14 January 2016 (Eastern Standard Time), King & Wood Mallesons advise Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. (Qingdao Haier) (SSE stock code: 600690) on the successfully signing of a stock and asset purchase agreement with General Electric (GE). According to the agreement, Qingdao Haier will acquire GE’s appliances business (GE Appliances), including relevant shares and assets, for US$5.4 billion. The transaction signifies the beginning of a global strategic partnership between Haier Group and GE, and will further increase Qingdao Haier’s global competitiveness.

NautaDutilh assisted Global Alternative Asset Manager The Carlyle Group (CG:NASDAQ) with the envisaged purchase of a controlling interest in Hunkemöller from PAI Partners. NautaDutilh worked alongside Latham & Watkins. 

MEDIAN Group (“MEDIAN”), majority owned by Dutch private equity company Waterland Private Equity, announced that it will acquire four clincs from Lielje Group (the two hospitals of Saale Reha-Klinikum, die children’s rehabilitation clinic “Am Nicolausholz”, all located in Bad Kösen, as well as Salze Klinik in Bad Salzdethfurth) with a total of around 800 beds. The acquisition is still subject to the approval of the German antitrust authorities.

Nabarro has advised Great Portland Estates (GPE) on the simultaneous exchange of contracts on two separate central London deals with Deka Immobilien Investment worth a combined £335.35m. In the first transaction, GPE sold 33 Margaret Street, W1 to Deka-ImmobilienEuropa fund for £216.25m, reflecting £2,085 per sq ft and a net initial yield of 3.3%.

On 4 January 2016, Swissgrid acquired further parts of the Swiss transmission grid. This marks another significant milestone in the history of the Swiss electricity industry. Swissgrid and the previous owners of the transmission grid started the complex process of transferring the grid in 2009.

Bär & Karrer acts as legal advisor to Swissgrid. The team includes Rolf Watter (M&A), Phyllis Scholl (M&A, Energy Law), Thomas Stoltz (Notary) and Michelle Merz (M&A, Energy Law).

Madison Industries has acquired a number of businesses from Kennametal, Inc., including Extrude Hone, Tricon, Landis, the Koblenz, Germany and Milan and Bellusco, Italy businesses of Kennametal Stellite and the Biel, Switzerland business of Kennametal Infrastructure.

The transaction was closed on December 1, 2015. In Switzerland, Madison Industries was advised by Homburger.

The Homburger team consisted of Ueli Huber (partner), Karin Mattle (associate) and Renate Loretan (paralegal), all Corporate | M&A.

The FTSE-listed REIT has acquired a portfolio comprising of four retail sites in Colchester, Guildford, Portsmouth and Winnersh; three industrial properties in Chepstow, Redditch and Warrington; and two offices in Edinburgh and West Malling, with an average lot size of £6.1m.  The portfolios boasts a range of occupiers including House of Fraser, H Samuel, Laura Ashley, Pets at Home, Poundworld, Reiss, Regus, Tesco and Wickes.

New York and Paris - Lawyers from the New York and Paris offices of K&L Gates LLP have advised Boralex Inc. (TSX: BLX) on the acquisition of a portfolio of wind power projects in Northern France totalling approximately 350 MW.

Boralex develops, builds, and operates renewable energy power facilities in Canada, France, and the United States, and is France's largest independent producer of onshore wind power.

Castres & Snellman are acting as legal counsel to Gasum Oy in its acquisition of the Biotehdas biogas plant chain owned by Taaleritehdas Biofactory I Ky Private Equity Fund. The nationwide chain is the Finnish market leader in the biogas sector and comprises the fully operational biogas plants in Huittinen, Kuopio, Oulu and Honkajoki and a plant to be completed in summer 2016 in Riihimäki. The contract of sale was signed 11 January 2016 and the transaction is anticipated to be completed by February 29, 2016.

Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co (WLG) has advised Empiric Student Property plc (Empiric) on its acquisition of premium student accommodation property, St Andrew's-based Ayton House.

Empiric acquired the Luxembourg holding company owning the freehold of the 241-bed property for £26 million, together with its UK operating company subsidiary. It includes a mixture of studios and four and five-bed en-suite apartments designed to a very high specification.