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A&L Goodbody recently advised Westfield Group, the world’s largest shopping centre owner/operator, on the $10bn launch of an EMTN programme. On the debt side, Adrian Burke and Ciaran Rogers are ‘immersed in capital markets law’ while Eithne FitzGerald is highly respected on the equity side. Other representative clients include Iberdrola, ICS Building Society and Banco español de Crédito.

Arthur Cox remains a ‘cut above the rest’, say clients. The firm recently advised Barclays Bank as managers of a €6bn long-dated bond issue by the state of Ireland and also advised EBS Building Society on a €2.5bn bond issue by Emerald Mortgages No. 5. Cormac Kissane, Glenn Butt and Richard Ambery are all highly sought-after partners.

On the equity side, Matheson Ormsby Prentice acted for IAWS on its €2.5bn merger with Hiestand and on the listing of ARYZTA (the new parent company of the combined group) on the Irish and Swiss Stock Exchanges. Tim Scanlon is ‘impressively knowledgeable’ and ‘quick to react.’

Clients award McCann FitzGerald the ultimate accolade when they say, ‘there are other good capital markets firms in Dublin but I would select McCanns above them’. Roy Parker and Barry Devereux lead a ‘seamless’ and ‘responsive’ group that recently advised the arranger, Davy and Lazard, on the €153m open offer and placing by Waterford Wedgwood.

Although the equity markets have been quiet this year, William Fry has had its hands full: it advised Waterford Wedgwood on its open offer and placing; Kentz on its €200m IPO; and GPS-Buddy Holdings on its public offer of shares in Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Latvia. Elaine Hanly and Myra Garrett are recommended.

BCM Hanby Wallace receives praise year on the back of success on the pharma side. The firm advised Merrion pharmaceuticals on its admission to trading on IEX and its €8m placing. Hemcon Medical Technologies, CNG Travel Group and Avoca Capital are also recent clients.

In 2008 Dillon Eustace advised AIG on the secondary listing of its common stock on the Irish Stock Exchange. This ‘commercial’ team also fields a solid securitisation practice and the firm’s debt listings group acts for clients such as JPMorgan.

David Hackett’s team at Eugene F. Collins has been particularly active for Anglo Irish Bank recently, advising it on a series of notable transactions including on the establishment of its €10bn MTN programme.

LK Shields Solicitors was recently involved in setting-up of a second MTN programme worth €7bn for Banquo Credit Management. Nomura International, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank are also representative clients.

Over the past year Maples and Calder has kept busy advising nominated advisors such as Arbuthnot Securities on AIM and IEX admissions and was also involved in the reverse take over of Boundary Capital by Panther Group Acquisitions.

The capital markets team at Mason Hayes+Curran sits within the firm’s strong corporate practice. The firm recently advised on the placing and AIM/IEX Admission of Origin Enterprises.

Press releases

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Legal Developments in Ireland

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • REDUNDANCY PAYMENTS - RIGHTS & OBLIGATIONS

    (1) Redundancy – What are my entitlements/obligations?  (2) Is the redundancy legitimate?  (3) What can I do if my employer is insolvent?
    - Duncan Grehan & Partners
  • Frozen Embryos Are Not The ‘unborn’

    The Supreme Court made headlines this week when it considered the age old question of when life begins. The case arose out of an appeal by a mother of two, Mrs. Roche, against the High Court’s refusal to order a Dublin Clinic to release three frozen embryos to her with a view to becoming pregnant against the wishes of her estranged husband. Our firm looked after the interests of two Consultant Gynaecologists and Directors of the Clinic involved in the case.
    - Hayes Solicitors
  • The Case for Advance Care Directives

    Strap - There has been a good deal of publicity on the topic recently following publication of the Law Reform Commission’s September 2009 report on Bioethics: Advance Care Directives. Louise O’Rourke of Hayes Solicitors looks at where and how they apply to the current regime.
    - Hayes Solicitors
  • LANDWELL Bulletin: Managing in a Downturn

    As we are all well aware this is the most turbulent climate for business both nationally and internationally, that any of us have experienced. We have therefore focused this bulletin on areas where we believe we can help you take decisive steps to manage the issues that are required to get through the downturn and be properly prepared for the future.
    - Landwell
  • The Companies (Amendment) Act 2009

    The Companies (Amendment) Act, 2009 (the “Act”) was signed into law on 12 July 2009. The Act provides for signifi cant changes to company law compliance and enforcement. It gives increased powers of search and seizure to the Offi ce of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (“ODCE”) and expands disclosure obligations with regard to transactions between a company and its directors (including specifi c changes for licensed banks). The Act also relaxes the requirement that at least one director of an Irish company must be resident in the State.
    - Landwell
  • New Rules for Acquiring Transactions in the Financial Sector

    In line with EU-mandated requirements, Ireland has introduced new rules governing acquisitions, in whole or in part, of certain regulated financial institutions.
    - McCann FitzGerald
  • Looking East: Irish Investors in a Changing China

    There appears to be no end to the hyperbole surrounding the emergence of China as an economic powerhouse. Everywhere one looks there are references to the Chinese miracle; the most protracted and significant period of economic growth ever witnessed. China, we are told, is the next superpower, the ‘Big Tiger’, the ‘Awakening Dragon’. For western investors, it is said to represent the ‘not to be missed opportunity of a lifetime’.
    - WhitneyMoore
  • Irish Merger Control: Review of Key Developments in 2008

    A 47% Year-on-Year Drop in the Number of Deals Notified: Reflecting the global decline in merger activity, the number of deals notified to the Competition Authority fell to 38 in 2008, a 47% decrease from 2007, when 72 deals were notified, and a more than 60% decrease from the 2006 peak of 98 notified deals.
    - McCann FitzGerald
  • European Communities (Takeover Bids (Directive 2004/25/EC)) Regulations 2006

    The EU Takeovers Directive (2004/25/EC) (the “Takeovers Directive”) has been transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Takeover Bids (Directive 2004/25/EC)) Regulations, 2006 (S. I. No. 255 of 2006) (the “Takeovers Regulations”). The stated aim of the Takeovers Directive is to strengthen the Single Market in financial services by facilitating cross-border restructuring and enhancing minority shareholder protection. Many of the provisions of the Directive are already contained in the existing Irish regime for the supervision of takeovers set out in the Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997 (the “Act”), the Takeover Rules, 2001 (the “Rules”) and the Companies Acts 1963 – 2005, which will continue to apply. The Takeovers Regulations cater for those areas not already dealt with in the existing regime or areas of the regime that needed to be adjusted as a result of the requirements of the Takeovers Directive.
    - Dillon Eustace
  • Establishing a Retail Fund in Ireland for sale in Japan Fund Structures and Features

    The issuing of securities of offshore funds for public sale into Japan is governed by a combination of the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan (the "SEL") which is enforced by the Japanese Ministry of Finance ("MOF"), the Law Concerning Investment Trust and Investment Company of Japan (the "Investment Funds Law") which is enforced by the Financial Services Agency of Japan ("FSA").Establishing a Retail Fund in Ireland for sale in Japan Fund Structures and Features
    - Dillon Eustace

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
  • KF Fastigheter develops the trade area Mobilia in Lund

    KF Fastigheter has acquired parts of the trade area Mobilia in Lund, and will together with Arne Paulssons Byggnads AB develop the area, including i.a. a Coop supermarket. KF Fastigheter has in connection herewith sold a larger property in central Lund to Paulssons. Mannheimer Swartling advised KF Fastigheter.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Kaul and Capol sold to Riverside

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised the owners in the sale of Kaul GmbH and UK-affiliate, Capol UK Ltd., to The Riverside Company.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Proventus establishes vehicle for investments in corporate loans and bonds

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised Proventus in connection with the establishment of Proventus Capital Partners – a co-investment vehicle focusing on corporate loans and corporate bonds. The investment strategy for this vehicle also allows direct loans to companies and the ambition is to contribute with financing to mid-sized companies in need of capital for growth or restructuring when these companies are unable to secure traditional bank financing.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Protego Real Estate Investors selling Swedish retail properties

    Protego Real Estate Investors has been advised by Mannheimer Swartling on the sale of twelve retail properties situated throughout Sweden for a total value of approximately SEK 210 million.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Teracom divests its broadband business

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised the Teracom Group in the divestiture of its subsidiary Comet Networks to CSIT. Comet Networks operates the Group's broadband business, currently reaching more than 650,000 households and 80,000 businesses in approximately 50 municipalities in Sweden.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Södra Timber acquires Trivselhus

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised Södra Timber in connection with its acquisition of Ittur Prefab Industrier AB, the parent company of the Trivselhus Group, one of Sweden’s leading producers of prefabricated homes. Closing is expected to take place on 1 October 2009. The transaction is subject to inter alia competition clearance.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Varian Medical Systems selected for new proton therapy centre

    Mannheimer Swartling has assisted Varian Medical Systems in entering into agreements for delivery of a proton therapy system to Skandionkliniken. The agreements include supply of an estimated USD 60 million in products. Varian Medical Systems will also have a five year service agreement valued at approximately USD 25 million. Skandionkliniken is the first clinical centre for proton therapy in Scandinavia and will have a capacity of treating 1,000 – 2,500 cancer patients per year. Varian Medical Systems is the world’s leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Wallhamn, Sweden’s largest private port, gains approvals for expansion

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised Wallhamn AB on matters related to gaining approval for expansion of the port’s fairway to facilitate access for larger cargo ships. The port, owned by the Italian-based Grimaldi Group, is used for RoRo cargo, mainly in relation to the import and export of vehicles. The matter involved negotiations and permitting approval from, among others, the Swedish Transport Agency as well as other authorities and concerned parties. The firm recently also advised the Grimaldi Group on its acquisition of 50 per cent of port Wallhamn from EUKOR Car Carriers Inc, making the Grimaldi Group the sole owner of port Wallhamn.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Stena Bulk in joint venture with Asahi Tankers

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised Stena Bulk AB in its new joint venture with Japanese shipping company Asahi Tankers. The joint venture company, Asahi Stena Tankers, will be owned 50/50 by the parties and will invest in tonnage of varying sizes, initially focusing on Suezmax tankers for global transportation of crude oil.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Skandia Liv signs asset management agreement with DnB NOR

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised Skandia Liv on an agreement with DnB NOR to manage a portfolio of assets valued at approximately SEK 80 billion. The agreement replaces a previous asset management agreement between the parties and covers DnB NOR’s continued management of a portfolio of Swedish shares and interest and includes a number of special mandates, amongst others in tactical allocation and advice on “socially responsible investing.”
    Mannheimer Swartling