Stibbe advises Tribune Media Company on the Dutch law aspects of the sale of its Gracenote division to Nielsen.

Davis Polk is advising Millicom International Cellular S.A. on the sale to Wari Group S.A. for $129 million of its business in Senegal, which is operated under the brand “Tigo.” The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.

Millicom is a leading telecom and media company dedicated to emerging markets in Latin America and Africa. Wari Group, based in Senegal, is a leading platform for digital financial services in Africa.

Taylor Wessing has advised Epiris and other key shareholders on the sale of Audiotonix, a leading manufacturer of audio mixing consoles, to Astorg, a leading European private equity firm. The transaction is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2017, subject to regulatory approvals.

Funds managed by Epiris are expected to receive proceeds from the sale of £203 million equating to a return of 4.8x original cost and an IRR of 51%, assuming completion by the end of March.

Pinsent Masons has advised Reliance Mutual Insurance Society Limited (Reliance Mutual) on its agreement with Life Company Consolidation Group (LCCG) under which it is proposed that Reliance Mutual will be demutualised and all of its business transferred to a newly formed UK life company established by LCCG

Simpson Thacher is representing Tourico Holidays in connection with its acquisition by Hotelbeds Group, a portfolio company of Cinven and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Paul, Weiss is representing private equity firm ShawKwei & Partners in its sale of YongLe Tape Company Ltd. to global packaging company Avery Dennison for around $220 million. The acquisition is expected to close mid-2017, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals. YongLe Tape is a manufacturer of specialty tapes and related products used in a variety of industrial markets, including the global automotive industry.

The Paul, Weiss team included corporate partner Jeanette Chan and counsel David Lee; and litigation counsel Peter Jaffe.

UKFast CEO Lawrence Jones MBE today announces the acquisition of another cloud and cybersecurity service provider, Secure Information Assurance (S-IA), following the announcement of a £2.3 million investment to bolster his firm’s government data centre space.

S-IA provides secure cloud hosting and cybersecurity services to the UK Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office and a raft of other UK government organisations.

Shoosmiths has advised the British Retail Consortium (BRC) on their sale of BRC Global Standards to the LGC Group (formerly known as the Laboratory of the Government Chemist).

BRC Global Standards is the world's largest provider of safety and quality standards programmes for food and non-food manufacture, packaging, storage, and distribution, and the LGC Group is the leading international life sciences measurement and testing company.
LGC Group will become the majority shareholder in the company. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed.

Pinsent Masons has advised North Sea-focused oil and gas operator Ithaca Energy Inc on a takeover bid valuing the business at US$1.24bn.

Under the proposed deal Israeli-listed Delek Group will increase its 19% shareholding with a cash takeover offer.  Delek proposes to buy Ithaca for 120p per share. The offer values Ithaca’s equity at US$646m and gives the company an enterprise value of US$1.24bn. It has been unanimously recommended by Ithaca’s Board.  Ithaca is dual-listed on the Toronto and London Stock Exchanges, and is headquartered in Aberdeen.

Velocita AB has acquired Galdax AB from Galdax Holding AB and other owners.Galdax Holding AB reinvests in the new group in connection with the transaction.

Galdax manufactures and distributes truck and bus tires on the Swedish market. Manufacturing is done through the Bandag process, a leading manufacturing processes within retreads.

Galdax Holding was advised by Mannheimer Swartling in the transaction.