Qatar

QatarGas and RasGas integration 
Representation of Qatar Petroleum and its affiliates QatarGas and RasGas in connection with the integration of QatarGas and RasGas. The transaction has created the world’s largest LNG company.

Qatari Diar 
Representation of Qatari Diar on the €506.8 million sale of its entire stake in Veolia Environment representing approximately 26.1 million shares and 4.6% of the share capital. The shares were sold via an institutional private placement with qualified investors by way of an accelerated bookbuilding. Veolia Environnement’s shares are listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris.

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) 
Representation of United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) on its merger with Germany-headquartered Hapag-Lloyd AG, in a multibillion deal that is the largest cross-border M&A deal involving a Middle East-headquartered company in the last ten years and the largest-ever M&A deal involving a Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) company. The new combined company is the world’s fifth largest container shipping line, with a fleet of 230 ships and annual turnover of around US$12 billion. The former majority shareholders of UASC, Qatar Holding LLC and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, also separately advised by the White & Case Dubai team, have become key shareholders in the new Hapag-Lloyd, holding approximately 14 percent and ten percent, respectively, in the combined entity. IFLR called this deal “a blueprint for future M&A transactions in the shipping container industry,” and Legal Business called it “hugely complicated.” This transaction was also recognized as "Transaction of the Year (Over £3 Billion)" and "Industrials Deal of the Year (Over £1 Billion)" at the Second Annual EMEA Corporate Growth Awards presented by The M&A Advisor.

Qatar Rail
We represented Qatar Rail in the drafting of Qatar's national rail legislation and the suite of FIDIC Yellow Book subcontracts for various aspects of the Qatar Integrated Railway Project, including mechanical, engineering and plumbing works, supply and installation works and maintenance services. The Qatar Integrated Railway Project is a landmark integrated transport infrastructure project that will consist of a four-line metro system in Doha and a long-distance passenger and freight rail network, 510 km long and connecting the major centres of population and industry in Qatar.

Ooredoo Group, 2016
We represented Ooredoo Group on the update of its US$5 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme and the issuance thereunder of US$500 million of notes by Ooredoo International Finance Limited which are guaranteed by Ooredoo Q.S.C. The notes, which were offered pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S and are listed on the Irish Stock Exchange, will mature on 22 June 2026 and have a coupon of 3.75 percent per annum. ANZ, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, DBS Bank Ltd., HSBC, MUFG, Mizuho Securities and QNB Capital acted as Joint Lead Managers in connection with the notes offering.

FRHI Holdings Limited (FRHI), Qatar Investment Authority and Kingdom Holding Company of Saudi Arabia (Kingdom)
Represented FRHI, QIA and Kingdom in the US$2.9 billion stock-and-cash sale of FRHI, the parent company of luxury hotel brands Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel, to AccorHotels (Accor). Accor is funding the acquisition by issuing 46.7 million new Accor shares and a cash payment of US$840 million. QIA and Kingdom will become major shareholders in Accor, respectively holding 10.5 percent and 5.8 percent of its share capital. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals from the antitrust authorities and shareholder approval.

Barwa Real Estate Company
We represented Labregah Real Estate Company, a division of the sovereign wealth fund Qatari Diar, and Barwa Real Estate, a publicly-listed Qatari company, on acquisitions by Labregah, of Barwa City Company and a 95 percent stake in Barwa Commercial Avenue Company in two related deals with a combined value of US$5.3 billion. These deals follow an earlier acquisition by Labregah of a 37% stake in Barwa Bank, one of Qatar's largest financial institutions, for US$656 million. Our work on these deals was recognized as "Domestic M&A Deal of the Year" by the IFLR Middle East Award 2014.

Sponsors of the Barzan Gas Project
We represented Qatar Petroleum and Exxon Mobil as the sponsors on the market-leading US$10.3 billion Barzan Gas Project. This big-ticket project comprised an offshore and onshore element, transporting gas from Qatar's North Field to a processing facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, and was financed up to 30 percent by equity and 70 percent banks and export credit agencies through a syndicated loan of US$7.2 billion. This was one of the most significant oil and gas projects ever undertaken in Qatar and was the world's largest project financing to close in that year. In recognition, this transaction won several awards in 2011.