In what is the third-largest M&A deal in history, Verizon Communications will pay $130 billion to acquire joint venture partner Vodafone Group's 45 percent stake in Verizon Wireless.

The British telecom giant will receive $58.9 billion in cash and $60.2 billion in shares from Verizon to cede control of Verizon Wireless, the largest mobile network operator by subscribers in the United States.