Stibbe advises Colliers International, a global leader in commercial real estate services, on its acquisition of WPM, Netherland’s leading property and asset management company.

This acquisition anchors Colliers International’s position in the Dutch real estate market as a market leader with a full range of professional real estate services.

Team: Maarten de Bruin, Duco de Boer, Paul Quist, David Meijeren, Sophie Zwartkruis-Bakker, Boris Cammelbeeck, Hannes Bierman, Frédéric François, Johan Zwemmer

Gide has advised Dalian Canglong Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd., on its acquisition of 70% of the equity interests in French high-tech company Almae Technologies SAS.

Canglong Optoelectronic is part of the FiberHome Technologies Group, a major Chinese state-owned enterprise specialising in the manufacturing of optical fibre and cable products for the information technology and telecommunications industries. Its investment aims to boost the research, development and manufacturing of Almae Technologies’ photonic products in both France and China.

Osborne Clarke has advised Progressive Digital Media Group plc (which is now named GlobalData plc) on its purchase of the international GlobalData group for a consideration of £66.5 million, a transaction involving its majority shareholder. In connection with the acquisition, Osborne Clarke also advised on a series of connected transactions (including a corporate re-organisation and the related disposal of Progressive Digital Media Group plc’s print business for £4.5 million).

The purchase and disposal agreements completed on 25 January 2016.

Simmons & Simmons has advised US-based $3.1bn sports apparel retailer, Fanatics, on its £11.55m acquisition of sports apparel retailer, Kitbag, from London Stock Exchange listed online retailer Findel.

Fanatics powers the merchandising websites of every major sports league in the US and, with the acquisition of Manchester-based Kitbag, has opened up new territories and markets and is well positioned for further growth.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised the AeroGround Group, a subsidiary wholly owned by Flughafen München GmbH, on the acquisition of two Berlin ground handling service providers by AeroGround Berlin GmbH.

AeroGround Berlin purchased all shares in Acciona Airport Services, Berlin GmbH as well as HSD Flughafen GmbH from the Spanish Acciona Group. The Norton Rose Fulbright team provided legal and structural advice throughout the transaction.

DLA Piper has advised the Saudi-Arabian Alfanar Group on the acquisition of the German electrical goods manufacturer Heinrich Kopp. The seller was the Luxembourg private-equity firm Palero invest.

Thommessen acts for a Chinese consortium in connection with the voluntary offer to acquire all the shares in Opera Software ASA.

Thommessen acts for Golden Brick Silk Road Equity Investment Fund II, a fund controlled by two Chinese internet companies and one Chinese investment company, in connection with the voluntary offer to acquire all the shares in Opera Software ASA at NOK 71 per share.

After an era of 27 years, Circuit Park Zandvoort has a new owner. Chapman Andretti partners, founded by Menno de Jong and Bernhard van Oranje, will take over from the current managing director and major shareholder, Hans Ernst.

Allianz Global Investors (“AllianzGI”), one of the world's leading active investment managers, announced that it has agreed to acquire Rogge Global Partners (“RGP”), the London-based global fixed income specialist. The transaction will see AllianzGI acquire 100 per cent of the issued share capital in RGP from Old Mutual and RGP management.

Ashurst advised Liberty Hall Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused exclusively on investments in businesses serving the global aerospace and defense industry, on the acquisition of AIM Aerospace, a leading, independent supplier of composite ducting, substructural and interiors parts for the commercial aerospace industry.