Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is advising Verizon Communications Inc. in its agreement with Vodafone Group Plc to acquire Vodafone’s U.S. group with the principal asset of 45 percent of Verizon Wireless for $130 billion, consisting primarily of cash and stock.

The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of Verizon and Vodafone, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and the approval of both companies’ shareholders. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014.

Macfarlanes is advising Verizon Communications Inc. on its acquisition of Vodafone's 45 per cent interest in Verizon Wireless for $130bn. The transaction provides Verizon with 100 per cent ownership of Verizon Wireless, a leading wireless carrier in the United States. As a result the company will be better equipped to take advantage of the changing competitive dynamics in the market and capitalise on the continuing evolution of consumer demand for wireless, video and broadband services.

The US company Arrow Electronics Inc. entered into a binding agreement for the acquisition of the Computerlinks group, a leading distributor of IT security and internet technology. The purchase price amounts to approx. EUR 230 millions. The sellers are funds advised by Equistone Partners Europe, and the management of Computerlinks. The transaction is subject to official approvals and is expected to be closed in the fourth quarter of 2013.

DLA Piper recently advised Arsenal Capital Partners, a leading New York-based private equity firm that invests in middle-market specialty industrial and health care companies, in its acquisition of International Fiber Corporation.

IFC is the leading supplier of cellulose based insoluble fiber products for food and industrial applications globally. The company joins Arsenal Capitals extensive portfolio of investments in the specialty industrials sector.

Prior to the close of the acquisition, IFC was a portfolio company of Swander Pace Capital.

International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised London-listed Global Ports on its $1.6bn acquisition of Russia’s National Container Company. The deal unites Russia’s two biggest container operators.

Global Ports, Russia’s market leader, will give NCC’s owners – Russia’s First Quantum group and businessman Andrei Kobzar – $291m in cash and an 18 per cent stake in the merged group. Global Ports will assume NCC’s debt of $916m.

Slaughter and May advised Bloomsbury Publishing Plc ('Bloomsbury') on the acquisition of Hart Publishing Ltd ('Hart'), the Oxford-based legal publisher, from the management shareholders. The initial consideration of £6.5 million (which is subject to working capital adjustments) was paid in cash on completion. A further cash consideration of up to a maximum of £0.5 million will be payable on the achievement of certain revenue and title number targets for the period ending 31 March 2014.

Completion of the acquisition was announced on 2 September 2013.

Davis Polk is advising J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as financial advisers to Verizon Communications Inc. in connection with its $130 billion acquisition of a 45% interest in Verizon Wireless from Vodafone Group Plc. The transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and the approval of both companies’ shareholders.

Freshfields has advised listed Canadian company ATS Automation Tooling Systems on the acquisition of German IWK Verpackungstechnik and its US-affiliate OYSTAR IWK USA for approximately 100 million Euro.

Paul, Weiss client Kohlberg & Company L.L.C. acquired Nellson Nutraceutical LLC, the leading formulator of branded and private-label nutritional bar and functional powder products in North America.

The Paul, Weiss team included corporate partners Angelo Bonvino, Thomas de la Bastide, Charles Googe and counsel Didier Malaquin and Sarah Mudho; tax partner Brad Okun; environmental partner Gaines Gwathmey; and employee benefits counsel Reuven Falik.

Portakabin Limited, part of the Shepherd Group, has announced the acquisition of OECON Mobilraum GmbH, a leading German Mittelstand company in the field of modular buildings, and of its subsidiary OECON Produktions GmbH. OECON is a manufacturer and distributor of modular buildings in Germany, having built up an enviable reputation within the modular industry over the last 20 years.