NTT Com Security AG, listed on the Munich Stock Exchange, has acquired BDG GmbH & Co KG, a German service provider for IT and IT security.

NTT Com Security AG, based in Ismaning (near Munich, Germany), specialises in international IT security and risk management and is a subsidiary of NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation), one of the world's largest telecommunications companies.

King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin has advised NTT Com Security AG on this transaction.

Team (all Munich):

Corporate / M&A:

Ashurst has advised Metro International, a subsidiary of Investment AB Kinnevik, on the sale of its Hong Kong business, Metro Publishing Hong Kong, to a local investor. Metro Publishing Hong Kong publishes Metro Daily, a free newspaper distributed in MTR stations and other key locations in Hong Kong.

Kinnevik is a major Swedish investment company and a key client of Ashurst's Stockholm office. It is one of Europe's largest holding groups and has a strong focus on the telecommunications and media sectors.

At the end of January, the Little, Brown Book Group, part of Hachette UK, purchased Constable & Robinson.  Founded in 1795, Constable & Robinson has an outstanding reputation as a publisher of psychology and self-help and the well-respected How to and Right Way titles.  This 100% shareholding purchase will see Constable & Robinson remain intact as a distinct division within the Little, Brown Book Group.

A cross-disciplinary Dentons team advised long-time client Amber Road in its recent US$110 million initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange. The team was led by New York and Short Hills Venture Technology partners Victor Boyajian and Ira Kotel.
 

Top 20 business law firm DWF has advised Capita plc on its acquisition of IT network services provider Updata Infrastructure (UK) Limited for a cash consideration of £80million on a cash free, debt free basis.

Singapore: Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised Maxis Communications Berhad on the divestment of its 14.9% share in PT Axis Telekom Indonesia (AXIS) to Saudi Telecom Company (STC). The divestment dovetailed with the acquisition by PT XL Axiata Tbk (Axiata) of a majority stake of Axis from STC.

The acquisition by Axiata has a 100% enterprise value of US$865 million on a cash free and debt free basis.

Allen & Overy LLP has advised SAP AG in connection of its planned acquisition of Fieldglass, the global technology leader in contingent workforce management based in Chicago (USA).

SAP is financing the acquisition partly from a syndicated facility arranged by Morgan Stanley. The transaction is still subject to approval by the competent anti-trust authorities. It is expected to be closed in the second quarter of 2014.

The Allen & Overy team comprised partner Thomas Neubaum, counsel Dr Mark Hallett and associate Dr Alexander Schilling (all Banking, Frankfurt).

Hogan Lovells assisted Axway in connection with its entering into exclusive negotiations with Systar's controlling shareholders for the acquisition of a block of shares representing 61% of Systar's capital for a total price of 34.3 million euros.

Axway is a market leader in governing the flow of data and Systar a leading provider of performance management software.

DLA Piper has advised Unify GmbH & Co. KG on the sale of Leipzig Electronic Systems GmbH. Two complex, long term manufacturing agreements were of particular importance for the Leipzig-based system service provider, creating an array of complicated legal issues

The sale of Leesys has seen Unify dispose of its last German production location for system telephones and other electronic goods to a consortium of German private investors. Leesys will remain as a supplier for the Unify Group in future.

DLA Piper represented TakeLessons, an online marketplace for educational lessons in various subject areas, in its US$7 million financing led by Lightbank.

The San Diego-based company will use the new funding to continue its expansion into new markets with mobile scheduling and payment tools that will assist instructors in managing their businesses.

In February, DLA Piper also represented TakeLessons in its acquisition of Chicago-based Betterfly, which added online offerings in arts and crafts, vocational classes, and other self-improvement courses.