Davis Polk is advising Thomas & Betts Corporation on its approximately $3.9 billion acquisition by ABB Ltd. The transaction is subject to approval by Thomas & Betts’ shareholders, as well as to customary regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the middle of 2012.

Thomas & Betts is a Memphis, Tennessee-based designer, manufacturer and marketer of essential components used to manage the connection, distribution, transmission and reliability of electrical power in industrial, construction and utility applications. ABB is a Swiss leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. 

The Davis Polk corporate team includes partners Paul R. Kingsley and Michael Davis and associates Harold Birnbaum and Xiaoxi Lin. Partner Edmond T. FitzGerald and associates Ron M. Aizen and Julia Lapitskaya are providing employee benefits advice. Partner Lawrence Portnoy and associate Scott B. Luftglass are providing litigation advice. Counsel Stephen M. Pepper is providing antitrust advice. All members of the Davis Polk team are based in the New York office.