Featured Deals

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 We advised the Russian TV company TNT Broadcasting Network (part of the major Russian media group, Gazprom Media) on the acquisition of a controlling stake in Comedy Club Production.

Having consolidated “7 ART” group of companies as a part of the deal, Comedy Club Production has become one of the strongest popular comedy programmes and TV shows production companies in Russia.

Comedy Club Production is known for the production of its flagship show Comedy Club.  Other popular TV shows and film series include Comedy Woman, Nasha Russia, Univer, Comedy Battle, Nezlob, Ne Spat.

To watch Comedy Club go to http://comedyclub.tnt-online.ru/

We acted for TNT Broadcasting Network (part of the major Russian media group, Gazprom Media)(TNT) on a multi-million dollar Free TV Output license deal with Warner Bros. in relation to a library of films including the Harry Potter franchise, Sex and the City, Sherlock Holmes, a number of other TV series (including One and a Half Men) and animations.

TNT is one of the top Russian television channels.  It reaches over 100 million people throughout Russia offering light entertainment.  Thanks to its blend of innovative reality programmes and a variety of original comedy shows, TNT demonstrated a record-breaking growth in both revenues and audience share over the last few years.

Entering into a license agreement with Warner Bros. on favorable terms signaled another major commercial success for TNT.

To learn more about TNT go to http://tnt-online.ru/

We have advised a major Russian investment-commercial bank on a regular basis on negotiating ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association) and TBMA/ISMA (The Bond Market Association/International Security Management Association) documentation, master brokerage and payment netting agreements with various global investment banks (including Goldman Sachs, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Société Generale and Julius Baer).

For information on ISDA please go to http://www2.isda.org

We advised this Russian Bank on multi-million US dollar issue of subordinated loan participation notes (“LPNs”) under an established debt issuance programme arranged and maintained by Deutsche Bank and then on restructuring of the outstanding subordinated LPNs under the same debt issuance programme.

The work included amending loan facility agreements and the terms and conditions of the notes in order to meet new commercial terms, as well as to comply with the Central Bank of Russia’s prudential requirements on subordinated debt.

As a part of restructuring process, we arranged for calling a noteholders meeting to approve the amended and restated terms and conditions of the notes.

We advised RosVodokanal, a major Russian utilities company, in relation to entering into a multi-billion Rouble loan agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.  The transaction had a complex security structure which included charges over shares in a number of group companies and a corporate guarantee.

RosVodokanal is a Russian company that deals with water utilities and water management.  The company’s headquarters are located in Moscow and it operates throughout Russia.  RosVodokanal is a part of Alfa Group.

For information on RosVodokanal visit http://www.rosvodokanal.ru

We advised TNT on the acquisition of a library of popular TV shows from GoodStoryMedia, a TV production company, as well as setting up of a corporate structure to hold and operate the acquired library of TV shows and securing the services on an exclusive basis of key creative producers over a fixed term.

GoodStoryMedia was set up in 2008 by creative producers Artem Loginov, Anton Zaitsev and Anton Shukin.  The first project of the company was sitcom Voronini, which was awarded a national TV award TEFFI, followed by such popular sitcoms as Kak ia vstretil vashu mamu, Vosimedesiatye, Fizruk, Kosti, Realniye Patsany, Sladkaya Zhizn and Molodozheni.

To learn more about GoodStoryMedia go to http://goodstorymedia.com

We advised on the restructuring of a joint venture set up between Madonna and her business partners in Russia to promote a chain of fitness clubs in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

To join the club contact Irina Razumova at IRazumova@fitness.ru or visit the club’s website http://hardcandyfitnes.ru/

We have advised Exillon Energy plc, an independent oil & gas company, premium listed on the London Stock Exchange, in relation to various corporate governance matters, as well as on continuing listing obligations and mandatory disclosures.

For information on Exillon Energy plc visit http://www.exillonenergy.com/

We assisted a UK company founded by Russian shareholders including Arkady Novikov (Russia’s most famous and successful restaurateur) in ensuring the successful completion of a multimillion pound fit out of NOVIKOV Restaurant and Bar, a first class restaurant in Mayfair, London.

For reservations at NOVIKOV Restaurant and Bar go to http://www.novikovrestaurant.co.uk/reservations/

We advised the Phenomen Group on setting up a corporate presence in the UK and various day-to-day issues. The Phenomen Group, engaged in production of Dau film, is led by director Ilya Krzhanovsky.

We advised TATNEFT, a Russian independent oil & gas company, on negotiating ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association) documentation with a major international investment bank for documenting transactions with commodity derivatives.

TATNEFT is one of the largest Russian oil and gas companies.  The production facilities of TATNEFT include oil and gas production, petroleum refining, petrochemicals production, a tire manufacturing complex, a chain of gas stations and services.

For information on TATNEFT visit http://www.tatneft.ru

We advised AMB Bank, a former client of MF Global, a global brokerage house, on a multi-million dollar debt restructuring to protect AMB Bank’s rights as a creditor of MF Global, and on entering into a compromise agreement, which was approved by KPMG acting as administrators for MF Global.

The matter was challenging because the resulting compromise agreement had to comply with strict regulatory requirements under English law in relation to the special administration regime.