A quartet of UK firms have scored roles on a deal that has seen the HMV Group sell off London's famous Hammersmith Apollo venue, with the transaction also enabling the retailer to extend its £220m bank facility.

The £32m sale has seen Simmons & Simmons take the lead role for longstanding client HMV, while Hogan Lovells acted for the buyers of the Apollo – a joint venture company owned by US-based Anschutz Entertainment Group and German company CTS Eventim.

Herbert Smith also took a role on the deal, advising Citigroup as HMV's sponsor on gaining shareholder approval.

At the same time, HMV has also renegotiated its bank loans, securing an extension for its £220m debt facility to 2014. Linklaters advised the consortium of banks led by RBS and Lloyds with a team led by City banking partner Stuart Thomas alongside Chris Howard.

Simmons City corporate partner Giles Dennison, who has advised HMV since 2004, took the lead role on the deal. The Simmons team also included corporate partner Ian Wood, banking partner Simon Middleton, competition partner Charles Bankes and tax partner Nick Cronkshaw.

Corporate and commercial partner Peter Watts headed up the team for Hogan Lovells, while the Herbert Smith team was led by City M&A partner Greg Mulley.

Media reports have suggested that HMV, which like other high street retailers has been hard hit by dwindling demand, could sell off its entire portfolio of concert venues, which include the Kentish Town Forum, London's Jazz Cafe and the Picture House in Edinburgh.

Dennison said the sale had come as a key part of HMV's ongoing business strategy.

He added: "While not particularly noteworthy from a legal perspective, for the client it was a fairly key deal which enabled it to renew its bank debt as well."

Simmons also led HMV through the £53m sale of high street book vendor Waterstone's to A&NN Capital Fund Management last year, a deal which saw Taylor Wessing take a first-time role for A&NN.

The HMV Hammersmith Apollo in West London is one of the capital's major live music venues. The English Heritage-listed, art deco-style theatre opened its doors in 1932 and has since played host to musical acts including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Oasis and Kylie Minogue.