Anna Soroka
Biography
Overview
Anna Soroka is a senior associate in the Firm's Capital Markets Group in London, with expertise in complex high-value international capital markets and securities, leveraged finance and liability management transactions for public and private corporations, sponsors and investment banks. Advisor on high profile award-winning complex cross-border landmark deals. New York and Israel qualified, and Harvard-educated, Anna’s robust professional representation is based on her experience, ability, and leadership skills.
Clients describe her as "expert in complex international leveraged finance/HY offerings" and "she is smart, hardworking and dedicated professional lawyer who provides outstanding legal and commercial advice". Anna is recognized as both High Yield and DCM "Rising Star" by Legal 500.
Experience
Represented UBS, as Global Coordinator, and Numis, as Lead International Manager, on an IPO of Terminal X, a leading Israeli e-commerce multi-brand fashion and lifestyle platform offering more than 160 Israeli and international apparel, footwear, beauty and home decor brands. The IPO was conducted through a dual structure of a public offering in Israel and listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, together with a global offering that included a Rule 144A component marketed in the United States.
Represented Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Natixis and UBS Investment Bank, as Joint Lead Bookrunners and BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Mizuho Securities, Nomura and UniCredit as Joint Bookrunners on the Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of €420 million senior secured and €325 million senior notes in connection with the acquisition of Cerba HealthCare by EQT Partners.
Represented UBS AG London Branch, as the lead underwriter, on an IPO of Retailors, a leading Israeli retailer of sports footwear, clothing, accessories and leisure apparel, operating chains of stores in Israel, Canada and Europe. The IPO was conducted through a dual structure of a public offering in Israel and listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, together with a global offering that included a Rule 144A component marketed in the United States. The IPO raised net proceeds of approximately US$164 million and was only the fourth Israeli public offering to be conducted through this unique Israeli-International structure.
Represented Energean Israel Finance Ltd., a finance subsidiary of Energean PLC, a London-based leading independent oil and gas company, on its US$2.5 billion offering of Rule 144A/Reg S high yield senior secured notes. The offering is the largest ever non-US energy high yield bond offering, providing Energean with the financing needed to complete the development of its flagship Israeli Karish and Tanin offshore gas fields.
Represented Swissport, the world's leading provider of airport ground services and air cargo handling, on its comprehensive restructuring and recapitalization that completed in December 2020. The restructuring provided Swissport with a delevered and strengthened balance sheet by addressing approximately €1.9 billion of existing debt, and left the business with improved liquidity with which to withstand the ongoing challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Represented Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M. on the ground-breaking issuance of US$750 million 3.275% Tier 2 Subordinated Notes due 2031. Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M. is one of the largest banking groups in Israel and the first bank in Israel to issue debt to international institutional investors. The notes have been offered and sold pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and listed on the TACT Institutional of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
Represented J.P. Morgan, HSBC and Barclays as global coordinators and Merrill Lynch International, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Crédit Agricole, Goldman Sachs, Rabobank and Société Générale as joint bookrunners, on the Rule 144A/Regulation S debut offering of US$1.15 billion (equivalent) senior secured notes due 2023 by OCI N.V. The Issuer is a global producer and distributor of natural gas-based fertilizers and industrial chemicals based in the Netherlands with significant operations across the US, Europe and the Middle East. The notes, which were issued on April 26, 2018, comprise US$650 million 6.625% senior secured notes due 2023 and €400 million 5.000% senior secured notes due 2023. Represented the dealer manager in relation to a tender offer for OCI N.V.'s convertible bond.
Represented Barclays Bank PLC, Jefferies International Limited, RBC Europe Limited, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited and ING Bank N.V., London Branch in connection with the provision of a £360 million bridge facility to Pinnacle Bidco plc and subsequent 144A/Regulation S issuance of £360 million 6.375% senior secured notes due 2025 by Pinnacle Bidco plc to facilitate the acquisition of UK fitness chain Pure Gym.
Represented Barclays Bank PLC and Mediobanca – Banca di Credito Finanziario S.p.A. as global coordinators, HSBC Bank plc and Lloyds Bank plc as joint bookrunners and Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited as co-manager, on the Rule 144A/Regulation S debut offering of £550 million 7.75% senior secured notes due 2022 by Shop Direct Limited and the concurrent entry into £150 million of revolving credit facilities.
Represented Puma International Financing S.A. in connection with (i) the issuance of the company's 5.125% senior notes due 2024 in an aggregate principal amount of US$600 million (the New Notes) in a Rule 144A/Regulation S offering and (ii) a concurrent tender offer for the company's existing 6.75% notes due 2021. The offering of the New Notes and the tender offer were structured to constitute an intermediated exchange offer so the company could avail itself of certain favorable accounting treatment for the New Notes. The New Notes are guaranteed by Puma Energy Holdings Pte. Ltd. The Puma Energy Group is a leading, globally integrated midstream and downstream oil group. Merrill Lynch International, Société Générale, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, ING Bank N.V., London Branch, The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, MUFG Securities Americas Inc. and Natixis Securities Americas LLC acted as initial purchasers and Merrill Lynch International and Société Générale acted as dealer managers in the transactions.
Represented Goldman Sachs International on the offering by N&W Global Vending S.p.A, a leading manufacturer in Europe of coffee, other hot and cold beverage and food vending machines, of Temporary Senior Secured Notes. The proceeds of the offering were used to fund an acquisition and the transaction included a complex and innovative structure of an exchange of the Temporary Notes for Additional Notes to be issued by the Issuer under an existing Senior Secured Notes Indenture.
Represented Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited in connection with recapitalization of 4finance S.A., one of the Europe's largest consumer finance companies, including representation of Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited as initial purchaser on the issuance by 4finance S.A. of its US$325 million 10.75% senior notes due 2022 and as dealer manager in connection with the associated tender offer for, and consent solicitation in respect of, its US$200 million 11.75% senior notes due 2019 issued by 4finance S.A.
Represented the Pirelli Group on a consent solicitation and subsequent meeting of holders of €600 million notes due 2019 issued by Pirelli International plc and guaranteed by Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. The meeting of noteholders approved the introduction in the terms and conditions of the notes of a make-whole issuer call, which will give the issuer of the notes the option, from time to time, to redeem all or some of the notes and, accordingly, will allow the Pirelli Group more effectively to manage the maturity profile of its indebtedness. J.P. Morgan acted as Solicitation Agent on the consent solicitations.
Represented Barclays Bank PLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners and BMO Capital Markets Corp. as a joint bookrunner, on the Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of US$650 million 7.25% senior secured second lien notes due 2022 by Petra Diamonds.
Represented Deutsche Bank, as sole global coordinator and left lead bookrunner, Bank of America Merrill Lynch as joint bookrunner (active) and ANZ and BOC International as joint bookrunners (passive), on the Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of US$350 million 5.875% senior secured notes due 2019 and US$850 million 7.25% senior secured notes due 2021 by Studio City Company Limited. The largest high-yield corporate bond in Asia in 2016 which won the IFLR Asia Deal of the Year Awards.
Represented Onorato Armatori S.p.A. in connection with its issuance of €300 million 7.75% senior secured notes due 2023.
Represented Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and ICBC International in respect of the launch by the Republic of Angola of sovereign debt bonds in the international market in the form of Eurobonds, amounting to US$1.5 billion. One of the largest sovereign debt offerings in Africa and one of the first of its kind sovereign debt offering from the Republic of Angola.
Represented joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners in connection with US$469 million follow-on offering by the Central Bank of Russia of shares in the charter capital of Moscow Exchange, which is the first domestic offering of a Russian issuer in 2014.