The Firm is representing the non-management directors of Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) in connection with Aetna’s acquisition of Coventry Health Care, Inc. (NYSE: CVH) valued at $7.3 billion, including the assumption of Coventry debt, based on the closing price of Aetna common shares on August 17, 2012. Aetna expects to finance the cash portion of the transaction with a combination of cash on hand and by issuing approximately $2.5 billion of new debt and commercial paper.

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Simpson Thacher represented Sycamore Partners in connection with its $1 billion inaugural private equity fund, one of the largest first-time funds raised this year. Sycamore is a newly-established private equity firm founded by Stefan Kaluzny. Sycamore, based in New York, specializes in consumer and retail investments.

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Simpson Thacher advised the underwriters on a $700 million debt offering by Concho Resources Inc. J.P. Morgan, BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays and Wells Fargo Securities were the joint book-running managers for the offering. Concho Resources is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development and exploration of oil and natural gas properties.

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The Firm recently represented First Data Corporation (“First Data”) in a refinancing of a portion of its outstanding debt. First Data issued $1.3 billion aggregate principal amount of 6¾% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S. First Data also entered into an extension amendment with certain of lenders under its existing senior secured credit facilities.

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The New York office of Quinn Emanuel has recruited attorney Tai-Heng Cheng as a partner to the firm’s international arbitration practice.

Mr. Cheng is a tenured professor and co-chair of New York University’s Institute for Global Law, Justice and Policy.  He is a graduate Yale Law School and Oxford University.

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The expansion of the firm’s international arbitration practice is a priority for 2012. As part of that effort, Tai-Heng Cheng, tenured professor and Co-Director of New York Law School’s Institute for Global Law, Justice and Policy, has now joined the firm’s New York office as a partner. Stephen Jagusch, former Global Chair of Allen & Overy’s International Arbitration Practice, and his partner Anthony Sinclair, one of the leading public international law practitioners in the field, have announced that they will join the firm’s London office as partners. This follows on the recent additions of David Orta from Arnold & Porter in Washington D.C., and Ivan Marisin, former Managing Partner of Clifford Chance’s Moscow office, and his colleague Vasily Kuznetsov in Moscow. Working alongside the firm’s International and Domestic Arbitration Chair, Fred Bennett, these additions substantially enhance the firm’s ability to represent clients in international arbitration matters.

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