The BMW Group and Viessmann Group set up a joint venture which will offer energy optimisation services under the name of “Digital Energy Solutions”. Both companies
will team up with their competencies and technologies to optimize their customers’ energy systems in terms of sustainability, costs and reliable supply of power. Digital

DLA Piper represented Qualcomm Incorporated in its joint venture with TDK Corporation to enable delivery of radio frequency front-end (RFFE) modules and RF filters into fully integrated systems for mobile devices and fast-growing business segments.

Stibbe advises Tessenderlo Chemie on its business combination with Picanol

Stibbe advises Euronext Brussels’ listed Tessenderlo Chemie NV on its proposed business combination with its reference shareholder Picanol NV (listed on Euronext Brussels as well). The shareholders’ meeting of Tessenderlo Chemie NV will decide on the contribution of the current industrial activities of Picanol (based on a valuation of 811.6 million euros) into the share capital of Tessenderlo Chemie NV.

Key Contact:

Jan Peeters
Managing Partner Brussels

Catterton, LVMH, and Groupe Arnault have announced an agreement to create L Catterton, which will become the largest global consumer-focused investment firm with six distinct and complementary fund strategies focusing on consumer buyout and growth investments across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, in addition to prime commercial real estate globally.

Mills & Reeve have advised Spanish food giant Agrolimen SA on a joint venture with UK pet food manufacturer Natures Menu Limited.

Lawyers from the Beijing office of international law firm Bird & Bird have successfully assisted Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd in setting up a civil aviation maintenance & repair joint venture in Yichang city, Hubei province, China, with local Chinese partner Lingyun (Yichang) Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co. Ltd, which is wholly-owned by the state-owned Lingyun Group of China.

On December 1, 2015, Groupe E and the city of Fribourg have incorporated Groupe E Celsius SA, a new platform, which merges all district heating activities of Groupe E and the natural gas activities of Frigaz SA, the Fribourg-based natural gas distributor. Said platform includes also Placad, the district heating company of the Pérolles Heights. The value of the combined business amounts to approximately CHF 350 millions.

The operation was approved by the Swiss Competition Commission and Groupe E Celsius SA will start its operating activities on January 1, 2016.

The Swedish defense and security company Saab and UMS Aero Group, a Swiss producer of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles are forming a joint venture under the name UMS Skeldar AG. UMS Skeldar will acquire from Saab the assets relating to the Skeldar unmanned helicopter. UMS Skeldar’s activities will include the development, manufacture, testing, training and maintenance of unmanned aerial vehicles. It will have its seat in Möhlin, Switzerland, and an office in Linköping, Sweden.

As reported in The Wall Street Journal and other media outlets, Paul, Weiss client Microsoft entered into an agreement to form a joint venture with China Electronic Technology Corporation (CETC) to license, deploy, manage and optimize Windows 10 for China's government agencies and certain state-owned enterprises in mission critical infrastructure sectors and to provide ongoing support and services for these customers. CETC is one of China's large-scale, state-owned, high-tech enterprise groups. The joint venture will provide customized Windows 10 to government enterprises in China.

Slaughter and May advised INEOS on the bidding process behind the 14th Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round. Following an award of three new shale gas licences in the East Midlands in August 2015, INEOS was awarded 21 new shale gas licences covering areas in the East Midlands and the North West in December 2015. INEOS, which is now one of the UK’s biggest shale gas players, was awarded licences covering 700,000 acres on top of its existing 300,000 acres.

CONTACTS

Andrew Johnson (partner), Jolyon Smith (associate)