Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised OTI Energy S.A., in relation to the sale of a 15 GWh hydropower plant located in the Municipality of Tavagnasco, Turin (Northern Italy).

OTI Energy S.A. are an operating holding company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich, with investments and operations & maintenance services in the renewable energy sector, including a majority shareholding in Prodena S.rl. .

30 November 2015, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Power Supply Co., Ltd. was officially established in the Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Shenzhen, becoming China’s first incremental placement based mixed ownership power supply enterprise. Responding to Several Opinions on Further Deepening the Reform of Electric Power System issued by the State Council, the project took the initiative in attracting and injecting social capital into the incremental distribution network, which is of prospective significance in promoting and exploring the reform of mixed ownership.

Eversheds has advised Department for Transport on the new Trans Pennine Express (TPE) rail franchise awarded to First Trans Pennine Express Limited and the new Northern Franchise awarded to Arriva Rail North Limited completed on 22nd December 2015.

Both new franchises are due to start on 1 April 2016. The Northern franchise will run for 9 years, until 31 March 2025, with a possible extension of 1 year. The TPE franchise will run for 7 years, until 31 March 2023, with a possible extension of 2 years.

Clifford Chance has advised airport concession holder and operator VINCI Airports S.A.S on its JPY2.2 trillion concession of Japan's Kansai and Osaka international airports. This deal represents Japan's first major airport privatisation, and the country's biggest public private partnership to date.

Dentons’ Public Procurement Team has advised Stadler – a leading rolling stock manufacturer – on the delivery of electric multiple unit trains to PKP Intercity. The carrier ordered 20 FLIRT3 sets for its long-distance lines. Dentons supported Stadler in the authorization proceedings before the President of the Office of Rail Transport for permission to operate all 20 trains. Under its contract with PKP Intercity, Stadler is required to provide maintenance services for the delivered trains over the next 15 years.

Addleshaw Goddard's Rail team has advised the Department for Transport on the completion of the West Midlands franchise Direct Award to London Midland.

The franchise will be funded with a subsidy of £130m over the duration of the Direct Award which commences in April 2016 and will run until 2017.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Citi on the launch of the first warrants on Chi-X Australia.

The initial warrant issue is of MINI warrants which enable investors to buy short or long positions in Commonwealth Bank of Australia and BHP Billiton. Further warrant issues are expected to be launched soon.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised the UK’s Ministry of Defence on the letting of a concession to Solent Gateway Limited to manage and exploit the commercial potential of Marchwood Military Port. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Slaughter and May, working closely with Treasury Legal Advisers, advised H.M. Treasury on legal aspects of the Help to Buy: ISA Scheme which was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the March 2015 Budget, and which launched on 1 December 2015.

Global security provider Securitas participated in a public procurement for a framework agreement for security and surveillance services with Region Halland (County Administrative Board in southwest Sweden). In its award decision in May 2015, Region Halland awarded the contract to Nokas Security AB (“Nokas”). Securitas requested a court review of the award decision, claiming that Nokas’ tender did not meet certain mandatory requirements.