Speechly Bircham LLP has acted for longstanding client Wharton Asset Management Bermuda Limited and Wharton Asset Management UK Limited on their seventh collateralised debt obligation (CDO) securitisation transaction. This brings the aggregate managed portfolio value to over US$14 billion.
Wharton Asset Management is an innovative investment management group in the high grade asset-backed securities (ABS) market. Wharton’s CDO structures have included variations of both cash and synthetic transactions.
Speechly Bircham advised Wharton on the launch, by G Square Finance 2006-2 Limited, of an issuance of Notes relating to a portfolio of c.US$1bn of ABS. The acquisition of the ABS portfolio was funded by the issuance by G Square Finance 2006-2 of seven classes of rated notes and one class of unrated notes. Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch acted as arranger and initial purchaser acquiring all of the classes of notes on issuance.
Partners Paul Kay (Finance) and James Carter (Tax) led the Speechly Bircham team, assisted by Mark Robertson (Finance). The same team advised Wharton on each of its CDO issuances to date and on the UK listing of TRIO Finance Limited, a company formed to invest in predominantly investment grade ABS (with a primary focus on real estate mortgage-backed securities) and real estate related financial assets.
Deutsche Bank was advised by Ashurst, led by partner Michael Smith and senior associates Diala Minott and Alessia Serpetti.
For more information, please contact:
Paul Kay, partner, Speechly Bircham on 020 7427 6504 paul.kay@speechlys.com
Charlotte Macnaughton, press office, on 020 7427 6466, charlotte.macnaughton@speechlys.com