Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised South Korean asset manager Capstone Asset Management on the resale of the new Zalando headquarters in Berlin by way of a share deal to a Luxembourg real estate fund advised by Hines. The purchase price is about € 233 Million.

Founded in 2009, Capstone is one of the fastest growing companies within their branch in Korea and currently manages assets of around € 1.8 billion.

International legal practice Osborne Clarke has advised Founders Factory on the launch of Founders Factory Retail, a joint venture with Marks & Spencer (M&S) focused on investing and growing start-ups.

The collaboration with Founders Factory will provide M&S with a world-class digital partner and will give M&S direct access to cutting-edge technologies through investment in talented entrepreneurs and businesses

Taylor Wessing has advised Baird Capital, the direct investment arm of Robert W. Baird & Co, on its acquisition of a majority interest in Collingwood Lighting (“Collingwood”), a leading designer and supplier of residential, commercial and exterior lighting.

As part of this deal, Baird Capital partners James Benfield and Dennis Hall will join the Collingwood board of directors.

A cross-border Orrick team of lawyers in Munich, Düsseldorf, and London advised ING Bank, a branch of ING-DiBa AG, on the £18.4 million debt financing of the Lilbourne wind farm in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom, with Union Investment being the sponsor.

Union Investment (Union Asset Management Holding AG) is the investment arm of the German DZ Bank Group and part of the cooperative financial services network. It has been founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Frankfurt.

International law firm Ashurst advised Tages Helios ("Tages"), the real estate investment fund managed by Tages Capital SGR, on the structuring of the HoldCo financing transaction for a photovoltaic portfolio with an installed power of up to approximately 140MW.

This is the third financing operation for Tages with an unprecedented structure based on a scheme typical of loans for real estate infrastructure funds, following the refinancing of the 9REN portfolio in December 2016 and the Sunreserve portfolio in July 2017.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised New Energy Solar Limited on its acquisition of the 108.4 MWDC Beryl solar project in New South Wales from First Solar Inc.

New Energy Solar has interests in 20 solar projects in the United States and recently acquired its first Australian asset, the Manildra solar farm, also from First Solar.

Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has advised the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) on the €535 million sale of its 66 percent stake in Greek natural gas transmission system operator DESFA.

The stake will be acquired, subject to the satisfaction of regulatory conditions, by a consortium comprising Snam S.p.A., Enagás Internacional S.L.U. and Fluxys S.A. – the natural gas transmission system operators in Italy, Spain and Belgium, respectively.

The deal implies a total equity value for DESFA of €810 million.

Linklaters advised Octopus Investments on the successful completion of a £174 million refinancing of the largest independent portfolio of biomass and landfill gas projects in the UK. The refinancing is one of the largest transactions of its kind and the first major UK biomass deal in 2018.

The biomass portfolio, which Octopus acquired on behalf of its investors in 2015, includes 5 biomass plants and 22 landfill sites.

The financing was provided by Natwest, HSBC, Investec, Sabadell, Barclays and AIB.

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Fluence after it was selected by UK Power Reserve (UKPR) to deliver half of its battery storage portfolio. This is the firm’s first engagement with Fluence, a global energy storage technology and services provider, jointly owned by Siemens and AES.

Travers Smith LLP has advised PureGym, the UK’s leading gym operator, on its acquisition of Soho Gyms and its 10 fitness clubs.

The Travers Smith team was led by Private Equity Partner Emma Havas and Corporate Associate Jess Brown. The team also included Tax Partner Hannah Manning and Senior Tax Associate Tom Rickford.