Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Clifford Chance (CC) have landed lead roles on the proposed $3.6bn (£1.8bn) sale of NDS Group by its parent company, broadcasting giant News Corp.
Skadden fielded a team from its New York and London offices to advise News Corp on the deal, which will see set-top box owner NDS taken private in a transaction financed by private equity group Permira.
Corporate partners Michael Hatchard and John Adebiyi lead for the US firm in London, while New York corporate partners Lou Kling and Howard Ellin advised on all US aspects of the transaction.
The Rupert Murdoch-owned company is a regular client for Skadden. Last year the firm took the lead on its $5bn (£2.5bn) unsolicited bid for Dow Jones.
CC was brought in for regular client Permira, with a top-level team led by London corporate partners Jonny Myers and Matthew Layton.
Following the completion of the deal, News Corp will own 49% of NDS, while Permira will own the remaining 51%.
NDS Group, which is currently majority-owned by News Corp, is based in the UK and employs more than 3,800 people. It provides technology to pay-TV and mobile operators including BSkyB, Sky Italia, Foxtel, CCTV, Tata Sky, Premiere, Astra and Canal Digital.
The directors of NDS are being advised by Weil Gotshal & Manges and Allen & Overy.
