Bevan Brittan has acted as adviser to Brighton & Hove City Council in a £120 million joint venture (JV) with Hyde Housing to deliver 1,000 affordable new homes in the local area.

This local authority/housing association joint venture is an exciting model as it offers a structure for two publically focused organisations, that are natural housing development partners, to come together without a procurement process, enabling increased speed of delivery and certainty.

Charles Russell Speechlys has advised Business Growth Fund (BGF) on its investment in Revital, a London based multi-channel retailer of supplements, beauty and wellness products.

Charles Russell Speechlys have recently advised Chelverton Small Companies Dividend Trust PLC (Chelverton) on a combined main market issue of C shares (by way of an offer for subscription, intermediaries offer and placing) and zero dividend preference shares by a newly incorporated subsidiary of Chelverton, together with a “rollover” of existing zero dividend preference shares via a s. 110 Insolvency Act 1986 scheme of reconstruction.

Clifford Chance is advising SABIC, a world leader in chemicals, on its proposed acquisition of approximately 83 million shares in global chemicals company Clariant from 40 North and Corvex Management. The acquisition would make SABIC the largest Clariant shareholder. SABIC currently has no plans to launch a full takeover of Clariant.

The deal marks another step towards SABIC's plans to become a global leader in chemicals, offering product differentiation and value to customers. SABIC is 70% owned by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Clifford Chance advised investment company Prolimity Capital Partners on the acquisition of the WOCHENBLATT of the Lake Constance and Upper Swabia region in the context of insolvency proceedings. The WOCHENBLATT with its more than 500,000 readers per week has been published for 45 years. The publication was due to be liquidated in November 2017 based on a decision taken by the former owner, and became insolvent as a result.

DLA Piper has advised HanseMerkur Grundvermögen AG on its acquisition of the BBG Office Center located on the Böblinger Flugfeld development site for the open-ended special AIF "HMG Grundwerte Deutschland Südwest."

The seller of the new office building completed in early 2017 and comprising some 7,400 square metres is Böblinger Baugesellschaft. At present, the property is fully let and the volume of the investment totals some EUR 12 million.

DLA Piper has advised the international project developer and fund manager, Tishman Speyer, on the leasing of 9,500 square meters of its recently acquired "Pressehaus am Alexanderplatz," located on Karl Liebknecht Strasse, to the international internet and entertainment group Naspers.

The second major rental agreement in the building has been signed with Naspers and the tower is now fully let. The revitalisation of the building "Pressehaus" will be completed in 2019, and offers loft character office space of approximately 22,000 square meters.

DLA Piper has advised real estate private equity firm Harrison Street Real Estate Capital LLC (Harrison Street) on the establishment of a joint venture with LinkCity, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bouygues UK, for the development of a 435 bed student accommodation scheme in Birmingham.

The £40 million development is financed by UBS, with Harrison Street as the majority equity investor and Linkcity as the minority equity investor. Linkcity will develop and operate the site with Bouygues subsidiaries providing facilities management and construction services.

DLA Piper has advised Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC on the acquisition of AST Farma and Le Vet in the Netherlands for a total consideration of €340 million and an associated £100m placing to raise funds for the transaction.

DLA Piper has advised Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC on the acquisition of AST Farma and Le Vet in the Netherlands for a total consideration of €340 million and an associated £100m placing to raise funds for the transaction.