The Legal 500

Finisar Corporation and Ignis ASA have entered into a transaction agreement under which Finisar will make a recommended public offer to acquire all outstanding shares in Ignis not already owned by Finisar for NOK 8 per share in cash, corresponding to an aggregate purchase price of NOK 425 million (USD 76 million).

Wiersholm advised Norway Royal Salmon ASA with the listing on Oslo Stock Exchange.

Wiersholm advised Altor Fund III in their acquisition of the health & fitness chain Elixia, from Norvestor, Storebrand and Bjørn Maaseide.

Lamprell plc, the London Stock Exchange listed offshore services company, has reached an agreement with Maritime Industrial Services Co. Ltd. Inc. (“MIS”) to launch a recommended voluntary cash offer for 100% of the shares of MIS through its wholly-owned subsidiary Lamprell Investment Holdings Ltd.

Wiersholm advised Silex Gas Norway AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allianz SE, in the acquisition of a 6.4% stake in Gassled, the gas transportation and processing system for gas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, from the French oil and gas group Total for a price of NOK 4.64 billion.

Solveig Gas Norway AS has agreed to acquire a 24.1% stake in Gassled, the gas transportation and processing system for gas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, from Statoil ASA, the Norwegian listed petroleum company, for a consideration of NOK 17.35 billion (EUR 2.23 billion).

CapMan Buyout IX, a fund managed by CapMan, has agreed to acquire a majority holding in Solera AS. Headquartered in Oslo, Solera is one of the leading alcoholic beverage importers and distributors in the Nordic region.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS, a wholly-owned company in the Kongsberg Group, has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in the Horten-based company Norspace AS. The transaction was completed 31 October.

Wiersholm advised Altor Fund II GP Limited in their sale of SPT Group to Schlumberger Norge AS. SPT Group is a privately owned software company specialized in dynamic modeling for the oil and gas industry.

Sector Alarm Holding AS has acquired all the shares in Total Alarm AS (previously G4S Alarm AS) from NOKAS AS. The transaction was completed 30 December 2011.

Wiersholm advised Altor Fund III in their acquisition of Veolia Miljø AS from Veolia Propreté in France.

Helly Hansen Group AS, a company owned by Altor Equity Partners, has entered into an agreement with Montague Private Equity concerning the sale of the Helly Hansen subisidary Helly Hansen Pro AS. The main areas of activity for Helly Hansen Pro are survival suits, boat canopies and textile-based products for the agriculture, industry and health sectors.

Hafslund Telekom, a company owned by Hafslund Venture (a subsidiary of Hafslund ASA), has entered into an agreement with EQT Partners concerning the sale of Hafslund Fibernett. Hafslund Venture has sold Hafslund Fibernett AS to the PE fund EQT V. The buyer will take over the company with customers, personnel and equipment. Wiersholm advised Hafslund (the Seller).

Wiersholm advises Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. ("KKR") in their acquisition of a 76.9% ownership in Visma Holding ("Visma")

Wiersholm is pleased to announce that Harald Hellebust has been accepted as partner in Wiersholm with effect from 15 August. Harald will contribute to further strengthen Wiersholm in the fields of company law, contract law and transactions.

Wiersholm has had a leading legal role in many of the largest stock exchange listings and share issues in Norway in recent years, and we have a considerable market share in this area.

During an event on 20 May, Wiersholm was honored with the “Awards for Excellence – Norway”. The prize is awarded by Chambers and Partners, a reputable ranking company based in London, with the following argument:

Finansavisen has published the results of their annual survey, which lists the best corporate lawyers in Norway.

New partner in the energy department of Wiersholm. Further to our previous correspondence in respect of the 2009 ranking, we are happy to announce that Odd-Harald B. Wasenden has been admitted as a partner in the firm with effect from 1 January 2009.