Freshfields has advised BioNTech AG on a strategic partnership with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (Freshfields), has advised BioNTech AG, a fully integrated, private biotechnology company that develops personalised cancer immunotherapies, on a global, strategic partnership with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. Together the firms will develop, manufacture and market personalised messenger RNA (mRNA)-based cancer vaccines.

Dubai—Dentons has advised the shareholders of the Links Group, the UAE and Qatar's leading provider of commercial facilitation and advisory services, on its strategic partnership with Equiom Group, a global trust and corporate services provider. The partnership will expand the geographic reach of both companies and broaden their respective service offerings.

On September 14, 2016, Looser Holding AG (Looser) and AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holding AG (AFG) signed a transaction agreement as to the combination of the two companies by way of a public cash and exchange offer by AFG and the family shareholders, board and management of Looser signed a sale agreement with AFG as to the sale of approx. 53% of the Looser shares.

Closing is expected to occur in December 2016 and is subject to relevant antitrust approvals. The deal value (enterprise value) amounts to approx. CHF 511 m. Homburger acted as legal adviser of Looser.

International law firm Pinsent Masons has advised GMPVC German Media Pool GmbH on a media partnership with one of Germany’s fastest growing e-commerce companies, ABOUT YOU.

International law firm Simmons & Simmons has advised the Government of Somaliland on their 30 year concession and joint venture arrangements with DP World for the management and development of the Port of Berbera. The development arrangements will involve an investment of US$442 million in the Port of Berbera with the intention of transforming the existing port into a key logistics hub in the region and a new point of access to the Red Sea.

Gleiss Lutz has advised SLM Solutions Group AG, a leading provider of metal-based additive manufacturing technology (3D printing), on the conclusion of a business combination agreement with GE Aviation, a division of the US-based General Electric Group. SLM Solutions’ shares are traded in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and have been listed in the TecDAX since 21 March 2016.

Stephenson Harwood has advised TNG on its successful application to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for a licence to provide stored value facilities (SVF).

TNG was one of only five SVF providers to be granted a licence under the new regulatory regime, established by the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance.

The TNG Wallet allows users to store prepaid value for online and offline purchases, pay bills, send money to other TNG users, transfer money to any bank account in Hong Kong and make cash withdrawals.

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Cell Medica Limited on a research collaboration agreement and associated option and licence agreement with University College London (UCL) and UCL Business Plc (UCLB) to develop cutting-edge cellular immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.

Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank (BLKB) and the Swiss robo-advisor True Wealth AG have entered into a strategic partnership. BLKB further acquired a minority stake in True Wealth.
 
Walder Wyss AG has acted as advisor to True Wealth in all legal aspects of the transaction. The team included Florian Gunz Niedermann (Partner, Corporate/M&A), Boris Räber (Associate, Corporate/M&A) and Michael Isler (Managing Associate, IP/IT).

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Pepper Group Limited on the Australian aspects of its international consumer finance alliance with Banco Popular Español S.A.