Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, is today announcing a strategic investment in NOOK Media, LLC, a new company consisting of Barnes & Noble’s digital businesses including its NOOK e-reader and tablets, the NOOK digital bookstore and its 674 college bookstores across America. Pearson will invest $89.5 million in cash in NOOK Media, gaining a five per cent equity stake.

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Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that the firm represented Cequel Communications Holdings I, LLC, which does business as Suddenlink Communications, in connection with its $1.0 billion offering of Senior Notes. Cequel intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the notes to, among other things, refinance certain of its outstanding debt.

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Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that the firm represented Morgan Stanley, as administrative agent and lead arranger, in connection with $190,000,000 senior secured term and asset-based revolving credit facilities, the proceeds of which at closing were used to finance Cerveceria Costa Rica, S.A.’s purchase of substantially all of the outstanding equity interest of North American Breweries Holdings, LLC through CCR American Breweries Inc.

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SRZ advised BAWAG P.S.K. and its controlling shareholder, Cerberus Capital Management LP and its affiliates, on BAWAG’s €200 million capital increase as well as its recapitalization to conform to the anticipated new Basel III regulatory environment. BAWAG, which stands for Bank für Arbeit und Wirtschaft und Österreichische Postsparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, is one of Austria’s leading banks.

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Willkie client Ventas, Inc. recently closed on its public offering of $700 million aggregate principal amount of 2.00% Senior Notes due 2018 at 99.739% of principal amount and $225 million principal amount of 3.25% Senior Notes due 2022 at 98.509% of principal amount. The notes are being issued by the company’s operating partnership, Ventas Realty, Limited Partnership, and a wholly owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation. Louisville, Ky.-based Ventas has a diverse portfolio of more than 1400 assets in 47 states (including the District of Columbia) and two Canadian provinces, consisting of seniors housing communities, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, medical office buildings and other properties.

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Shearman & Sterling represented Tops Markets, LLC, a portfolio company of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners and Graycliff Partners, in connection with a $125 million asset-based revolving credit facility arranged by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC. Concurrently, the firm also advised Top Markets, LLC and its Co-Issuer Tops Holding Corporation in the issuance of $460 million of senior secured notes placed by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. The credit facility and the notes have an intercreditor arrangement with cross priority on collateral and were put in place in connection with a refinancing and a dividend recapitalization.

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John J. Eagan, an attorney who specializes in taxation, with an emphasis on international, corporate transactional and tax controversy matters, joined White and Williams LLP. Eagan will reside in the firm’s New York City office.

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Simpson Thacher represented Academy Sports + Outdoors (“Academy”) in connection with its recent offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 8%/8¾% Senior Notes due 2018, as well as related internal restructuring transactions. Academy used the net proceeds from this offering to pay an approximately $485.8 million distribution to its parent, New Academy Holdings Company, LLC, an entity controlled by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP.

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The Firm recently represented SunGard Data Systems Inc. in connection with its entrance into a $720 million incremental term loan facility under its senior secured credit agreement and the maturity extension of, and other amendments to, its $275 million receivables facility. The proceeds of the term loan facility are being used to fund a dividend.

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The Firm recently represented Macquarie Mexican REIT (FIBRA Macquarie México) (“MMREIT”) in connection with its US$909.4 million initial public offering of Real Estate Trust Certificates (Certificados Bursátiles Fiduciarios Inmobiliarios, or “CBFIs”) on the Mexican Stock Exchange. The CBFIs were offered to the public in Mexico, to qualified institutional buyers in the United States under Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S. MMREIT used the proceeds in connection with its acquisition, simultaneously with its initial public offering in Mexico, of its initial portfolio, consisting of 244 industrial real estate properties located in 21 cities across 15 states in Mexico. In addition to the proceeds from its initial public offering in Mexico, MMREIT financed the acquisition of its initial portfolio through four secured credit facilities.

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