Shearman & Sterling Advises Lead Arrangers in Refinancing and Dividend Recapitalization for Payless ShoeSource

Shearman & Sterling advised Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Jefferies Finance LLC and MerchCap Capital Markets LLC as lead arrangers in connection with a $665 million financing, including a $520 million first lien term loan facility and a $145 million second lien term facility, related to the refinancing and dividend recapitalization of Payless ShoeSource, owned by Golden Gate Capital and Blum Capital Partners.

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Simpson Thacher Represents Hellman & Friedman in its $1.1 Billion Acquisition of Renaissance Learning

The Firm is representing Hellman & Friedman LLC in connection with its announced $1.1 billion acquisition of Renaissance Learning from affiliates of Permira, an European private equity fund. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014, subject to the waiting period under the HSR Act and customary closing conditions.

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New York and Paris Offices Assist Thales Group in $400 Million Acquisition of LiveTV from JetBlue

On March 13, it was announced that JetBlue Airways has agreed to sell its wholly owned subsidiary LiveTV to Willkie client Thales Group for $400 million. LiveTV is the leading provider of live in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems for commercial airlines. The company revolutionized the inflight entertainment space, and with this transaction is now pursuing an aggressive growth strategy. Last year, the company and its partner ViaSat introduced Ka-band satellite-driven onboard connectivity, a game changing technological advancement.

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Cowen Group, Inc. $149.5 Million Cash Convertible Senior Notes Offering and Cash Convertible Note Hedge and Warrant Transactions

Davis Polk advised Nomura Securities International, Inc. as representative of the initial purchasers in connection with a Rule 144A offering by Cowen Group, Inc. of an aggregate principal amount of $149.5 million of 3% cash convertible senior notes due 2019. In addition, Davis Polk advised Nomura Global Financial Products Inc. as counterparty to cash convertible note hedge and warrant transactions with Cowen Group, Inc. in connection with the cash convertible senior notes offering.

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