Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP has advised Visa Inc. on its agreement to acquire Visa Europe, creating a single global payments business.

The transaction consists of upfront consideration of €16.5 billion with the potential for an additional earn-out of up to €4.7 billion, including interest, payable following the fourth anniversary of closing, for a total value of up to €21.2 billion.  Both companies’ boards were unanimous in their support of the transaction.

CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati has advised Agri Holding AG on its acquisition of 100% of the shares in the Slovenian company Istrabenz Hoteli Portoroz d.o.o, with its registered office in Portoroz, from the Slovenian company Istrabenz Turizem d.d. The assets held by Istrabenz Hoteli Portoroz d.o.o include in particular the five-star Hotel Kempinski Palace Portoroz in Portoroz, Slovenia.

The complex transaction was subject to a number of conditions precedent and required official authorisation and consent. Closing took place on 28 October 2015.

Macfarlanes has advised Visa Inc. on its acquisition of Visa Europe Limited, in a transaction with up-front consideration of approximately €16.5 billion and the potential for an additional earn-out of up to €4.7 billion (including interest) following the fourth anniversary of closing, for a total value of up to €21.2 billion.

White & Case LLP has advised global investment firm Rockaway Capital on its acquisition for more than €200 million of Netretail Holding B.V. and Heureka from Naspers, the South African-based internet services provider with a particular focus on ecommerce.

GNRI has announced that it has agreed to acquire Barclays Natural Resource Investments from Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”).

The deal, through a management buy-out, will form a new, independent, private equity firm, GNRI, which will build on the existing management team’s strong expertise and proven track record in successfully managing natural resource investment opportunities globally over the last nine years.

Private equity investor Equistone Partners Europe ("Equistone") acquired the British online retailer Sportsbikeshop Ltd. ("Sportsbikeshop"). Sportsbikeshop, headquarted in Boston, Lincolnshire, is the market leader for online sales of motorcycle gear and accessories. The purchase price was not disclosed.

A New York-based team of Clifford Chance lawyers has advised American Tower Corporation on its agreement to acquire a majority stake in India's Viom Networks Limited. ATC purchased the 51% controlling interest for $1.17 billion, with Tata Teleservices Limited, Macquarie SBI Infrastructure Investments Pte Limited, SBI Macquarie Infrastructure Trust and IDFC Private Equity Fund III continuing to hold Viom's remaining equity. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2016, subject to regulatory approval.

The SIX listed Tecan Group AG and the majority shareholders of Sias AG agreed to the acquisition of Sias AG by Tecan. Sias AG is a leading OEM supplier of a wide range of modular and complete laboratory automation solutions. Sias AG will become a part of Tecan's partnering business, leveraging Tecan's global sales infrastructure and after-sales support capabilities. Closing of the transaction is subject to certain conditions, including the timely transfer of a sufficient number of shares.

Cardinal Health, Inc., a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products, completed the acquisition of Johnson & Johnson's Cordis business, a global leader in cardiology and endovascular devices, for USD 1,944 billion.

Hispania Activos Inmobiliarios real estate investment fund has carried out the first phase of the investment in Bay Hotels & Leisure, S.A. ("BAY"), purchasing 80.5% of the company from Grupo Barceló. 

BAY owns a portfolio of 11 holiday hotels with 4,000 rooms and a shopping center in Spain. BAY also has other assets related to the transaction that it rents to Grupo Barceló. In the transaction, the firm also advised on the syndicated financing of BAY.