late 2008 to guarantee foreign currency-denominated debts incurred by Korean banks and their overseas branches. The Cleary team included Hong Kong-based partners Jinduk Han and Yong Lee.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP represented SK Telecom, Korea’s largest provider of wireless telecommunications, wireless data and internet services, in its US$332.5 million Reg S offering of 1.75 percent convertible notes due 2014. The notes, listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, are convertible into common shares or American depositary shares of SK Telecom (listed on the Korea Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange respectively). Hong Kong-based partner Jinduk Han led the Cleary team. Nomura, Barclays Capital, Citi and Credit Suisse were joint bookrunners.

DLA Phillips Fox has advised Fujitsu Australia Ltd on it’s A$48 million (approximately US$34.9 million) purchase of Supply Chain Consulting Pty Ltd, an SAP enterprise solutions and services firm. The transaction required due diligence across Australia, Thailand and the Philippines. The deal team was led by partner Mark Burger with DLA Philips Fox’s global alliance partner undertaking due diligence investigations through its Bangkok office.

Gilbert + Tobin has advised IFFCO Poultry Co Limited on its 19.9 percent acquisition of ordinary shares in Australian Agricultural Company. The transaction was led by partner Adam Laura.

Kim & Chang has advised POSCO on the issuing of US$700 million aggregate principal 8.75 percent notes, issued with a 5 year maturity. Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, Goldman Sachs International, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Merrill Lynch International were joint lead managers to the transaction. Key partners from Kim & Chang involved were C.H. Ko and Jina Myung.

Kim & Chang have acted as local counsel to Nomura, Barclays Capital, Citi, Credit Suisse, HSBC and SK Securities, who were underwriters on the SK Telecom issuing of a Reg S offering of US$332.5 million convertible bonds. The bonds are convertible into treasury shares held by SK Telecom or ADSs of SK Telecom at the option of the investors. Key partners from Kim & Chang were Y.J. Ro and B.Y. Ahn.

Latham & Watkins LLP has represented Wall Street Institute (WSI), a leading global provider of English language instruction owned by an affiliate of private equity firm The Carlyle Group, in the $145 million cash sale of its Chinese business Wall Street English and related intellectual property, to Pearson plc. The transaction involved multinational parties, with the intellectual property aspects of the transaction including multiple jurisdictions. The team was led by partner Paul Sheridan in Washington, D.C. and partners William Woo and Kenneth Chan in Hong Kong.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker has advised Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) on various aspects of the Phase 2 expansion of the Manila North Expressway in the Philippines. The firm also acted as international counsel on the associated financing of approximately US$45 million which was provided by Philippine National Bank, and represented the MNTC on the conversion into Pesos of certain US dollar denominated financing provided by the Asian Development Bank to MNTC in connection with existing project financing. The Paul Hastings team was led by corporate partner Patricia Tan Openshaw.

WongPartnership LLP has acted as Singapore counsel to the lenders in relation to the CHF 850 million (US$750.7 million) facilities (the Facilities) granted by a syndicate of banks to certain Gate Gourmet entities. The Facilities financed the acquisition of the deSter Holding B.V. group and the refinancing of the incorporation of Singapore entity Gate Gourmet Singapore Pte Ltd. The joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners to this transaction were Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. and Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch. The transaction was led by partner Christy Lim.