Allen & Overy represented EG Group as the company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the convenience store business unit from The Kroger Co. (“Kroger”) (NYSE:KR) for $2.15 billion. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of Kroger’s fiscal year.

As part of the agreement, EG Group, a privately-held petrol forecourt convenience store retailer based in Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom, will establish its North American headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio and continue to operate stores under their existing banner names.

Clifford Chance is advising Czech Media Invest (CMI), a leading media group, on the acquisition of the regional radio assets of multinational media conglomerate Lagardère Group. The transaction, valued at €73 million on a consolidated revenue of around €56 million in 2017, includes popular, mainstream radio stations in the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The closing of the transaction is subject to competition clearance from the local regulatory authorities in the countries concerned.

Affiliates of the Harbert European Real Estate Fund HEREF IV LP (UK) have acquired the Düsseldorf office ensemble Duo from Deka Immobilien. No information has been provided about the sale price. The international law firm Clifford Chance advised Harbert on the transaction.

The property on Luise-Rainer-Straße, also known as Büropark Grafenberg, consists of an arc-shaped low rise building and an 18-story high rise with a total of about 34,000 sqare metres lettable space. DW Real Estate in Frankfurt is taking on the asset management of the property.

Hamburg – Municipal utility company Stadtwerke Bielefeld GmbH (SWB) has taken another successful step in its programme of investment in renewable energy by acquiring a wind farm in the town of Schlüchtern, in the federal state of Hesse. The wind farm was built and sold by developer wpd onshore GmbH & Co KG, working in association with Renertec GmbH. Operational responsibility for the wind farm will continue to be handled by wpd. The purchase price of the facility was not disclosed.

Baker McKenzie has advised French pharmaceutical laboratory Servier on the acquisition of the global oncology business from British company Shire for $2.4 billion. The closing should take place during the second or third quarter of 2018, once authorisation has been obtained from the competent merger control authorities.

Womble Bond Dickinson Bristol team has advised Bristol & Bath Regional Capital (BBRC) on its plans to create an inclusive housing scheme  with the acquisition of 61 homes in the city.

The acquisition was part of a much bigger deal, described as a ‘turning point’ for UK housing, in which a housing association, a community investment company and a private investor have come together to create an inclusive housing scheme and introducing the UK’s first private sector rent-to-buy model.

The AWRC Will Be Centre Piece Of The Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park

National law firm, Irwin Mitchell’s real estate team has advised Sheffield Hallam University(SHU) on the acquisition of the development plot on the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park site for its new Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC).

Shoosmiths has advised Leeds entrepreneur Simon Pollard on the multi-million pound acquisition of boutique Leeds hotel, 42 The Calls.

The hotel entered administration in February 2018. Simon's vision is to reignite the brand, rebuild and develop a five-star luxury experience to surpass the expectations synonymous with 42 The Calls when it opened 27 years ago. Simon's multimillion pound investment will blend high-end contemporary suites into the footprint of the 18th century corn mill while ensuring the building's heritage is protected.

International law firm Proskauer advised GIC on its acquisition, with The Carlyle Group, of the specialty chemicals business of Akzo Nobel for €10.1 billion.

Established in 1981 to manage Singapore’s foreign reserves, GIC is a global long-term investor with over $100 billion in assets in over 40 countries worldwide.

The international commercial law firm BEITEN BURKHARDT has advised the Belgian Puratos Group N.V. on the acquisition of the Bakery Ingredients Business of PMG Premium Mühlen Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG. In the context of an Asset Carve Out, the German subsidiary Puratos GmbH of the Puratos Group has acquired the bakery ingredients business of PMG Premium Mühlen Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG. The Purchase Agreement was signed on 14 March 2018 but is still subject to clearance by the works council of the seller. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction volume.