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.

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.

International legal practice Osborne Clarke has advised Investec Bank plc on the successful £70 million placing for AIM quoted Blue Prism Group plc, a global leader in robotic process automation.

The fundraising comprised a primary placing by Blue Prism to raise £40 million to accelerate its global growth and a secondary placing by certain selling shareholders to raise £30 million.

The Osborne Clarke team that advised on the transaction was led by Partner Jonathan King who was assisted by Senior Associate Ed Nisbet.

International legal practice Osborne Clarke has advised Barratt Developments on 50:50 joint venture (JV) with Swindon Borough Council to develop approximately 250 hectares at Wichelstowe, South of Swindon. The scheme will deliver around 2,670 new homes over the next 20 years and includes two primary schools, a secondary school and an extensive area of open space.

International legal practice Osborne Clarke has advised ICS Group Holdings Limited (ICS Cool Energy) on its sale to Ingersoll Rand plc, a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments.

Following its acquisition, ICS Cool Energy will be part of Ingersoll Rand’s Commercial Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) business.

Sanofi and Ablynx, a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of Nanobodies®, entered into a definitive agreement under which Sanofi will offer to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares, which represents an aggregate equity value of approximately €3.9 billion. Linklaters advised Ablynx on the deal.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi will launch public offers to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares (including shares represented by ADSs), warrants and convertible bonds of Ablynx in cash.

Hogan Lovells successfully closed a US$200 million high yield bond offering by TBLA International Pte. Ltd., an offshore subsidiary of PT Tunas Baru Lampung Tbk (TBLA). The deal was led by CLSA and Indonesian bank Mandiri Securities, who were represented by Milbank Tweed. The transaction is one of Asia’s first high yield bond offerings of 2018.

Partner Matt Noon and associate Elan Iorwerth from Hill Dickinson’s Liverpool corporate team recently acted for longstanding client, Praetura, in relation to an investment into the Ellesmere Port based digital marketing agency, We Influence.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised the senior lenders, including entities managed by The Carlyle Group and affiliates of Värde Partners, on the A$1.2 billion restructure and recapitalisation of the Bis Industries group, an Australia-based resources logistics and materials handling provider.

Herbert Smith Freehills is providing various legal services to Chinese-based Melbourne property developer Jinding Australia, which is focusing on becoming one of Australia’s leading property developers.

Over the past 6 months Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Jinding Australia on the expansion of its development portfolio to over $1.3 billion. The company’s recent acquisitions include: