Macfarlanes has advised the shareholders of leading online mail order retailer M and M Direct on its sale to BESTSELLER for up to £140m.

M and M Direct has dedicated local market websites covering the UK, German, French, Dutch and Polish markets as well as serving more than 20 countries additionally worldwide. M and M Direct was previously owned by private equity firm TA Associates since 2007.

The Macfarlanes team was led by corporate M&A partners Ian Martin and Simon Perry.

Addleshaw Goddard Corporate Partner Richard Lee, supported by Corporate Managing Associate Simon Wood and a team from the firm's Corporate, Banking, Tax and Share Schemes departments, is advising Cheshire-based construction and property investment / development group, Pochin's, on the proposed takeover of the company, which was announced on 12 June.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised UGL Limited (UGL) on the sale of its global property services business, DTZ, to a consortium comprising TPG Asia, Inc, PAG Asia Capital and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (together TPG and Partners) at an enterprise value of A$1.215 billion, announced today.

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP advised First International Bank of Israel, Israel’s fifth largest banking group which is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, on the sale of its UK banking subsidiary, FIBI (UK) PLC, to Tungsten Corporation plc. The fully UK authorised bank will be re-named Tungsten Bank.

International law firm, Osborne Clarke has advised the shareholders of Precise Media, including UK private equity house Phoenix Equity Partners, on the sale of a majority stake in the company to WPP’s research arm, Kantar.

Watson, Farley & Williams (“WFW”), a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that it has advised Chemring Group (“Chemring”) on the sale of Chemring Defence Germany GmbH to the Drew Marine Group.

A team based in the Budapest office of international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges advised the TDF Group of France on the sale of Antenna Hungária Zrt. to NISZ (National Infocommunications Services Co. Zrt.), a Hungarian state-owned company providing governmental information and telecommunication operations and services.

Linklaters has advised IK Investment Partners on the sale of the Minimax Viking Group, a leading global player in the active fire protection market, to the Danish investment company Kirkbi A/S and the specialist asset manager Intermediate Capital Group plc. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The transaction is still subject to the approval of the competition authorities.

RBS Invoice Finance and RBS banking teams in the Midlands worked rapidly and tirelessly in collaboration to fund and support the deal, with Leeds-based Mazars introducing Cavalier Marketing to HLD to secure the sale. Irwin Mitchell Leeds Advise On the Deal.

Rotherham-based specialist equipment testing business has been acquired by US based MISTRAS Group (NYSE: MG) in an undisclosed deal.  Irwin Mitchell’s Corporate Team In Sheffield Advises On Deal
 
Established in 1993 with a strong presence in Aberdeen and Netherlands and led by managing director, David Ackernley, Focus NDT performed non-destructive testing and inspection activities for industries across a comprehensive range of sectors including Oil and Gas, Defence, precision engineering and Aerospace.