Baker McKenzie advises an affiliate of US private equity group Lone Star on its acquisition of Xella Group, a German-based solution provider of building materials, from European private equity firms PAI Partners and investment funds managed by Goldman Sachs.

The Baker McKenzie Prague office team led by partner Libor Basl, who is primarily supported by associate David Reiterman, advises on the Czech aspects of the deal, worth over EUR 2.2 billion. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2017.

On December 20, Papyrus AB (Papyrus) has announced that it has completed the sale of 100% of the share capital of Papyrus France Holding SAS, comprising its wholly-owned subsidiary Groupe Papyrus France SAS, involved in the business of wholesale and distribution of paper to professionals in France, to Inapa - Investimentos, Participações e Gestão SA (Inapa), a Portuguese company listed on the Lisbon stock exchange.

On 19 September 2016, Sempione Retail AG, a company owned by OVS S.p.A., Retails Investment S.R.L. and Elarof Trust, launched an all-cash public tender offer for all listed shares in Charles Vögele Holding AG. With the satisfaction of all its conditions, the offer was settled on 16 December 2016. Sempione Retail currently controls 95% of the voting rights and the share capital of Charles Vögele Holding AG.

Slaughter and May advised the controllers of Wyelands Holdings Limited on the acquisition of Tungsten Bank plc from Tungsten Corporation plc, the global e-invoicing, purchase order services, analytics and financing company. Tungsten Bank has been renamed Wyelands Bank.

Tungsten Corporation plc received £25.0 million in cash which, together with £4.6 million of cash already received in connection with the disposal, amounts to an aggregate cash consideration for the business of £29.6 million.

De Brauw advises Vopak on the acquisition of Exmar's floating LNG storage and regasification (FSRU) business.

Client name
Koninklijke Vopak N.V. - purchaser
Other parties involved
Exmar NV
Nature of transaction

Osborne Clarke has advised science and engineering company QinetiQ Group plc on its £57.5 million acquisition of Meggitt Target Systems from Meggitt, on a cash-free, debt-free basis.

As part of the acquisition, QinetiQ acquires Meggitt Defence Systems Limited from Meggitt plc and Meggitt Holdings Canada Inc. from Meggitt International limited (together “Meggitt Target Systems”).

Allen & Overy is advising long-standing client 21st Century Fox on its takeover offer for Sky plc. The acquisition will create a global leader in content creation and distribution and will add the strength of the Sky brand to 21st Century Fox's existing media portfolio, including Fox, National Geographic and Star.

The cash offer values the 60.9% of Sky that 21st Century Fox does not already own at GBP11.7 billion. The transaction has been unanimously recommended by the independent committee of the board of Sky.

Clifford Chance advised SCA Group, Stockholm, Sweden, with a cross-border team on the takeover of medical solutions company BSN medical. The purchase price amounts to EUR 2.74 billion. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Closing is expected to take place during the second quarter 2017.

Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Vistra on its acquisition of the Jordans Group from its current shareholder, The West of England Trust Limited.

“We were pleased to have been able to assist Vistra on this transaction,” said Ben Mercer, partner, Stephenson Harwood. “We have worked with Vistra on a number of transactions, drawing on the specialist expertise of colleagues from across our practice areas and global network; our Hong Kong and London offices have both been involved in this transaction."

Clifford Chance has advised Schaeffler AG on the sale of the cylinder head manufacturer Schaeffler Motorenelemente AG & Co. KG, Magdeburg, Germany. The purchaser is Weber Group, which produces gear components for cars, commercial and recreational vehicles.