The London office of Sidley Austin LLP* has advised The Western Union Company on its acquisition of Travelex Global Business Payments division, a leading specialist provider of international business payments, for £606 million in cash. The transaction, which was signed in London on 5th July, is subject to regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of certain closing conditions, and is expected to complete in late 2011.

The firm is representing Apax Partners, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board in their acquisition of Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE:KCI) for $68.50 per share in cash.  The transaction is valued at approximately $6.3 billion, including KCI’s outstanding debt.  The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of KCI’s shareholders and regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the second half of 2011.

In the latest growth move for its global capital markets, government investigations and regulatory platform, SNR Denton today announced that Robert Bostrom, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Freddie Mac, is joining the firm as partner and co-head of its global Financial Institutions and Funds sector. Bostrom joined Freddie Mac in 2006 and directed its legal strategy through the financial crisis and recovery. He is scheduled to join the firm in mid-August.

On July 11, 2011, NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) and Radiant Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: RADS) announced a definitive agreement for NCR to acquire Radiant Systems, a leading provider of multichannel point-of-sale and managed hosted service solutions to the hospitality and specialty retail markets, through a cash tender offer of $28 per Radiant Systems share in a transaction valued at $1.2 billion. NCR and Radiant Systems currently anticipate the transaction will close during the third quarter of 2011, subject to regulatory approval.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP recently advised its pro bono client the Grassroots Business Fund (GBF) on a deal that will help extend crucial mobile banking opportunities to sub-Saharan Africa.

DLA Piper announced today that Chris Dickerson, formerly a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meager & Flom LLP, has joined the Corporate and Finance practice as a partner in the Chicago office. Dickerson, who has been involved in some of the highest profile bankruptcy filings in recent years, focuses his practice on complex business reorganizations, debt restructurings and insolvency matters.

Davis Polk advised Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, RBS Securities Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as joint book-running managers on an SEC-registered offering by General Dynamics Corporation of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 1.375% notes due 2015, $500 million aggregate principal amount of 2.25% notes due 2016 and $500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.875% notes due 2021. The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of General Dynamics.