Pinsents’ relationship with Salans scoops role on HSBC deal

Pinsents partner Chris Tart has a longstanding relationship with HSBC, but the bank needed European advice to help it provide around £134m of financing to German soft drinks company Gerber Emig Group.

As a result Salans was instructed, advising on French, German and Polish law.

HSBC acted as joint-mandated lead arranger alongside Rabobank on two facilities to Gerber Emig for e75.4m (£68.87m) and £65m, which will be used to refinance existing debt.

The facilities also included Commerzbank, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland as mandated lead arrangers, and Santander as lead arranger.

The Pinsents team was led by Tart in London, with the Salans team comprising Paris-based partner Philippe Max, Berlin-based partner Hermann Meller and Warsaw-based associate Michal Mezykowski.

Herbert Smith partner Ewen Ferguson advised Gerber Emig.