SNR Denton has advised hotel investment company Duet India Hotels Limited on its joint venture with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) to develop new Holiday Inn Express hotels across India over the next five years. The hotels will be primarily located in India’s major and key secondary cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Hogan Lovells acted as Hong Kong and New York law counsel to the lender on the financing of the acquisition and delisting from the NYSE of Tongjitang Chinese Medical Company (“Tongjitang”) by Tonsun International, a Cayman Islands exempted company controlled by Hanmax Investment Limited and Fosun Industrial Co.

Leading global business law firm DLA Piper is opening for business in Australia today, following the integration of DLA Phillips Fox (Australia) and DLA Piper on 1 May. The integration of experienced and highly regarded Australian lawyers to the DLA Piper global network enhances the firm’s capacity and ability to provide local, in-depth knowledge on an international scale.

A trial team from the international law firm Dechert LLP obtained a favorable verdict for Philip Morris USA, Inc. as a St. Louis jury found that ordinary cigarettes are not negligently designed or defective and that Philip Morris USA, Inc. and other tobacco companies were not liable for costs incurred by Missouri hospitals for treating smokers.

Shearman & Sterling represented Symphony Technology Group in its definitive agreement to purchase Shopzilla Inc. from Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. in a transaction valued at $165 million.

Davis Polk advised Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc, Barclays Capital Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as joint bookrunners and representatives of the underwriters of the initial public offering by 21Vianet Group, Inc. (21Vianet) of 14,950,000 American Depositary Shares (ADSs), each representing six Class A ordinary shares of 21Vianet. The ADSs include 1,950,000 ADSs purchased by the underwriters pursuant to the exercise of their over-allotment option in full. Priced at US$15.00 per ADS, the gross proceeds of the offering were approximately US$224.3 million. The ADSs are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “VNET.”

The firm is representing Morgan Stanley as financial advisor to the Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee of the general partner of Duncan Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE: DEP) in connection with the proposed merger of DEP with a subsidiary of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) pursuant to a unit-for-unit exchange.

The firm is representing Barclay’s Capital Inc. as financial advisor to Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) in connection with the proposed combination of Exelon with Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) pursuant to a stock-for-stock transaction.  Under the merger agreement, Constellation’s shareholders will receive 0.930 shares of Exelon common stock in exchange for each share of Constellation common stock.  The implied pro forma market capitalization of the combined entity is $34 billion with an enterprise value of $52 billion.

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP represented funds advised by private equity investors Summit Partners LP and TA Associates Inc. on the acquisition of a majority stake in Bigpoint GmbH for $350 million. Bigpoint is Europe’s second-largest online games company, and operates the largest portal for online games in Germany. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.

Shearman & Sterling represented the initial purchasers in connection with AEP Industries Inc.’s private placement of $200 million of its 8.25% Senior Notes due 2019 and the dealer manager and solicitation agent in connection with AEP’s concurrent tender offer and consent solicitation for its existing 7.875% Senior Notes due 2013. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as initial purchasers in connection with the notes offering and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated acted as dealer manager and solicitation agent in connection with the tender offer and consent solicitation.