As reported today in Bloomberg, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other media outlets, U.S. grain merchant Gavilon Holdings LLC has agreed to be acquired by Marubeni Corporation, one of the largest general trading companies in Japan, for $3.6 billion. Paul, Weiss advised General Atlantic, a private equity sponsor of Gavilon, in the transaction.

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Morrison & Foerster is pleased to announce that Jonathan M. A. Melmed has joined the firm’s New York office as the head of the New York private equity practice. Mr. Melmed represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies, hedge funds, corporate clients and investment banking firms in M&A and complex corporate transactions. His addition continues the firm’s strategic expansion of its Private Equity Investments & Buyouts practice, M&A capabilities, and cross-border transactional capabilities. Mr. Melmed’s broad sector experience in M&A and private equity is especially extensive in the alternative energy, infrastructure, media, telecommunications, and life sciences sectors.

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Shearman & Sterling is expanding its renowned tax practice with the addition of Lawrence Hill, one of the leading tax litigation lawyers in the United States, who will join the firm in New York.

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The Firm is representing Barclays in connection with Barclays’ and Bank of America’s agreement to sell their remaining 26.5 percent interest in Archstone to Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. for a purchase price of approximately $1.58 billion. The agreement is pursuant to Lehman’s exercise of its right of first offer. Equity Residential, which also bid on the stake in Archstone, has agreed to the sale. Archstone is a privately-held owner, operator and developer of multifamily apartment properties.

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