Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK), a global leader in consumer packaging, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire EMPAQUE, a leading Mexican manufacturer of aluminum cans and ends, bottle caps and glass bottles for the beverage industry, from affiliates of Heineken N.V. Dechert LLP advised Crown Holdings on the cash transaction, which is valued at approx. US$1.2 billion.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a leading global cruise operator, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Prestige Cruises International, Inc., the market leader in the upscale cruise segment and parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, for total transaction consideration at closing of $3.025 billion, including the assumption of debt, payable in cash and shares of Norwegian. Up to an additional $50 million may be payable post‑closing based on achievement of certain performance metrics. Cravath represented the Transaction Committee of the Norwegian Board of Directors in connection with this transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2014.

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Davis Polk advised Crestview Partners in connection with an investment in Key Safety Systems, Inc. (KSS) by FountainVest Partners. FountainVest joins existing shareholders Crestview and KSS management in the ownership of KSS.

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Appleby acted as Isle of Man legal adviser to Oldford Group, parent company of the PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker brands, during its sale to Amaya Gaming Group Inc. (TSX:AYA) for an aggregate purchase price of US$4.9 billion.

It is believed to be one the highest value local deals ever completed in the Isle of Man, and also one of the first transactional mergers under the Isle of Man Companies Act 2006.

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Kirkland & Ellis LLP advises 3i Group plc  in its acquisition of A&A Manufacturing, a portfolio company of Audax Group, for $202.5 million.

The Kirkland team was led by M&A partner Christopher Torrente, finance partner David Tarr, and corporate associates Alex Rose, Jacob Hansen and Kristen Derhaag. All are based in Kirkland’s New York office.
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International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised Hong Kong listed company Yingde Gases Group Company Limited (Yingde Gases) on its US$250m senior notes issue, which closed on 28 August 2014.

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The Real Deal and GlobeSt.com reported that real estate investors David Werner and Mark Karasick have secured a $700 million loan from Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings to complete their acquisition of the leasehold position in the iconic Mobil Building at 150 East 42nd Street in one of the biggest financing deals of the year. The deal involved entering into a 99-year ground lease extension with the land owner, purchasing the existing leasehold from Hiro Real Estate, and creating a sub-leasehold condominium for Mt. Sinai Medical Center. Olshan attorneys from several practice groups represented the buyers in the transaction: Warren Gleicher and Shirlee Gordon in Tax and Joint Ventures; Thomas Kearns in Real Estate; Martin Cooper, Yehuda Markovits, and Jason Saltsberg in Corporate; and Mark Limardo and Eric Homsi in Tax. Steve Holm, Andrew Kellner and Dana Gallo at Levy Holm Pellegrino & Drath LLP, Lisa Rinaldi at Gerstein Strauss & Rinaldi LLP, and Joseph Hershkovitz at Frenkel, Hershkowitz & Shafran LLP served as co-counsel on the deal.

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Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that the firm represented Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., a master limited partnership, in amending its revolving credit facility with the initial borrowing capacity of $800 million, and contains an accordion feature of up to an additional $250 million, which, if exercised, will increase the Partnership’s total available borrowing capacity to $1.05 billion.
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Paul, Weiss client Burger King Worldwide Inc. announced a definitive merger agreement with Tim Hortons Inc., a Canadian multinational fast casual restaurant chain, under which the two companies will create a new quick service restaurant company with an international footprint and significant growth potential. The new global company will be based in Canada, the largest market of the combined company.

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The Real Deal reported that real estate investors David Werner and Mark Karasick have secured a $700 million loan from Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings to complete their acquisition of the leasehold position in the iconic Mobil Building at 150 East 42nd Street in one of the biggest financing deals of the year. The deal involved entering into a 99-year ground lease extension with the land owner, purchasing the existing leasehold from Hiro Real Estate, and creating a sub-leasehold condominium for Mt. Sinai Medical Center. Olshan attorneys from several practice groups represented the buyers in the transaction: Warren Gleicher and Shirlee Gordon in Tax and Joint Ventures; Thomas Kearns in Real Estate; Martin Cooper, Yehuda Markovits, and Jason Saltsberg in Corporate; and Mark Limardo and Eric Homsi in Tax. Steve Holm, Andrew Kellner and Dana Gallo at Levy Holm Pellegrino & Drath LLP, Lisa Rinaldi at Gerstein Strauss & Rinaldi LLP, and Joseph Hershkovitz at Frenkel, Hershkowitz & Shafran LLP served as co-counsel on the deal.
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