Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP advised Telefónica, S.A. and Telefónica Emisiones, S.A.U. on an SEC-registered $2 billion aggregate principal amount off-the-shelf notes offering by Telefónica Emisiones, S.A.U., fully guaranteed by Telefónica, S.A. The offering consisted of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 4.665% fixed-rate senior notes due 2038 and $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.895% fixed-rate senior notes due 2048.

DLA Piper has advised Luther Systems, the London-based enterprise blockchain technology company, on the raising of $1.5 million in seed financing from a group of global investors ahead of its official launch.

Currently operating in stealth mode, Luther Systems uses its blockchain technology and smart contract based products to solve complex large-scale business inefficiencies across a wide spectrum of industries and sectors. The new funding will allow Luther Systems to scale its product offering and support the company’s marketing and expansion efforts.

DLA Piper has advised Accel-KKR, a leading Silicon Valley technology focused investment firm, on its investment in Kimble Applications, the global leader in professional services automation (PSA). The deal was completed on 6 March 2018.

Osborne Clarke has advised Goodix Technology (HK) Company Limited on the acquisition of all shares in Commsolid GmbH.

CommSolid is a cellular IP company providing leadingedge ultra-low power solutions for the growing IoT market, based in Dresden with more than 30 staff. In addition to the the founders, Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Sachsen mbH and High-Tech Gründerfonds were among the shareholders.

 Osborne Clarke has advised the shareholders of creative content agency, Gravity Road, on its innovative alignment with technology holding company, You & Mr Jones, that included You & Mr Jones acquiring a 51% equity stake in the company.

The deal will see Gravity Road launch in the US and become a content and innovation hub for You & Mr Jones, further enhancing the ‘brandtech’ group’s capabilities worldwide.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Seven Group Holdings (SGH) on its A$350 million convertible bond issue, which has given SGH greater diversity in its funding base, increased average duration given its seven year term and supported the refinancing of a legacy debt platform acquired with Coates Hire.  The bonds will be listed on SGX-ST in Singapore.

SGH is a leading Australian diversified operating and investment group with market leading businesses and investments in industrial services, oil and gas, and media.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has advised PJSC MegaFon (“MegaFon”) in its transaction with PJSC VimpelCom (VimpelCom”), a Russian subsidiary of VEON Ltd. (“VEON”), to discontinue their Euroset joint venture.

Pursuant to terms of the transaction, VimpelCom acquired half of Euroset’s retail stores and sold its 50% interest in the Euroset joint venture to MegaFon, resulting in MegaFon now owning 100% of Euroset.

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised VR Education Holdings plc, a virtual reality technology company, on its £19 million admission to AIM in London and on the ESM of the Irish Stock Exchange.

VR Education, an Ireland-based software and technology group focused on transforming the delivery and effectiveness of digital education and corporate training, successfully raised £6 million ahead of the listing through the placing of 60 million new ordinary shares at a placing price of 10p.

On February 27, Skadden secured dismissal with prejudice of a securities fraud case against firm client NQ Mobile, Inc. and certain of its executives. The plaintiffs asserted claims under Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, alleging that the defendants misled investors about the value of the company and failed to timely disclose certain corporate acquisitions.

The American group InterDigital, specialist in research and development in mobile technology, entered into a sale agreement of its “patent licensing business”, for an estimated value of 475 million dollars.

The agreement provides that InterDigital will pay Technicolor 150 million dollars in cash up front. Technicolor shall also receive 42,5% of all future cash receipts from InterDigital’s new licensing efforts in the consumer electronic field, estimated at approximately 215 million dollars.