Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. ("MHI") on the proposed worldwide merger with Hitachi, Ltd. ("Hitachi") of their respective thermal power operations. The firm has been working together with Japanese law firm Nishimura & Asahi, German law firm Noerr LLP, South African law firm Werksmans Attorneys, Polish law firm WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr, and Greek law firm Zepos & Yannopoulos on this deal. The Definitive Agreements were signed on 11 June 2013.

LONDON, 25 June 2013 - Hogan Lovells has advised Henderson Group plc (Henderson) on the creation of a new global real estate investment management company with the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association - College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF). The new company will be called TIAA Henderson Global Real Estate.

The two businesses will combine their European and Asian real estate businesses to form a leading real estate venture worth approximately £13 billion, which will offer clients expanded investment opportunities in the global real estate market.

Linklaters was pleased to advise pro bono in relation to the merger of two charities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) young people at risk from homelessness. The Albert Kennedy Trust and Outpost Housing merged from 8 May and will now be known as AKT.

The two charities operated in different parts of the UK and had a lot in common. The merged charity aims to enhance the level of help and support they can offer to young LGBT people and operate more widely nationally.

Speechly Bircham advised StockWell group, a leading strategic communications consultancy, on its merger with R Holloway & Associates Limited, an international reputation management firm.

The transaction combines two similar-sized advisory firms with extensive boardroom experience, a common focus on reputation management and international reach and perspective. The enlarged firm currently advises 40+ clients in a dozen countries.

Global law firm Eversheds has advised the University of Wales, Newport on its merger with the University of Glamorgan to create the University of South Wales.

The merger, which will be effective from April 11th 2013 will create one of the biggest universities in Wales, incorporating five campuses and more than 30,000 students.

The merger called on a wide variety of experts from Eversheds’ sector-leading education group. The team was led by partner Glynne Stanfield, assisted by Legal Director Helen Mortlock. Glynne comments:

Slaughter and May is advising Costain Group PLC ('Costain') on its recommended all-share merger with May Gurney Integrated Services plc ('May Gurney'). The merger will bring together two businesses with complementary service offerings to create one of the UK's leading integrated services providers to the rail, highways, water, waste, airports, hydrocarbons, power, nuclear, local government and fleet management sectors.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Axiata Group Berhad ("Axiata") on the strategic merger in Cambodia of Hello Axiata Company Limited (“Hello”) and Latelz Company Limited (“Latelz”) which operates under its main Smart Mobile (“Smart”) brand name. The transaction has an implied enterprise value of US$180 million. Axiata now hold a 90% stake in the combined entity and emerge as one of the largest operators in Cambodia in terms of subscribers and revenue.

Simmons & Simmons advises Dümmen and its shareholders on the merger of Dümmen with Agribio Group, creating a leading company in the worldwide floricultural breeding industry.

The intended merger will create a breeding company with a unique international production and sales network and broad assortment of cut flowers, pot and bedding plants. The new company will have around 6,000 employees worldwide and realize €175 million sales annually. The Dümmen family and management and H2 Equity Partners will be the shareholders of the new company.

Travers Smith partner Spencer Summerfield and senior corporate associate Mohammed Senouci have advised San Leon Energy plc on its successful recommended all share merger with AIM quoted Aurelian Oil & Gas plc. The merger was implemented by way of scheme of arrangement with completion occurring on 25 January 2013.

The wider Travers Smith team included head of employee incentives Mahesh Varia, tax partner Simon Yates and employment partner Ed Mills.

Clifford Chance is advising Sorouh Real Estate PJSC on its proposed merger with Aldar Properties PJSC, terms of which were agreed by their respective boards on 20 January 2013.

The merger, which has been unanimously recommended to shareholders, will create the largest listed real estate developer in Abu Dhabi and the second largest real estate developer in the UAE, with combined total assets of approximately AED47 billion.