Simpson Thacher is representing First Reserve Corporation in connection with its equity investment in an aggregate $1.7 billion fund-raising by American Energy – Utica, LLC (“AEU”). The proceeds of the fund-raising will be used by AEU to pursue a business plan focused on the Utica Shale play in eastern Ohio, including acquiring acreage of leaseholds and financing drilling operations which are expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Tags: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | New YorkThe Firm is representing Melrose Industries PLC (“Melrose”), a UK based FTSE 100 company, on the sale of The Crosby Group (“Crosby”) and Acco Material Handling Solutions (“Acco”) to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. for an enterprise value of US$1.01 billion. Crosby and Acco manufacture and sell hooks, slings, hoists and other lifting and rigging equipment used in, amongst other things, the oil, gas, mining and manufacturing industries.
Tags: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Gilbert + Tobin is pleased to be advising Westpac in connection with its agreement to acquire Lloyds Banking Group’s (Lloyds) Australian asset finance business and corporate loan portfolio.
Tags: Gilbert, LLP
Pillsbury today announced that Marcus Wu has joined the firm as a partner in the Executive Compensation & Benefits practice in San Diego. An accomplished lawyer, Wu has extensive experience in designing and implementing a broad spectrum of retirement plans and deferred-compensation plans.
Tags: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
William M. Lofton and Jacquelynne M. Jennings have joined Schiff Hardin’s San Francisco office as partners in the Finance and Public Law Groups from Lofton & Jennings in San Francisco.
Tags: Schiff Hardin LLP | San Francisco
American Energy – Utica, LLC (“AEU”), an affiliate of American Energy Partners, LP, raised approximately $1.7 billion in private equity commitments and term loan proceeds to pursue a business plan focused on the Utica Shale. AEU’s lead equity investor is The Energy & Minerals Group based in Houston, and additional equity was provided by First Reserve Corporation based in Greenwich, CT and others. The term loan facility was led by GSO Capital Partners based in New York and additional debt investors, including Magnetar Capital and BlackRock, Inc.
Tags: Baker Botts L.L.P. | Austin
On October 9, Willkie client Men’s Wearhouse announced that after careful evaluation its Board of Directors has determined to reject a $2.3 billion buyout bid from men’s apparel retailer Jos. A Bank Clothiers, Inc. As widely reported in the press, the Board concluded that the unsolicited, non-binding proposal of $48 per share “undervalues Men’s Wearhouse and its strong prospects for continued growth and value creation, and is not in the best interests of Men’s Wearhouse or its shareholders.” Founded in 1973, Houston-based Men’s Wearhouse is one of North America’s largest specialty retailers of men’s apparel with 1,137 stores. Based in Hampstead, MD, Jos. A Bank has over 600 stores nationwide.
Tags: Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | New York
Venable LLP, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected law firms, announced today that it has opened a second West Coast office in San Francisco. Currently, the firm has offices in Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; New York, NY; Tysons Corner, VA; Wilmington, DE; and Los Angeles, CA. The San Francisco office will serve the needs of the firm’s Northern California client base and other clients’ needs throughout the Bay Area.
Tags: Venable LLP | San FranciscoIn a boost to its business transaction profile for privately held companies, Venable LLP announced that corporate attorney Ralph W. Hardy, Jr. and tax attorney Stephanie M. Loughlin have joined as partners in the firm’s Washington, DC office.
Tags: Venable LLP
WilmerHale is pleased to announce that Matthew Martens will be joining the law firm as a partner in its Securities and Litigation/Controversy Departments. Martens most recently served as Chief Litigation Counsel for the Division of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Since 2010, he led the Enforcement Division’s litigation program, managing cases nationwide and supervising the trial unit of 40 attorneys in Washington DC as well as litigators throughout the SEC’s 11 regional offices. Most recently, Martens served as Lead Trial Counsel in one of the SEC’s highest-profile enforcement matters arising out of the 2008 financial crisis.
Tags: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP