Kit Hobbs acted for Blue Diamond Limited, now Britain's third largest garden centre group, in the acquisition of and lease arrangements for the Grosvenor Garden Centre in Cheshire. The centre's current annual turnover is £6 million.

Further to Collas Crill's involvement in last year's Project Isobel, Paul Wilkes and Kit Hobbs acted again for The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc on the securitisation of the loan agreement under Project Isobel in reviewing the prospectus together with the underlying loans and the security package. The value of this loan agreement was approximately £550 million.

Paul Wilkes and Kit Hobbs acted for the Royal Bank of Scotland plc in its capacity as agent under both a senior and a junior loan agreement, totalling over GBP927 million, in funding an innovative debt transfer scheme, known as Project Isobel, by reviewing provisions for the transfer of security and advising on the necessary requirements for registering and perfecting Guernsey security (as required).  The total value of assets under consideration in this transaction was approximately GBP1.36 billion.

Instructed by Berwin Leighton Paisner to provide advice and a legal opinion in respect of the amendment and restatement of a syndicated loan facility provided to St Pancras Chambers Investments Limited in respect of St Pancras Chambers, London.  Required to provide Guernsey law input on the transaction documents, assist with corporate authorisations and opine on the entry by the Company into the amendment and restatement agreement.

Instructed by Cleary Gotlieb Steen Hamilton LLP to act for the African Minerals Group in respect of the Guernsey aspects of a restructuring of the group and a refinancing by way of a syndicated loan facility and warrant issue in aggregate value of approximately $500million.  Required to review and provide Guernsey-specific advice on the facility and warrant documents, and provide advice to the board of the Guernsey entity within the group regarding the warrant issue.

Acted for the trustees of a Jersey property unit trust (JPUT) owning a leasehold property shopping centre and the refinancing of a resolving credit facility with Bradford & Bingley plc in the sum of £20,000,000, used for a multi million pound renovation and extension of this South London riverside centre.

Advising a UK property development group alongside SJ Berwin in relation to the acquisition of a diverse portfolio of property holdings across the UK. The matter involved the restructuring and sale of the target group by its owner in conjunction with its lending Bank and the subsequent refinancing of the restructured group.  The matter involved the consideration of complex security issues and transaction mechanics that arose out of the possible enforcement of the Bank's security for the facilities of approximately £900,000,000.

Advised Barclays Bank Plc as to whether there are any restrictions under Jersey law preventing a Jersey Company refinancing its existing facility in the sum of £1 million and granting replacement security over multiple properties in Cardiff.

Acted for Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc alongside S J Berwin in respect of the sale of a unit trust sitting underneath a Guernsey Class B scheme that the bank had lent more than £500 million to. Matter involved review of release documentation and security arrangements to ensure the remaining security and financing were adequately covered.

Acted for RBS Group Plc alongside S J Berwin in respect of capitalisation of certain Intra-Group loans of a Fund borrower. Matter involved review of Guernsey security and corporate documents in respect of the larger financing structure.

Acted for Close International Custody Services Limited in its role as custodian of a Guernsey Class B Scheme in respect of circular and resolutions to members to approve the creation of S shares for side-pocketing purposes. Matter involved consideration of the custodian's rights and obligations under the B Rules and Guernsey law.

Acted for Smith & Williamson Limited in respect of their role as administrator of the KCP II Fund. Matter involved review of the constitution of the limited partnership and the appointment of the administrator and providing an opinion in respect of the proposed steps to be taken by the administrator to sell certain assets of the fund.

Advised the secured lender with respect to an application to place this prominent local hotel into administration and, following the failure of the borrower to refinance its operations, successfully made the application to place the property holding and trading companies into administration.  The application was vigorously contested by the companies and their shareholders.  Subsequently the firm were retained by the Joint Administrators and advised them with respect to the Administration generally, including (via the Property team) the realisation of the major assets of the Bon Port companies.

Acted for the Heritage Group and The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited in relation to the financing of a corporate restructure of the Heritage Group.   The matter involved complicated security provisions due to existing security arrangements put in place under an existing facility, for which the firm also acted for both parties.