Middletons recently acted for property syndicate Swelbet Pty Ltd in the $65 million sale of Defence Plaza, Bourke Street, Melbourne. Swelbet is led by Danny Goldberg, Greg Shand and Matt Davison and associated with the Sydney-based Dakota Corporation. The firm said the sale involved the transfer of the fully tenanted, 12-level CBD property on behalf of the vendor. The final settlement date of 24 August 2004 came just over a week after contracts were signed. The Middletons team comprised property partner Des Dodds, commercial partner, John Hogan, and solicitor Jacqueline Cameron.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison represented TCL Communications Technology Holdings in its acquisition of Alcatel’s mobile handset research & development, manufacture and distribution business. The joint venture company established to carry out the acquisition is owned 55 per cent by TCL Communications Technology Holdings Ltd. and 45 per cent by Alcatel. The Paul, Weiss team included attorneys John E. Lange, Greg Liu, and Adam Furber. The acquisition was finalised on 31 August.

Linklaters advised the Rede Brasil Sul Group, one of Brazil’s largest media groups, in connection with an exchange offer by RBS-Zero Hora Editora Jornalística S.A. on the exchange offer of 11 per cent Guaranteed Notes due 2010 issued by RBS-Zero Hora Editora Jornalística S.A. As a result of the exchange offer, US$66.85 ($94.78) million aggregate principal amount of RBS Par Notes were exchanged for US$56.818 million aggregate principal amount of RBS-Zero Hora Notes and an aggregate cash payment of US$10.03 ($14.51) million. The Linklaters team was led by capital markets partners Peter Ruhlin and Greg Harrington based in the US and Brazil respectively.