King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) acted for Greg O’Neill and related parties on the sale of an 80% stake in the privately-owned La Trobe Financial Group to New York-based Blackstone.

La Trobe Financial manages investment mandates in excess of A$13 billion, including a retail Credit Fund of almost $2 billion and over $1 billion of public RMBS bonds issued. The Melbourne-based firm has over 200 staff with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Travers Smith LLP has advised long-standing client TA Associates on the acquisition of the Single Strategy asset management business (the "Single Strategy Business") by a newco funded by TA Associates from Old Mutual Wealth.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Colam Invest, the long term investments branch of Colam Entreprendre, on its acquisition of a 30% interest in the capital of Akuo Energy SAS. Akuo Energy SAS is the leading French independent renewable energy power producer in developing, financing, building and operating renewable energy power plants all over the world. The transaction was completed on 15 November 2017.

DLA Piper has advised US technology company BuildingIQ (ASX: BIQ) on its latest capital raising to help fund the company’s growing sales pipeline and 5i Platform services development.

BuildingIQ helps building owners and operators worldwide lower energy use and increase building operations efficiency. The company builds services and solutions based on a core set of technologies incorporated into its 5i cloud-based platform and methodology.

Orrick has advised OptAsia Healthcare, a Hong Kong-based healthcare technology firm, on its joint venture with Redwood City, CA-based Soleno Thera-peutics (NASDAQ:SLNO) and its subsidiary Capnia for the development and commercialization of Capnia’s innovative Sensalyze technology platform, which includes the CoSense End-Tidal Carbon Monoxide monitor that assists in the detection of excessive hemolysis in newborn infants.

Paul, Weiss advised Chinese internet giant Tencent in its US$604 million investment in Vipshop Holdings Ltd, a major Chinese online discount apparel retailer. Under the terms of the agreement, Tencent and JD.com Inc,, China’s largest e-commerce firm, will invest an aggregate US$863 million cash into Vipshop and will grant Vipshop access to Tencent’s digital wallet platform and JD.com’s mobile application.  Tencent and JD.com will subscribe for newly issued Class A ordinary shares of Vipshop.

International legal business DWF has advised BGF in connection with its funding support for family-owned APS Group, the UK’s largest tomato grower to support its continued expansion. 

Gowling WLG's Corporate, Finance and Tax team has advised the existing shareholders of long-standing client Forest Holidays on a further management buy-out, led by Phoenix Equity Partners and supported by existing lead investor and Gowling WLG client Lloyds Development Capital.

Hill Dickinson has advised Styles & Wood Group plc, the integrated property services and project delivery provider, on the recommended cash offer by Central Square Holdings Limited. The offer comprises 465 pence in cash per ordinary share, valuing the diluted share capital of Styles & Wood at £42.5 million.

The acquisition is to be implemented by way of scheme of arrangement with final completion is expected to occur in March 2018.

Linklaters advised J.P Morgan, acting as the presenting bank alongside BNP Paribas, in relation to a potential takeover bid, followed by a squeeze-out targeting shares in the SFR group initiated by Altice.

The Linklaters team was managed by Marc Petitier, a partner in the Corporate division. Cyril Abtan, partner, dealt with the aspects of the counter-guarantee for the presenting banks. They were assisted by Maxime Le Bivic, associate. Luis Roth, a partner in Capital Markets dealt, with all the American law aspects of the deal. He was assisted by Sonny Ha, associate.