International legal business DWF has advised Palatine Private Equity in connection with its investment in ZyroFisher, the leading cycling parts and accessories distributor, alongside mid-market private equity investor LDC as both firms provide the financial firepower to support the business's continued expansion strategy.
DLA Piper has advised a newly established fund named Enhanced Real Estate Series APAC II - China Outlets SCSp known as COMF, managed by TH Real Estate, on the fund's acquisition of a pipeline of designer outlet malls under the "Florentia Village" brand in China, closing on two malls in Wuqing and Shanghai to start. The fund has equity commitments of US$750 million, with a total capacity of US$1 billion with gearing, and is backed by Allianz, Gaw Capital Partners, TIAA General Account, a Frankfurt-based German asset management company and others.
DLA Piper has advised international investor consortium BFC Investment on its acquisition of Championship football club Barnsley FC, from Oakwell Holdings Limited.
The consortium is headed by Chien Lee and Pacific Media Group, led by Paul Conway and Grace Hung. Also investing in the consortium are Billy Beane and Neerav Parekh. Previous owners the Cryne family will retain an interest, continuing their 14-year association with the Club.
DLA Piper has advised Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited (ASX: SOL) (WHSP) on their asset sale agreement for the sale of a portfolio of securities to Acorn Capital Investment Fund Limited (ASX: ACQ) (Acorn Capital).
Acorn Capital will acquire a portfolio of seven assets from WHSP, consisting of six unlisted and one ASX-listed assets, for approximately AU$7.6m.
The purchase price is proposed to be funded by the issue of ordinary shares in Acorn Capital, representing the largest shareholding in the fund.
Hamburg – The Swiss utility ewz, the public utility company of the City of Zurich, is further expanding its renewable energy portfolio by acquiring the two onshore wind farm projects "Autremencourt" and "Vihiersois" from Hamburg-based Nordex SE.
Munich – Munich-based eGym GmbH has been granted a loan of up to EUR 25 million by the European Investment Bank (EIB), with the actual financing being provided by the European Fund for Strategic Investments. The EFSI promotes the Juncker Plan, an investment programme aimed at stimulating growth in the European single market and, by doing so, creating jobs.
Munich – An international CMS team has advised listed company Mutares AG of Munich on the sale of engineering company A + F Automation + Fördertechnik GmbH, which is headquartered in the Westphalian town of Kirchlengern. The buyer is a fund advised by Swiss company CGS Management AG.
Stuttgart – Belgian group Cofinimmo is continuing its expansion strategy in Germany by adding two care home properties to its healthcare portfolio in the country via deals worth EUR 26.5 million.
Reed Smith has advised ENGIE AXIMA, a subsidiary of French multinational energy group ENGIE, on its acquisition of Hamburg-headquartered Noske-Kaeser Group (Noske-Kaeser) out of insolvency proceedings through a combined share and asset deal. The acquisition was subject to antitrust clearance by the German Federal Cartel Office.
We advised Ironshore International/Pembroke, the W&I insurance underwriters in London, in connection with the sale of two-thirds of Eir to NJJ Capital. The deal values the telecoms operator at circa EUR3.5 billion.