Baker & McKenzie, has advised longstanding client, Unilever, on its acquisition of leading independent prestige skincare brand, Kate Somerville Skincare. The transaction marks the third in a series of recent strategic skincare deals for Unilever, following the acquisitions of the Camay and Zest soap brands and the REN premium skincare brand, which both closed on 30 April.

London-based Global Head of M&A, Tim Gee, said: "We're delighted to have worked with Unilever on these important strategic acquisitions."

Top ranked Technology Law Firm Fieldfisher advised Tokyo listed Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd., on a landmark technology acquisition of Wahanda, the Tech City online marketplace for health, beauty and wellness, which has operations in the UK, Germany, and Lithuania and is rapidly growing across Europe.  Wahanda's current management will remain with the business going forwards.  Recruit, with its existing Japanese business Hot Pepper Beauty, hopes for this business to become the clear No 1 European on line beauty platform. 

Hogan Lovells has advised long-standing client SABMiller on its acquisition of London-based modern craft brewer Meantime Brewing Company.  The transaction is expected to complete in early June 2015.

Meantime was established in 1999 in Greenwich, London and since then has created a successful range of British and international beer styles, including London Pale Ale and London Lager.  Sales by volume grew by 58% in 2014 compared to 1% growth in the UK beer market as a whole.

Linklaters has advised Brait, the South African listed private equity group, on its acquisition of New Look, the British-based global fashion retailer, from Apax and Permira in a deal valuing the business at £1.9bn.  

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised H.E.C. (Hellenic Environmental Center) Europe Limited on its acquisition of 100 per cent of the environmental protection business from Hamburg-based Eckelmann Group. The Norton Rose Fulbright team advised H.E.C. on all aspects of the acquisition, including carve-out and tax-related matters.

Ashurst advised international chemical Group Novacap, headquartered in France and majority-owned by private investment company Ardian, on the acquisition of CU CHEMIE UETIKON ("Uetikon"). Uetikon was sold by funds advised by finance investor Equistone Partners Europe. The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price and the transaction is still subject to clearance by the relevant competition authorities. Equistone had acquired its majority shareholding as part of a management buy-out in November 2011.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised SurfStitch Group Limited (SurfStitch) on its acquisitions of Magicseaweed Limited and Rollingyouth Pty Limited (which publishes Stab Magazine), announced today (the Acquisitions). The Acquisitions will be funded by a A$37.5 million institutional placement of shares, on which Herbert Smith Freehills also advised.

According to SurfStitch, Magicseaweed is the world’s leading online surf forecaster and user-generated surf content network and Stab Magazine is the world’s leading online surf publishing and content provider.

Baker & McKenzie advised the private equity owned company Platinum Equity on the acquisition of Worldwide Flight Services, one of the world leaders in the port services, from LBO France.

WFS specialise in air cargo handling and ground handling services, and are present in over 140 airports, operating with 300 airline companies. Each year, the company takes charge of 4 million tonnes of goods and 50 million passengers.

Hill Dickinson has advised Calder Products Limited (Calder Products), a newly incorporated company formed by Paul Cassidy (the Chairman of Casdon), Lynda Cassidy (Paul Cassidy’s wife), Philip Cassidy (joint Managing Director of Casdon) and Peter Cassidy (joint Managing Director of Casdon) (Paul Cassidy Concert Party) for the specific purpose of enabling the Paul Cassidy Concert Party to make the offer.

Telecommunications operator Orange has entered into exclusive negotiations with the French media and content giant Vivendi, in order to purchase 80% of the share capital of the online video platform, Dailymotion. The contemplated amount of this transaction is equal to 271 million euros. In the event of success, Orange will retain 20% of Dailymotion’s share capital, assessed at 265 million euros. This transaction aims at providing Dailymotion with a strategic partner, allowing it to accelerate its growth and make it one of the largest platforms worldwide.