Mitsubishi UFJ news

With a transaction value of approximately US$30bn and the prospect of forming the world's largest banking group with assets of approximately US$1.7tn, the proposed merger of Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group with UFJ Holdings has caused quite a commotion in the Tokyo legal market.

Johnson Stokes & Master has advised a consortium of shipping operators including Mitsui OSK Lines and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha on the largest ever limited recourse loan facility in the shipping market.

White & Case, Allen & Overy and Latham & Watkins have worked in tandem to help close the groundbreaking US$2.6bn financing of the greenfield Tangguh LNG project in Indonesia.

And the finalists are...
It's that time of year again. Now in its fifth year, the ALB Hong Kong Law Awards is back and promises to be bigger and better than ever in 2006. The following pages document the official finalists - and potential winners - of this year's awards

The London head office of Hong Kong firm Stephenson Harwood & Lo has appointed the former managing director of the UK lease arranging arm of Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ as a consultant in its banking and asset finance group.

There continues to be strong interest among Asian trading houses and resources companies to gain a slice of Western Australia's resources sector.

As the Middle East financial market continues to develop, Latham & Watkins has responded by strengthening its Dubai office with the appointment of securities lawyer Maysa Ibrahim.

Ushinawareta junen (the lost decade) is officially over and Japanese companies have emerged cashed up and ready to plunder ailing markets across the globe. But, as ALB reports, while Japan's band of bengoshi and gaggle of gaiben are looking forward to an upswing in work, micro matters loom large on the horizon

Simmons & Simmons has transferred two finance partners from its London office to Dubai, bringing its combined finance practice in the Gulf to five partners.

Asian companies are tipped to increase stakes in Australia's resources sector. Richard Szabo spoke to firms to find out what opportunities there are in the golden West

Once the exclusive domain of countries in the Middle East, Islamic finance is seeing high activity as cash-rich investors from the region scout for opportunities to invest their money beyond its golden shores.

Lovells' Hong Kong Banking team, facilitated two major debt transactions in a week.

The natural resources sector in Indonesia is heating up. Leading coal mining company, PT Adaro Indonesia, has attracted significant interest from international financiers resulting in oversubscription in both an offer of senior guaranteed notes and a bank facility.

Following on from Tourism Development & Investment Company’s US$1.45bn sukuk trust certificate issuance program in the UAE, the Government of Dubai has made its inaugural sukuk issue.

Law firms from around the globe have pieced together the acquisitions and financings that has launched Indonesian listed company, Delta, into the coal mining industry through its purchase of Indonesian coal mining contractor, Buma.

China Agri-Industries Holdings has been advised by Herbert Smith in relation to a US$250m five-year loan facility. A syndicate of seven banks was advised by Linklaters.

If Joseph Bevash of Latham & Watkins is to be believed, the complexity and multi-currency nature of his recent Senoko Power finance deal could become more commonplace in the future.

The firms have completed the largest securities offering in Japan of the past decade

The financial crisis has created opportunity for investment banks Asia to accelerate expansion plans both within and beyond the region.

Telecommunications and broadcasting sectors in Japan are experiencing a surge in activity and the latest move comes from Sumitomo Corporation.