International law firm Ashurst has further strengthened its investment funds capability with the appointment of Nicola Hopkins as a partner in London.

International law firm Bird & Bird advise Earthport, a UK-based FinTech company, on its proposed recommended takeover by Visa for £198 million.

Earthport plc is a global financial services company providing cross border payments services to banks and businesses in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Earthport’s clients include Ripple, Bank of America, Hyperwallet, Transferwise, Payoneer, and Japan Post Bank.

Online Home Retail Limited, an online bathroom products retailer based in Evesham, has completed a successful management buyout (MBO).

The MBO was supported by private bank Arbuthnot Latham and Panoramic Growth Equity. The Arbuthnot Latham team, led by Andrew Rutherford, was advised by Jon Bew from the Banking & Finance team at law firm Irwin Mitchell.

Frankfurt—Global law firm Dentons advised engineering company Lahmeyer International on the acquisition of Overdick and Deutsche Offshore Consult (DOC), two companies specializing in offshore projects. With these strategic acquisitions, Lahmeyer has strengthened its position as a leading engineering service company in the energy sector, in particular in the rapidly growing market for offshore wind energy. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction value.

Established in 1968, Lyndon Scaffolding has sales of approximately £50 million and more than 600 employees. Lyndon Scaffolding has worked on some the U.K.’s largest and most impressive projects, and its portfolio includes Jubilee Bridge at Runcorn, BBC Broadcasting House, Tate Britain, Severn Bridge, Birmingham Gateway Station, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and the Scottish Parliament Building.

WBD has advised Third Energy Holdings Ltd, a specialist in the production and exploration of gas reserves, on the divestment of the entire issued share capital of Third Energy Offshore Ltd to Anglo-Dutch oil company Hague and London Oil plc (HALO).

A multidisciplinary WBD team advised on the transaction, with the firm drawing on its substantial experience of advising on M&A transactions in the energy sector. The transaction was led by corporate partner Simon Hewes, working closely with head of oil and gas, partner Paul Stockley.

Ashurst advised Taiwanese insurer Fubon Life on the acquisition of the Eurotower in Frankfurt.

Fubon Life, one of the largest insurers in Taiwan, acquired the 148 metre high office property at Frankfurt's Kaiserstraße through Patrizia Immobilien, who acted as the investment manager. The seller is a fund managed by Triuva for a German pension fund. The purchase price was EUR 530 million. The Eurotower is known as the former headquarter of European Central Bank, which stayed in the building as a tenant after its headquarters moved to Frankfurt's Ostend.

Ashurst advised the Munich-based growth investor Acton Capital Partners on the B-financing round for Berlin-based connected car and fleet management start-up Vimcar.

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised China Construction Bank as coordinator, underwriter and mandated lead arranger on the US$840 million syndicated loan financing for Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd (Zijin)'s successful cross-border public offer for Canadian mining company Nevsun Resources Ltd. (Nevsun)

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised a group of international lenders on a two-tranche long term debt refinancing of the 50 percent interest in Macarthur Wind Farm in Victoria, Australia, managed by HRL Morrison & Co.

The lender group was a club comprising BNP Paribas, ING Bank (Australia) Limited, Mizuho Bank, Ltd and MUFG Bank, Ltd, with MUFG Bank, Ltd underwriting a long term samurai loan as part of the refinancing.