After three years of highly complex negotiations, Algerian Fonds National d’Investissement (FNI), a strategic investment fund controlled by the Algerian State, signed a Share Purchase Agreement related to the acquisition of a 51% stake in Orascom Télécom Algérie SpA (“OTA” or “Djezzy”) from Global Telecom Holding SAE (“GTH,” formerly Orascom Telecom Holding SAE), a majority-owned subsidiary of Russian company VimpelCom Ltd, for a purchase consideration of US$2.643 billion.

FNI and GTH also agreed to enter into a Shareholders Agreement (“the Shareholders Agreement”), which will become effective upon the closing of the transaction, and will govern the parties’ relationships as shareholders in OTA.

Djezzy is the leading mobile network operator in Algeria. The company offers a wide range of services, pre-paid or post-paid, encompassing voice, data and multimedia. Djezzy’s 2013 revenue amounted to US$1.796 billion, with a 2013 EBITDA of US$1.055 billion. As of December 31, 2013, the company’s network included over 17 million subscribers, which makes it the leading mobile phone operator in the country.

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Cahill represented J.P. Morgan and Barclays as joint book-running managers in connection with the Rule 144A offering of £165,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 by ghd Bondco plc. Proceeds from the offering were used to refinance existing indebtedness. More >>

Cooley LLP announced today that it acted as US counsel to Stratasys Ltd. on its acquisition of Solid Concepts. Meitar Liquornik Geva Leshem Tal was Israeli counsel to Stratasys, one of the world’s leading 3D printing companies. Stratasys manufactures 3D printers and materials that create prototypes and manufactured goods directly from 3D CAD (computer aided design) files or other 3D content. Stratasys will also acquire Texas-based Harvest Technologies.

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New York- based securities law firm, Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP announced that it has represented J.P. Turner & Company as sole Placement Agent  in a $2.5  million private placement of X2 Bio systems, Inc., a privately held Seattle based science and technology company which is developing the first complete solution for assessing sport brain injuries.  The underwriting was pursuant to a prospectus supplement to an effective S-3 registration statement. The offering consisted of $2.5 million of Units consisting of 6% convertible promissory notes and common stock purchase warrants. The Sichenzia Ross team was led by partners Gregory Sichenzia and David Manno. More >>

Willkie client Victory Capital Management Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Munder Capital management. The deal combines two strong Midwest-based investment management firms with multi-boutique business models. The new independent investment advisory firm, which will be headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, will have over $37 billion of assets under management and a diversified lineup of investment offerings.

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Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy advised the underwriters in the $945 million common stock offering by insurance conglomerate Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), proceeds of which will be used, in part, to fund its acquisition of the insurance brokerage business of Westfarmers Limited, one of the largest insurance broking networks across Australia and New Zealand.

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International law firm Dorsey & Whitney (Europe) LLP has advised Quindell Plc (AIM:QPP.L) on the world’s largest telematics contract to date. Quindell is a provider of sector leading expertise in software, consulting and technology enabled outsourcing in its key markets: insurance, telecommunications and their related sectors. The Company is recognized as number one in insurance claims technology in Europe. Quindell has grown its market capitalization from £300 million to £2.8 billion over the last few years. More >>

Shearman & Sterling represented Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES) in connection with its offering of $1,000,000,000 4.000% Notes due 2019 and $500,000,000 5.750% Notes due 2023, listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The 5.750% Notes due 2023 are a further issuance of, and will be consolidated and form a single series with, the $1,250,000,000 principal amount of 5.750% Notes due 2023 originally issued by BNDES on September 26, 2013. BB Securities Ltd., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., and Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. acted as Joint Lead Managers.

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Bracewell & Giuliani LLP represented BOH Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary, Bank of Houston, in an agreement to sell its operations to Independent Bank Group, Inc., the holding company for Independent Bank, for $243 million. The merger consideration consisted of $34 million in cash and 3,636,060 shares of Independent Bank Group common stock.

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Paul, Weiss client Yamana Gold Inc. announced that Yamana and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited had entered into an agreement with Osisko Mining Corporation pursuant to which Yamana and Agnico Eagle will jointly acquire 100 percent of the outstanding common shares of Osisko for Cdn$3.9 billion in cash and shares. As part of the transaction, Osisko will spin off shares of a new company, New Osisko, to its existing shareholders. New Osisko’s assets will consist of Cdn$155 million in cash, a 5 percent net smelter royalty on Osisko’s Canadian Malartic mine, a 2 percent NSR on Osisko’s Kirkland Lake assets and certain of Osisko’s exploration assets and investments. Under the terms of the agreement, each Osisko common share will be exchanged for Cdn$2.09 in cash, 0.26471 of a Yamana common share, 0.07264 of an Agnico Eagle common share and one New Osisko common share having a combined value of Cdn$8.15, which represents a premium of approximately 11 percent to Goldcorp’s most recent unsolicited offer.

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