Forward-thinking London law firm, Joelson, has recently completed a round of Series A funding for one of the UK’s most innovative tech companies.

SAM Labs has raised more than £5.1 million from Touchstone Innovations Businesses LLP and E15 Ventures with help from the Joelson’s Corporate and Commercial team.

Completed on 31 October 2017, the Series A round will be used to develop SAM Labs range of products, which include the companies’ well-known tech-enabled construction kits that are designed to teach children about coding and creating to strengthen their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills.

Its kits are already present in a number of schools around the world and the team behind it have previously had the backing of Microsoft, Intel and the London Science Museum.

Joelson worked alongside the management team at SAM Labs during the recent fundraising providing advice on a wide range of legal matters.

Entrepreneur Joachim Horn, CEO of SAM Labs, said: “Joelson puts the client first. They are fantastically supportive and provided excellent commercial-minded guidance throughout the process. It felt like having our own in-house legal counsel.”

Philippa Sturt, a Partner at Joelson who led the deal and whose expertise revolves around start-ups and SMEs, said: “The tech industry continues to outpace the majority of sectors in the UK, which is why there is a growing interest in investing in the UK’s most inventive firms.

“SAM Labs has more than demonstrated that it has what it takes to succeed and we are delighted that we were able to work with them on this latest round of funding.”

Russell-Cooke acted for Moulton Goodies Limited on in its investment in Pyreos Limited, a Scottish supplier of thin-film pyroelectric sensors. These are used for passively sensing infra red light and are typically very small, fast, sensitive, energy efficient and accurate.

The sensors are primarily used for gas and flame sensing, food safety, and for monitoring oil and fuel in engines.  These growth markets have a combined accessible value estimated at $1.2bn a year in 2018.

The latest investment brings the total raised by Pyreos since 2015 to almost £7m. The investment follows a busy year for Pyreos in which the company grew its revenues by 50%, with exports accounting for 81% of sales thanks to major markets including China, Korea, the USA and India.

“We advised Moulton Goodies on the £1.7m investment round in its capacity as lead investor. We advised on investment agreement and ancillary documents and liaised with firms and in-house lawyers acting for other investors participating in the round and assisted with completion arrangements”, speaks Guy Wilmot Partner of the Corporate and Commercial team at Russell-Cooke.

“The transaction was complicated with an unusual share capital structure and a large number of shareholders, including institutional, employee, and Government shareholders.

“The department has historically been strongly represented acting for the recipient companies in equity investment funding, this transaction demonstrates our increasing involvement investor-side.”

CMS Francis Lefebvre Lawyers and Templars Law LLC were involved in The NSIA Group takeover of DIAMOND Bank S.A., a subsidiary bank of the Nigerian Group DIAMOND plc.

The NSIA group, a major player in insurance in Sub-Saharan Africa (some twenty life and non-life subsidiaries present in more than a dozen African countries) and the bank (two banking subsidiaries in Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea), has finalized the acquisition of Diamond Bank SA, a Beninese banking subsidiary of the Nigerian group Diamond Bank Plc and its three bank branches in Senegal, Togo and Ivory Coast (total balance sheet of more than 600 million euros).

With the acquisition of DIAMOND Bank S.A., NSIA's banking division is now present in 5 countries: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry, Senegal and Togo.

With its network of subsidiaries in the insurance sector, the NSIA group is currently present in 12 countries of West and Central Africa: Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.

CMS Francis Lefebvre Avocats advised NSIA with Pierre Marly and Bertrand Saint Pierre.

Diamond Bank Plc was advised by the Nigerian firm Templars Law LLC.

Mission Critical Partners (MCP), a provider of professional services and lifecycle management solutions for mission-critical infrastructure, and Egis Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm focused on the Security and Protection industry, announced a new strategic partnership. The agreement brings together MCP’s extensive team of specialized mission-critical communications professionals and the strategic and financial backing of Egis Capital Partners, positioning both companies to create greater value for clients and drive the digital transformation of the public safety communications sector.

Mission Critical Partners (MCP) is a professional services firm that helps clients enhance and evolve their public safety systems and operations through our extensive experience, knowledge and resources.

Egis Capital Partners makes control-oriented buyout and growth investments in technology-driven businesses in the Security and Protection industry. Since 2008, Egis has made 13 platform investments in the space, leading to lasting positive relationships with investors, directors, and operators within the industry. Egis is focused on partnering with companies that can benefit from Egis’ industry knowledge, operational and financial expertise, C-level relationships, and proactive ownership model. Egis targets companies in North America with enterprise values ranging between $30 million and $200 million that require a total equity investment between $10 million and $80 million.

DyDo Group Holdings, Japan completed the acquisition of 80% shares in Mavidağ, a local water production company, through its Turkish subsidiary, Della Gıda. The sellers, will retain the remaining 20% of shares in the company.

Paksoy has supported Della Gıda in all aspects of the transaction including the due diligence, structuring, tax, drafting and negotiation of the transaction documents, such as subscription agreement, share purchase agreement, shareholders' agreement and share pledge agreement.

Paksoy is pleased to announce that M&A team led by M. Togan Turan (Partner) together with Şansal Erbacıoğlu (Counsel, Tax and Fiscal Services), Nazlı Bezirci (Senior Associate) and Yasemin Ozman Ildırar (Associate) advised Della Gıda in this transaction.

Alvarez & Diaz-Silveira LLP (ADS), a Miami-based corporate boutique law firm specialising in transactional work including international and domestic M&A, finance, real estate, and immigration services, announced that it has represented Dometic AB as lead US counsel in its acquisition of SeaStar Solutions from affiliates of American Securities LLC. SeaStar Solutions is a leading provider of vessel control and fuel systems and aftermarket products to the leisure marine industry. The transaction is valued at $875 million USD and was fully financed via cash and committed bank facilities.

Alvarez & Diaz-Silveira LLP attorneys Colleen Grady and Albert Diaz-Silveira negotiated the deal, and Lauren Hunt and Paula Buzzi led the real estate portion. The ADS team coordinated a group of specialized counsel that assisted on the matter that included Mark Hamilton from Danziger & Markhoff LLP for ERISA matters, Nick Katsanos from Seward & Kissel for HSR matters, and Andrew Robertson of Lawson Lundell for Canadian matters. Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP represented the seller.

“We’re pleased to have been able to advise Dometic in executing this important business transaction which continues to advance Dometic’s mission of ‘Mobile Living Made Easy’”, said Grady. “For the firm, this deal showcased our ability to act as lead counsel on an exceptionally complex multinational transaction. Deals of this magnitude are typically handled by large full-service firms but our platform is an alternative to successfully and cost-effectively close such a transaction by working with specialists with whom we have long-standing relationships”, she added.

AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA (ISIN DE000A0JK2A8) (“Aurelius” or “the Group”), the listed pan-European mid-market investor, announced the acquisition of Connect Books from FTSE-listed specialist distribution company Connect Group Plc.

Connect Books is a multi-channel wholesaler, distributor and retailer of printed and digital books, with operations in UK, the Netherlands, and France. The business has projected revenues of approximately EUR 250 million for 2017. Connect Group is selling the division as it seeks to focus its strategy on its specialist logistics business. The transaction is subject to the approval of the competition authorities and is expected to close in January 2018.

On completion, Connect Books, will be rebranded back to Bertram Group.

Connect Books is a global multi-channel books business with a strong competitive position across the UK and Europe. It is comprised of six distinct brands.

In the coming months, AURELIUS operational task force experts will support Connect Books management in executing a carve-out from Connect Group, ensuring minimal distraction from the company’s day-to-day business. Following acquisition, AURELIUS will also work with the team to implement its planned growth strategy across its full brand range, with a focus on expanding the business’ international footprint, service offering, marketing capabilities and e-commerce platform.

Hernández & Cía. Abogados has advised Ambev Perú S.A.C. (Ambev) – the Peruvian leading beer company and member of the worldwide AB InBev Group- in the transfer of its beer-manufacturing and bottling industrial plant in Huachipa (“Huachipa Plant”), to CBC Peruana S.A.C.
Such transaction was implemented through the selling of Ambev’s local subsidiary El Albaicín S.A.C. (sole owner of the Huachipa Plant) to CBC Peruana S.A.C. and was composed by 2 simultaneous operations: (i) a spin-off executed between Ambev and El Albaicín S.A.C., by which the Huachipa Plant was initially transferred from Ambev to El Albaicín S.A.C., including all its relevant and complementary assets, employees and permits; and, (ii) a share purchase agreement by which Ambev transferred to CBC Peruana S.A.C. a total of 100% of the capital stock of El Albaicín S.A.C.

The deal value remains confidential.
As part of the transaction structure, parties jointly worked on the negotiation of other important complementary agreements –besides the share purchase agreement-, such as a services and lease agreement, which includes, among others commercial issues, the transitional processes to be implemented in relation to the manufacturing and bottling of beers and other related malt beverages on the Planta Huachipa, in favour of Ambev.

Biscuiterie Seghers, located in Belgium, has bought the shares of the Dutch company Euro Pâtisserie, located in Twello. This new group represents an annual turnover of about 85 million euros and 320 workers, including 70 in Belgium, said the company in a statement. Both cookie bakeries make cakes for the house brands of large retailers.

Biscuiterie Seghers is one of the top 10 biscuit makers in the Benelux, but with the acquisition of Euro Pâtisserie, an even larger sales area can now be reached.

The group aims for a turnover of 100 million euros by 2020. This acquisition will allow the company to reach a larger distribution area. From Belgium, biscuits are sold in 15 countries, mainly in Europe, while those produced in the Netherlands are found in 40 countries, mainly in Great Britain and Germany. Both companies started in the 1960s as family businesses.

Biscuiterie Seghers was advised by GSJ Advocaten, a Belgian law firm based in Antwerp. GSJ Advocaten was represented by Bart Goossens (Partner and head of the M&A division) and Ingrid Vanhaute (senior associate of the M&A division). Both attorneys-at-law were involved in the entire transaction. They performed the legal due diligence and took the lead in the negotiation and redaction of several contracts such as the non-disclosure agreement, the letter of intent and the share purchase agreement. GSJ Advocaten was assisted by Holla Advocaten (Pim van de Goor) and RSM Belgium, auditors (Luc Toelen).

Paul Schepel and Leonie Ouwersloot-Koster at the Dutch law firm JPR Advocaten Coöperatief U.A. in Deventer acted as counsel to Seller, Euro Patisserie Beheer B.V. and its owner Frits Veldwijk

Top 100 law firm Birketts advised the shareholders of the AWL Group on its purchase of ICS Robotics and Automation Ltd, a robotic welding and automation specialist based in the UK. ICS will continue to operate under its own name and with its current management team as an independent entity within the AWL Group. The deal value was not disclosed.

ICS has been in the business of robotic welding and automation since 1989 and has customers from a wide range of industries including automotive, agricultural, medical and general manufacturing throughout the UK and Ireland.

Birketts advised on all legal matters and the team was led by Andrew Wood (Head of Birketts’ Anglo Dutch desk) and Ed Savory (Corporate).

Speaking on the deal, Andrew Wood said: “I head the Anglo-Dutch desk having been with Birketts since January 2011.  I am the Honorary Dutch Consul for the East of England, a director of the Netherland British Chamber of Commerce (bilateral trade organisation based in the Hague and London) and have worked mainly for Dutch companies operating in the UK for the past 30 years.  The client was referred by one of my trade contacts in the Netherlands with whom I work regularly.

“I am delighted that we have been able to assist a major Dutch player in the robotic and automobile sector confirm their presence in the UK and strengthen their European Market share and look forward to watching their progress. We are seeing a number of Dutch companies who are now considering their priorities in the UK”.