The Legal 500

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Sayenko Kharenko acted as legal counsel to Deutsche Bank, ING, J.P. Morgan, Sberbank CIB, UniCredit, and VTB Capital, joint lead managers of the USD 600 million 7.875% Eurobond issue due 2018 by DTEK, Ukraine's leading energy holding.

Sayenko Kharenko advises on M&A deal of the year by IFLR Europe Awards 2013.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as the legal counsel to Citi Venture Capital International and Apollo, private equity firms, on the acquisition of 3 shopping malls in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk operating under the Karavan trademark.

Sayenko Kharenko crowned an extraordinary year by carrying off its third "Ukraine Law Firm of the Year Award" at the IFLR's European Awards ceremony held in London on 10 April 2013.

The Legal 500, an independent guide to law, published its 2013 research last week. Sayenko Kharenko affirmed its reputation as a leading full-service Ukrainian law firm.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as legal counsel to Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan, the lead-managers of the USD 500 million 8.875% loan participation notes due 2018 for the purpose of providing a loan to "State Savings Bank of Ukraine"

According to the recently released Chambers Global 2013, Sayenko Kharenko maintains its position at the top of the market, being highly ranked in all practice areas researched for Ukraine.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to Credit Suisse, J.P. Morgan and UBS, the joint lead managers of the USD 175 million Eurobond offering by Privatbank with 10.875% coupon maturing in 2018.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as legal counsel to a foreign investment fund on the sale of a majority shareholding in Private Joint-Stock Company "Insurance Company "Kyivska Rus" to a group of local investors.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as legal counsel to a foreign investment fund on the sale of a blocking shareholding in Public Joint-Stock Company "Bank "Kyivska Rus" (the "Bank") to a group of Ukrainian companies, affiliated with the Bank's Chairman of the Board, Victor Bratko.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to TE Connectivity group on a significant corporate restructuring.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to JP Morgan and VTB Capital, joint lead managers of the issuance of USD 1 billion notes by the state of Ukraine, issued in accordance with Rule 144A.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as legal counsel to the Joint Stock Company "The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine" ("Ukreximbank") on its USD 500 million 5-year Eurobond issue with a coupon of 8.75% p.a.

company

Sayenko Kharenko was appointed lead counsel to the First Bank of Rock group on setting up and structuring of the First Fund of Rock.

Sayenko Kharenko provided legal advice on Ukrainian law issues to Goldman Sachs, ING and Raiffeisen on USD 800 million financing provided to Summa Group.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, VTB Capital and Sberbank in relation to the issuance of USD 1.25 billion notes by Ukraine, issued in accordance with Rule 144A and RegS. Notes had a coupon rate of 7.8% and will mature in 2022. JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, VTB Capital and Sberbank acted as joint lead managers.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a legal counsel to Cookson Group on its corporate restructuring involving Ukrainian subsidiaries.

Corporate restructuring of Cookson Group was a part of the announced demerger of Cookson Group Plc. (the Group) by separating the Group's performance material business and creation of two business groups held by Vesuvius Plc. and Alent Plc., each to be further listed at the premium listing segment of the Official List of the London Stock Exchange.

Sayenko Kharenko is pleased to announce that Nataliya Mykolska, counsel with the firm, has been named among recommended lawyers for Ukraine according to The International Who's Who Franchise Lawyers 2012 legal directory.

Nataliya Mykolska, counsel at Sayenko Kharenko, will speak at Forbes’ first conference in Ukraine “International Trade: Export Opportunities” to be held on 4 December 2012 in Kyiv.

Sayenko Kharenko has topped the interim Q3 2012 M&A legal advisory league tables for Ukraine both by volume and total value of deals. According to Mergermarket, the firm is No.1 by total volume of completed M&A transactions for 2007 - Q3 2012.

Sports Law in Eastern Europe"

On 21-22 September 2012, Dmitry Ivanusa, counsel with Sayenko Kharenko, spoke at the conference "Faster, higher, stronger. Topical Issues of Sports Law in Eastern Europe". The event took place in Kiel, Germany, and was hosted by the German Association for East European Studies (DGO), the German Sport University Cologne, the Kiel University, and the University of Salzburg.

Sayenko Kharenko successfully represented PJSC "OTP Bank" ("OTP Bank"), one of the largest banks with foreign capital in Ukraine, in court proceeding at the Commercial Court of Dnipropetrovsk Region against the borrower, LLC "HEKRO PET Ltd.", and the property guarantor, LLC "Terminal Fordon", concerning collection of debt under the loan agreement and foreclosure against the mortgaged property.

Sayenko Kharenko acted for Commerzbank on the sale of its controlling stake of approximately 96% in Public Joint Stock Company "Bank Forum" ("Bank Forum") as its outside legal advisor.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Troika Dialog and VTB Capital on USD 2 billion Eurobond issue by the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine.

Sayenko Kharenko’s international arbitration counsel Olena Perepelynska successfully represented the interests of the Ukrainian manufacturer of medical packaging Ukrmedpak LLC in the court proceeding on setting aside of the arbitral award of the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICAC).

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Ferrexpo Poltava Mining, Ferrexpo’s mining and production operation in the Poltava region, on USD 27.9 million export financing for the purchase of Сaterpillar bulldozers and trucks.

Sayenko Kharenko successfully represented PJSC “Insurance Company ”Ukrainian Insurance Group” (the “Client”) in the Supreme Commercial Court of Ukraine concerning USD 11 million insurance indemnity collection dispute.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to VTB Capital on a Euro 175 million project financing of an up to 100MW solar power plant in the Crimea region of Ukraine, constructed by Activ Solar, a global solar energy company. The loan was secured with pledges and mortgages over plants, equipment, bank accounts, and other assets of the project companies.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Joint-Stock Company “VTB Bank” (“VTB Bank”) on the extension of USD 2 billion loan to the Ukrainian Government raised in June 2010.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a legal counsel to Rasec Group, one of the European leaders in fixture and fittings for retail outlets (the “Group”) on corporate restructuring of the Group’s subsidiaries in Ukraine and Russia and developing an efficient corporate governance structure. The transaction included four steps and covered five jurisdictions – Ukraine, Russia, France, Luxemburg and the Netherlands.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as legal counsel to the lenders in the course of restructuring of financial obligations of “Potok8” (former Mirax Group), one of the leading Russian construction and development companies, under the outstanding USD 180 million credit linked notes.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as legal counsel to European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD”) in connection with USD 50 million loan to JSC “The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine” (“Ukreximbank”).

Commerce and the Agricultural Chamber of the Czech Republic

Sayenko Kharenko is pleased to announce that Olena Perepelynska, Counsel of International Arbitration Practice of the firm, has been selected by the Board of the Arbitration Court attached to the Czech Chamber of Commerce and the Agricultural Chamber of the Czech Republic to become Arbitrator of the aforesaid Arbitration Court. 

ICAC at the UCCI

Sayenko Kharenko’s international arbitration counsel Olena Perepelynska successfully represented the interests of the Ukrainian manufacturer of medical packaging Ukrmedpak LLC in the arbitration against the Turkish supplier Vatan Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret.A.S. before the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

Sayenko Kharenko hit the new record this year by being ranked No.1 in five practice areas according to the newly released 2012 edition of the Ukrainian Law Firms research (ULF), the annual ranking of Yuridicheskaya Practika publishing house, assessing the performance of international and local law firms in Ukraine.

Sayenko Kharenko successfully represented PJSC "OTP Bank" (the "Client"), one of the largest banks with foreign capital in Ukraine, in court proceedings against a group of borrowers - "Orient Express" LLC and "Hekra Pet Ltd" LLC - (the "Debtors") concerning debt collection under the loan agreement through repossession of collateral for the total amount of more than USD 16 mln.

For the second year in a row Sayenko Kharenko has won the “Law firm of the year: Ukraine” at IFLR’s Europe Awards in London.

A move up a tier in the Corporate/M&A ranking was just one of Sayenko Kharenko’s highlights in the recently released The Chambers Global 2012. Sayenko Kharenko was named a “Band 1″ firm in Ukraine for an impressive 3 out of the 4 practice areas analyzed by Chambers.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel on the sale of JSC “Kolos” (Kharkiv region) to Glencore International Netherlands B.V. (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), a subsidiary of Glencore International AG (Baar, Switzerland).

CIS Companies” conference in London (the United Kingdom)

On 23-24 February 2012, the conference "International Dispute Resolution Involving Russian and CIS Companies. Practical issues faced by external legal advisers and in-house counsels involved in cross-border dispute resolution" took place in London.  

Sayenko Kharenko arbitration team won a GAFTA arbitration between German buyers and Ukrainian sellers over non-delivery of Ukrainian wheat in summer-autumn 2010.

Sayenko Kharenko is shortlisted for Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence 2012, administered by Chambers & Partners, a reputable international legal directory.

On 8 February 2012, Olena Perepelynska, counsel at Sayenko Kharenko International Arbitration practice, spoke at the conference “Arbitration in Sport 2012”, the first international conference in Poland concerning the sports arbitration. The event took place in the University of Warsaw and gathered the leading international sports arbitration specialists from Germany, France, Poland, Switzerland and Ukraine.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as counsel for a major European financial group in a multiparty arbitration before the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kiev in a dispute arising out of suretyship agreements securing performance of the finance leasing agreement.

International Commercial Arbitration attached to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania

Upon decision approved by the Board of Directors of the National Chamber of Romania, Olena Perepelynska, Counsel of International Arbitration Practice at Sayenko Kharenko, has been included into the List of Arbitrators of the Court of International Commercial Arbitration attached to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR). 

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Platinum Bank on sale of PJSC "Bank Vostok" (former "Home Credit Bank" (Ukraine), based in Dnepropetrovsk.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as the transactional counsel to ING, Citibank and Unicredit, (the “Lenders”), on a landmark USD 1.2 billion restructuring of diversified financial obligations of the Interpipe group, the leading producer of steel pipes in Eastern and Central Europe, (the “Borrower”).

in safeguard investigation

Sayenko Kharenko international trade team successfully represented Ukrainian Fuel Traders Association and its members within the safeguard investigation related to imports of oil refined products into Ukraine. The safeguard investigation was initiated by the Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade (“Commission”) in January 2011 and related to imports of oil refined products notwithstanding the country of origin and export. 

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to XXI Century, the leading Ukrainian development company, on the restructuring of multi-currency USD 32.7 million loans, originally provided by UkrSibbank to wholly-owned subsidiaries of XXI Century.

On 6 December 2011 Yuridicheskaya Practika, Ukraine's leading publishing house, released Top 50 Law Firms 2011, its highly-anticipated annual research on the Ukrainian legal market. This twofold legal market overview includes the list of top 50 law firms in Ukraine selected by the editors, and league tables featuring law firms' involvement with the largest public transactions in the Ukrainian market.

a multinational merger of companies in paper industry

Sayenko Kharenko antitrust team has provided legal assistance to UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Europe's second-biggest papermaker ("UPM") in merger clearance with the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (the "AMC") for EUR 890 million acquisition of Myllykoski Corporation and its German affiliate Rhein Papier GmbH ("Myllykoski").

December, 2011. Over 150 participants of the Ukrainian bond market converged in Lviv for the annual Cbonds Awards ceremony, hosted by Cbonds information agency on 1 December.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Natixis, UBS and Raiffeisen Bank International on the USD 150 million secured borrowing base facility to Inerco Trade S.A., a subsidiary of Kernel Holding S.A.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a legal counsel to OJSC "Power Machines" in a dispute with foreign creditor of OJSC "Power Machines" over the recognition and enforcement of a foreign court judgment in the amount of USD 6 million against OJSC "Power Machines" in Ukraine.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a legal counsel of PrJSC "Philip Morris Ukraine" in a dispute over collection of debt in the amount of UAH 45 million from one of its distributors.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to VTB Capital on USD 100 million two-year loan facility provided by one of the banks from VTB Group to Inerco Trade S.A., a subsidiary of Kernel Holding S.A.

October 2011, Sayenko Kharenko international arbitration team won two arbitrations against Russian citizens under the suretyship agreements securing aircraft lessee’s obligations under the finance leasing agreement. Sayenko Kharenko acted as a counsel to the subsidiary of the leading European financial group in two inter-related arbitration proceedings before the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

Sayenko Kharenko is delighted to announce that our International Arbitration and International Trade practices have been strengthened by inviting an internationally listed arbitrator and a highly reputed practising lawyer Dr. Tatyana Slipachuk with a team of lawyers, including senior associates Nataliya Mykolska and Olena Perepelynska, to join Sayenko Kharenko. Dr. Tatyana Slipachuk was appointed Partner and Head of International Arbitration and International Trade groups with the firm.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel on the sale of 100% stake of a Cyprus-based company, owning commercial real estate assets of over 2000 м2 in Kyiv historic downtown to a foreign strategic investor.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to the stakeholders of Tonis, the oldest private TV channel in Ukraine and the former USSR, on the sale of corporate rights.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan and VTB Capital on USD 1.25 billion Eurobond issue by the state of Ukraine.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Ukrros, one of the largest sugar producing companies in Ukraine, on the sale of 71% of its shares to Kernel Holding S.A. (Kernel), a leading diversified and integrated agri-business company operating in Ukraine.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to the lead managers of the debut USD 50 million Eurobond placement by Agroton Public Limited.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Renaissance Group on acquisition of a majority stake in XXI Century.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to the financial advisor in the transaction, First Ukrainian International Bank (FUIB), on the acquisition of 100% of Renaissance Capital Bank (operating under Renaissance Credit brand) from Renaissance Credit Group.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to the №6 player on the life insurance market in Ukraine, on IP matters in connection with the company’s rebranding.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Ferrexpo on debut USD 500 million Eurobond issue.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Platinum Bank on acquisition of PJSC “Home Credit Bank” (Ukraine), based in Dnepropetrovsk, from Home Credit B.V.

Sayenko Kharenko – legal counsel on obtaining merger clearance for acquisition of Volvo Car Corporation by Zhejiang Geely

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a legal counsel on obtaining merger clearance for the acquisition of Cadbury Plc by Kraft Foods Inc

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Unimilk on EUR 1.5 billion merger with Danone CIS.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to VTB Capital plc, mandated lead arranger, on USD 80 million credit facility to Kernel Holding S.A.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to Ferrexpo plc on USD 350 million syndicated loan.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to JSC "The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine" on the landmark UAH 2.385 billion (USD 300 million) Eurobond issue denominated in the Ukrainian hryvnia. The notes were issued for the period of 3 years, with the interest rate of 11 per cent and settlement in US dollars. The placement was arranged by Credit Suisse, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a legal counsel on obtaining merger clearance for the acquisition of Swissport, Inc. by PAI partners

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel on two issues of Eurobonds by the state of Ukraine for the total amount of USD 2 billion.

Sayenko Kharenko antitrust team has provided legal assistance in merger clearance with the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (the "AMC") for EUR 5.9 billion acquisition by Merck KGaA (“Merck”), a German pharmaceutical heavyweight, of Millipore Corporation ("Millipore"), a US developer of life science tools and services.

Sayenko Kharenko – legal counsel on exchange offer and new Eurobond issue by Ukraine’s leading agro-industrial company

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to the lender on a multimillion loan to OstChem Investments Limited (part of Group DF). The loan was used by the borrower to acquire Horlivka-based OJSC Stirol Concern, Ukraine’s largest producer of nitrogen mineral fertilizers, polyesters, medicines, and ammonia.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to JSC VTB Bank on USD 2 billion loan provided to Ukraine in June 2010.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a legal counsel on obtaining merger clearance for the acquisition of Chloride Group PLC by Emerson Electric Company

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Abris Capital Partners on acquisition of key retail assets of Torgovyi Svit from Roveks, a Ternopil-based wholesale distributor.

Sayenko Kharenko advised BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse, ING, Royal Bank of Scotland and VTB Capital who acted as joint lead managers of the first issue of Eurobonds by Metinvest. USD 500 million Notes due 2015 were sold with 10.25% coupon.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to the trustee representing the holders of USD 175 million senior secured notes on restructuring of the financial indebtedness of the Gallery Group, the second largest out-of-home advertising operator in Russia and Ukraine.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel on the sale of Fortis Life Insurance Ukraine, the №6 player on the life insurance market in Ukraine, to Horizon Capital.

Sayenko Kharenko successfully defended Dyckerhoff in the proceedings initiated by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to ING, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Erste Group Bank AG, the deal managers of USD 500 million Eurobond placement by DTEK (part of System Capital Management).

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine (Ukreximbank), on USD 500 million Eurobond issue rated B1 by Moody’s and B- by Fitch.

Sayenko Kharenko secures merger clearance in Ukraine for the acquisition of control over Paris Re by Partner Re

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Credit Suisse, the deal manager on the complex restructuring of NJC “Naftogas of Ukraine” (Naftogas) external debt. Naftogas successfully completed the restructuring by the way of exchange of its bilateral loans in the amount of USD 1.1 billion and existing LPNs in the amount of USD 500 million, which were due on 30 September 2009, into a single issue of securities to be guaranteed by the state.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to VTB Capital plc, the arranger and sole dealer with respect to USD 789,4 million floating rate amortising secured notes due 2019 issued by Wisbech Pineapple plc.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to HSBC Bank Plc and ING Bank N.V., the solicitation agents of the restructuring of USD 275 million Eurobond issue for PJSC «First Ukrainian International Bank» (FUIB).

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to minority shareholders of Allseeds group of companies ("Allseeds") on the sale of 37.6% shareholding to Kernel.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as the Ukrainian legal counsel to Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (“CME”) on the closing of 100% sale of CME Ukraine operations, including the Studio 1+1 and Kino channels, to Harley Trading Limited, a company beneficially owned by Igor Kolomoisky, which closed on April 7, 2010.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, the lead arrangers of EUR 200 million Eurobond placement by Central European Media Enterprises (CME).

Sayenko Kharenko – legal counsel on obtaining preliminary conclusions of the AMC regarding the acquisition of additional shares in the highest management body of Public Joint Stock Company "Bank Forum"

Sayenko Kharenko advised HSBC and UBS, the deal managers, on exchange offer and consent solicitation of Alfa-Bank Eurobonds totaling over USD 1 billion.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to Renaissance Capital, the solicitation agent of the restructuring of USD 175 million issue of Eurobonds by XXI Century Investment Public Limited (XXI Century).

Sayenko Kharenko, a leading transactional law firm, is pleased to announce the promotions of Nazar Chernyavsky and Dmitry Taranyk.

SAYENKO KHARENKO acted as the Ukrainian legal counsel to Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (“CME”) on acquisition of 100% ownership of the KINO channel in Ukraine.

SAYENKO KHARENKO acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to Credit Suisse in relation to refinancing of the USD 465 million loan to Ukravtodor, which was provided by Morgan Stanley in 2007.

Sayenko Kharenko acted as the Ukrainian legal counsel to Citibank N.A. on USD 250 million syndicated loan to Zaporizhstal.

SAYENKO KHARENKO acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel of the seller on sale of real-estate assets and the company, holding real estate properties in the historical center of Kyiv to ESTA Holding (part of SCM Group “System Capital Management”).

Sayenko Kharenko acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to Raiffeisen Zentralbank Osterreich Aktiengesellschaft and Bayerische Landesbank, the arrangers of USD 100 million syndicated loan to OTP Bank Ukraine.