Clifford Chance has advised funds managed by US private equity investor Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) on the acquisition of Mauser Group. The purchase price amounts to approx. EUR 1.2 billion.

Mauser Group, headquartered in Brühl (near Cologne, Germany) is a worldwide leading producer of industrial packaging. Mauser employs around 4,400 people and operates 57 production facilities across 18 countries. The group generated a turnover of about EUR 1.2 billion in 2013.

Lexmark International Technology S.A. has made a recommended cash offer to the shareholders of ReadSoft AB (publ). The proposed acquisition of Swedish ReadSoft is an additional step in Lexmark's continued transition from a hardware-centric company to a solutions company providing end-to-end solutions that allow customers to bridge the paper and digital worlds and the unstructured and structured content/process worlds. The total offer value for all shares in ReadSoft amounts to approximately SEK 1.2 billion.

Ashurst has acted for Oji Holdings Corporation (Oji) and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) in their NZ$1 billion (A$971million) acquisition of Carter Holt Harvey Limited Pulp, Paper and Packaging business (PPP).

The PPP business principally comprises the Kinleith pulp and paper mill, Tasman pulp mill, Penrose paper mill, and the Carter Holt Harvey Group packaging business in Australia and New Zealand. The sale represents INCJ's second investment in Australia and an expansion of Oji's presence in the internal paper and packaging business.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised China Development Bank International Holdings (CDBIH) on its HK$1.45 billion subscription of shares in Hong Kong- and Singapore-listed China New Town Development Company Limited.

The subscription gives CDBIH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of state-owned China Development Bank Corporation, 5,347,921,071 shares representing approximately 54.32% of the total number of shares issued. The subscription makes CDBIH the controlling shareholder of China New Town Development, a China-focused real estate developer.

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised long-standing client Tullett Prebon PLC (Tullett Prebon) on its agreement to acquire PVM Oil Associates Limited (PVM), the leading independent broker of oil instruments, announced today.  PVM is being acquired from its management and certain shareholder employees.

Tullett Prebon's announcement can be found here. http://www.tullettprebon.com/announcements/investor/rannouncement/2014/…

Dentons Canada acted as lead counsel for Berkshire Hathaway Energy in connection with the recently announced acquisition agreement entered into by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, previously known as MidAmerican Energy Holdings, whereby a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy will acquire AltaLink, a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Berkshire Hathaway Energy will purchase 100 percent of AltaLink for approximately CDN$3.2 billion (approximately US$2.9 billion) in cash.

Simmons & Simmons has acted on another acquisition and placing within the life sciences sector, building upon its reputation in the industry.

King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin is advising Mr. Marcel Hermann, founder and CEO of the private hospital group Médipôle Sud Santé, in relation to the acquisition of the group Médi-Partenaires, controlled by the private equity funds LBO France and Equistone.

Médipôle Sud Santé has entered into an exclusive agreement with the shareholders with a view to merge the two groups, thus creating a leader in the private hospital market.

Linklaters has advised Siemens on the acquisition of Rolls-Royce Energy’s gas turbine and compressor business. By acquiring the small and medium-sized gas turbines with a capacity of up to 66 megawatt, Siemens will supplement its comprehensive gas turbines portfolio. In addition, Siemens has agreed on a long-term technology partnership with Rolls-Royce under the terms of which it will have access to gas turbines with capacities from 4 to 85 megawatt developed by Rolls-Royce.

Clifford Chance has advised CVC Asia Pacific Limited on its leveraged buyout of South Beauty Investment Company Limited and its acquisition of a majority stake in Da Niang Dumplings Holdings Limited. Both transactions recently closed after obtaining the relevant regulatory approvals.