Global law firm Baker McKenzie has been awarded "Banking & Finance Legal Advisor of the Year" at the Global Banking & Markets CEE, CIS & Türkiye Awards 2024. Since 2014, the Global Banking & Markets: CEE, CIS & Türkiye Awards have celebrated the most innovative and groundbreaking transactions involving sovereign, corporate, and financial institution issuers and borrowers. The ceremony was held on 20 November 2024 in Istanbul.
The rigorous awards selection process includes a detailed assessment of deal size, structure, and distribution, as well as an analysis of the borrower's background and their access to financing. Additional recognition is given to deals that showcase exceptional execution, tap into new liquidity sources, employ innovative structuring, and open up new markets.
Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, were also recognized as legal advisers on 11 “Deal of the Year” awards:
Groundbreaking Deal of the Year
• Akbank
• USD 600mn AT1 Bond
• Issue Date: 14 March 2024
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Citi, Emirates NBD Capital, J.P. Morgan, MUFG, Standard Chartered Bank
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
Local Currency Bond Deal of the Year
• Arena Bilgisayar Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
• TRY 10bn Asset-back Security
• Issue Date: 29 August 2024
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
ESG Bond Deal of the Year
• Ülker Bisküvi Sanayi A.Ş.
• USD 550mn Sustainability Linked Bond
• Issue Date: 8 July 2024
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank of America, Emirates NBD Capital, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Rabobank
• Legal Adviser to the Bookrunner/JLMs: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
Liability Management Deal of the Year
• Ülker Bisküvi Sanayi A.Ş.
• USD 351mn Bond Tender Offer
• Issue Date: 27 June 2024
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank of America, J.P. Morgan
• Legal Adviser to the Bookrunner/JLMs: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
Corporate Syndicated Loan Deal of the Year
• YILDIRIM International Investment Holding
• USD 286mn
• Issue Date: 22 December 2023
• Arranger & Coordinator: ING Bank
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank of China, Development Bank of Kazakhstan, Halyk Bank, ING
• Legal Adviser to the Bookrunner/JLMs: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International a Swiss Verein
Export Finance Deal of the Year
• YILDIRIM International Investment Holding
• USD 286mn
• Issue Date: 22 December 2023
• Arranger & Coordinator: ING Bank
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank of China, Development Bank of Kazakhstan, Halyk Bank, ING
• Legal Adviser to the Bookrunner/JLMs: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International a Swiss Verein
Transport Finance Deal of the Year
• Republic of Serbia represented by Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Serbia
• EUR 1.6bn Export Finance Loan
• Issue Date: 21 December 2023
• Bookrunner/JLMs: J.P. Morgan
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie
Structured Bond Deal of the Year
• Bank Pekao S.A.
• EUR 500mn Bond
• Issue Date: November 2023
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank Pekao, BofA Securities, BNP Paribas, Citi, J.P. Morgan
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie
Islamic Syndication Deal of the Year
• DenizBank A.S.
• USD 230mn & EUR 50mn
• Issue Date: 14 September 2023
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Emirates NBD
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
Sovereign Islamic Syndication Deal of the Year
• Türkiye Wealth Fund
• USD 100mn
• Issue Date: 14 March 2024
• Lender: Sharjah Islamic Bank
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Doğan Investment Bank
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
Financial Institutions Islamic Syndication Deal of the Year
• DenizBank A.S.
• USD 230mn & EUR 50mn
• Issue Date: 14 September 2023
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Emirates NBD
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
The rigorous awards selection process includes a detailed assessment of deal size, structure, and distribution, as well as an analysis of the borrower's background and their access to financing. Additional recognition is given to deals that showcase exceptional execution, tap into new liquidity sources, employ innovative structuring, and open up new markets.
Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, were also recognized as legal advisers on 11 “Deal of the Year” awards:
Groundbreaking Deal of the Year
• Akbank
• USD 600mn AT1 Bond
• Issue Date: 14 March 2024
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Citi, Emirates NBD Capital, J.P. Morgan, MUFG, Standard Chartered Bank
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
Local Currency Bond Deal of the Year
• Arena Bilgisayar Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
• TRY 10bn Asset-back Security
• Issue Date: 29 August 2024
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
ESG Bond Deal of the Year
• Ülker Bisküvi Sanayi A.Ş.
• USD 550mn Sustainability Linked Bond
• Issue Date: 8 July 2024
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank of America, Emirates NBD Capital, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Rabobank
• Legal Adviser to the Bookrunner/JLMs: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
Liability Management Deal of the Year
• Ülker Bisküvi Sanayi A.Ş.
• USD 351mn Bond Tender Offer
• Issue Date: 27 June 2024
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank of America, J.P. Morgan
• Legal Adviser to the Bookrunner/JLMs: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
Corporate Syndicated Loan Deal of the Year
• YILDIRIM International Investment Holding
• USD 286mn
• Issue Date: 22 December 2023
• Arranger & Coordinator: ING Bank
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank of China, Development Bank of Kazakhstan, Halyk Bank, ING
• Legal Adviser to the Bookrunner/JLMs: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International a Swiss Verein
Export Finance Deal of the Year
• YILDIRIM International Investment Holding
• USD 286mn
• Issue Date: 22 December 2023
• Arranger & Coordinator: ING Bank
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank of China, Development Bank of Kazakhstan, Halyk Bank, ING
• Legal Adviser to the Bookrunner/JLMs: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International a Swiss Verein
Transport Finance Deal of the Year
• Republic of Serbia represented by Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Serbia
• EUR 1.6bn Export Finance Loan
• Issue Date: 21 December 2023
• Bookrunner/JLMs: J.P. Morgan
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie
Structured Bond Deal of the Year
• Bank Pekao S.A.
• EUR 500mn Bond
• Issue Date: November 2023
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Bank Pekao, BofA Securities, BNP Paribas, Citi, J.P. Morgan
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie
Islamic Syndication Deal of the Year
• DenizBank A.S.
• USD 230mn & EUR 50mn
• Issue Date: 14 September 2023
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Emirates NBD
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
Sovereign Islamic Syndication Deal of the Year
• Türkiye Wealth Fund
• USD 100mn
• Issue Date: 14 March 2024
• Lender: Sharjah Islamic Bank
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Doğan Investment Bank
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
Financial Institutions Islamic Syndication Deal of the Year
• DenizBank A.S.
• USD 230mn & EUR 50mn
• Issue Date: 14 September 2023
• Bookrunner/JLMs: Emirates NBD
• Legal Adviser to the Issuer: Baker McKenzie and Esin Attorney Partnership, member firm of Baker McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein
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