The Mainz Administrative Court has dismissed an action brought by several regional companies of the cable network operator Unitymedia against ZDF on the grounds that it is inadmissible. The key issue in the dispute is Unitymedia’s demand for feed-in fees for broadcasting ZDF’s programmes via the company’s cable networks. ZDF was represented in court by Noerr and its partners Professor Johannes Kreile and Christian Alexander Mayer.

Shearman & Sterling advised Viacom International Media Networks Italia (Viacom) on its purchase from Sky Italia of the authorization to broadcast a channel on Italian digital terrestrial television and the related channel numbering. The new entertainment Channel 27 was launched by Viacom as the Paramount Channel. This transaction completes the implementation of a wider commercial transaction between Sky and Viacom signed in June 2015.

Orrick has advised Paris-based startup Stupeflix in the acquisition of its mobile video editing app Replay by wearable camera maker GoPro Inc. Replay is an award-winning app that allows users to quickly select video clips and photos and automatically combines them into a single video complete with transition effects, graphics and synchronized music. This acquisition is the first major exit of 2016 by a Paris startup.
 

Castres & Snellman acted as the lead legal advisor to Future Group Oy in the acquisition of Betech Data A/S (Denmark) from Lagercrantz Group AB (publ.), listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

Both Future Group and Betech Data are Value Added Distributors for the world leading design software manufacturer, Autodesk Inc., with their main market area in the Nordic Countries.

Future Group is a privately held Finnish company w ith resellers in more than ten countries. Before the acquisition Future Group employed 50 people and had annual revenue of 100 million euros.

DLA Piper advised Solteq Plc (Nasdaq: STQ1V) on the divestment of MainIoT Software Ltd, its fully owned subsidiary which provides maintenance and service management solutions for mainly manufacturing, restructuring, energy and infrastructure sectors. The purchaser is IFS Group, a globally operating company developing and delivering business software for enterprise resource planning, enterprise asset management and enterprise service management.

APG|SGA SA, the Swiss SIX listed advertising and Out of Home Media company acquired the Zug based advertising company Alpenplakat AG for an undisclosed consideration.

APG|SGA SA is advised by Lenz & Staehelin. The team includes Matthias Wolf (Partner) and Marion Bähler (Associate).

Jones Day acted for Guardian Digital Communications Holdings Limited, Guardian Digital Communications Limited and Airwave Solutions Limited (the "Group") (subsidiaries of Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 2) in connection with the sale of Airwave Solutions to Motorola for £817.5 million.

Wong & Partners, the member firm of Baker & McKenzie International in Malaysia, advised Shell Overseas Holdings Limited ("Shell") on its USD66.3 million (equivalent to MYR274,979,250 or RM1.80 per share) sale of its 51% interest in Shell Refining Company (Federation of Malaya) Berhad ("SRC") to Malaysia Hengyuan International Limited, a Labuan incorporated subsidiary of Shandong Hengyuan Petrochemical Company Limited ("Shandong Hengyuan").

Osborne Clarke has advised leading enterprise mobile consultancy and app developer, Mubaloo, on its acquisition by IPG Mediabrands.

Through the acquisition, Mediabrands is now able to deliver end-to-end mobile programmes; incorporating consulting, creative, UX, responsive sites, apps, enterprise integration and connected IoT technologies, such as beacons, to drive profitability and productivity. Mubaloo will be housed within Ansible, the specialist mobile division of IPG Mediabrands.

DLA Piper represented Sprout Social Inc., a company specializing in social-media management software, in connection with US$42 million in funds raised from Goldman Sachs' Merchant Banking Division and New Enterprise Associates. The Series C round brings total funding for the company to US$60 million.