International law firm McDermott Will & Emery advised Sogetrel, a French network and communication systems integrator, on the acquisition of Eryma Group, an electronic security subsidiary of Euronext-listed SFPI.

The new entity is estimated to have a turnover of EUR 400m, including EUR 70m in the safety sector, and employ 3,300 staff. Eryma employs 285 people and has a turnover of EUR 38m.

With this transaction, Sogetrel will expand its network of national agencies and consolidate its position in major national accounts sector.

Xing AG acquired InterNations GmbH, the largest network for professionals worldwide. The founders Malte Zeeck and Philipp von Plato remain at the company.

With 2.7 million members and communities in 390 different cities, InterNations is the world's largest network for people who live and work abroad (so-called "expats"). The online and offline platform provides the opportunity to network with other members who share the same life situation and similar needs. The company is headquartered in Munich and employs over 100 people from 30 countries.

Axel Springer SE has successfully completed the sales process of its new Axel Springer building in Berlin which has been designed by Rem Koolhaas (Office OMA) and is currently under construction, as well as of the adjacent Axel-Springer-Passage for a total purchase price of EUR 755 m. Axel-Springer-Passage has been acquired by Blackstone Real Estate Partners Europe V and QUINCAP Investment Partners.

International law firm Simmons & Simmons has advised standard listed Future plc (“Future”) on the acquisition of the Home Interest division of Centaur Media plc at a value of £32m (the “Acquisition”).

Slaughter and May advised Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA on the UK corporate and tax and EU competition law aspects of its acquisition of a further 22 per cent. stake in Penguin Random House, a venture with Pearson PLC. Following completion of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, Bertelsmann will own 75 per cent. of the venture. 

The firm worked as part of an integrated team with Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Bertelsmann’s in-house legal team.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised Play Communications S.A. (Play) and its shareholders, Novator and Olympia, on the €1 billion initial public offering (IPO) of Play on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, which values the company at €4 billion (PLN 16 billion).

Play will be listed on July 27, 2017. It is the largest IPO in the telecommunications sector in Europe since June 2015, and one of the five largest ever Polish IPOs.

SIX Swiss Exchange listed Airopack Technology Group AG (ATG), a leading provider of mechanical and pressure-controlled primary packaging technologies and dispensing systems for manufacturers and suppliers of cosmetic, body care, pharmaceutical and food products, successfully secured funding to double its manufacturing capacity by way of a private placement of newly issued shares to selected investors, a debt facility and an asset-based financing.

Simpson Thacher is representing United Group, the leading multi-play (Pay-TV, Broadband, Telephony, Mobile) operator in South East Europe, backed by KKR and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in connection with its acquisition of the Croatian and Slovenian media portfolio owned by Central European Media Enterprises (NASDAQ: CETV) for €230 million. The portfolio of assets includes leading TV channels in Slovenia and Croatia, two economies estimated to post real GDP growth of over 2% annually between 2016 and 2018.

CMS is acting for Numis Securities Limited and N+1 Singer Advisory LLP as joint bookrunners and underwriters on the fully underwritten £22m vendor placing for standard listed Future plc. Future will use part of the proceeds to fund its acquisition of the Home Interest division of CentaurMedia plc (“Home Interest”), a portfolio of market leading and differentiated brands in the home building segment (“then Acquisition”), for cash, at an enterprise value of £32.0m.

Baker McKenzie has assisted SimCorp, a leading provider of investment management software solutions for the world's leading financial organizations and listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, on its acquisition of the whole share capital of APL Italiana S.p.A., for a total amount of EUR 35 million, of which EUR 10 million will be paid in SimCorp shares.

APL Italiana is a leading service provider of investment and asset management software for the Italian Insurance market. The company is headquartered in Milan and has approximately 120 employees.