Blank Rome LLP is pleased to welcome Paul Zagar, M.D., to the Firm as a Partner in the Intellectual Property group in the Firm’s New York office. A former surgeon, Dr. Zagar concentrates his practice on patent prosecution, counseling, and litigation in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, and medical devices. He joins the Firm on the heels of Blank Rome’s combination in Houston with 24 attorneys from the intellectual property law firm of Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford & Brucculeri L.L.P, and the recent addition of intellectual property lawyer Aldo Noto as Partner in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office. More >>

The Firm represented Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. as joint book-running managers in connection with a public offering by Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (“SNI”) of $600 million of 2.8% Senior Notes due 2020, $400 million of 3.5% Senior Notes due 2022 and $500 million of 3.95% Senior Notes due 2025. The offering closed on June 2, 2015. More >>

International law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP continues to strengthen its Tax Practice with the addition of Linda L. D’Onofrio as shareholder in the New York office. D’Onofrio joins from Squire Patton Boggs, where she was partner in its New York office.

D’Onofrio focuses her practice on tax law relating to public and project finance, and taxable and tax-exempt financial instruments, including derivative products. D’Onofrio has experience in the tax analysis and structuring of all types of municipal bond transactions (general obligation, single- and multi-family housing, 501(c)(3) organizations, private exempt activities, student loan, and current and advance refundings); all forms of mortgage and asset-backed securities transactions (grantor trusts, CMOs, REITS, REMICs, Strips); bank conversions; public-private partnerships; mergers and acquisitions involving municipal securities; and other financial instruments (hybrid debt, preferred stock, stripped obligations) for scores of issuers, investment banking clients, and other participants to financial transactions. More >>

Willkie represents Houston-based HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a world leading specialty insurer, in its deal to be acquired by Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc., Japan’s largest insurance group.

On June 10, Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. and Willkie client HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a world leading specialty insurer, announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Tokio Marine will acquire HCC for $7.5 billion. Pursuant to the terms of the transaction Tokio Marine will acquire all outstanding shares of HCC for $78.00 in cash per share, through Tokio Marine’s wholly owned subsidiary, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. The acquisition, which combines HCC’s specialty expertise with Tokio Marine’s global resources, significantly enhances Tokio Marine’s operations in the United States and internationally. More >>

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, a leading counselor to global financial institutions and corporations, is advising Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPPIB”) in a transaction in which an affiliate of its wholly owned subsidiary, CPPIB Credit Investments Inc., has signed an agreement with GE Capital to acquire 100% of the Company’s U.S. sponsor lending portfolio, Antares Capital, alongside Antares management for a total consideration of $12 billion. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions and is expected to close during the third quarter of 2015. Cadwalader is providing advice in connection with the financing of the transaction. More >>

Cravath represented AerCap Holdings N.V. in connection with its US$3.49 billion registered secondary offering of ordinary shares. AerCap Holdings N.V. is the world’s largest independent aircraft leasing company. AerCap Holdings N.V. also agreed to repurchase US$750 million of its ordinary shares from the selling shareholder. The shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on June 9, 2015. More >>

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is advising Evercore Partners as financial advisor to Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. in its acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a U.S. insurance holding company comprising property & casualty, accident & health and other specialty insurance businesses, through TMHD’s wholly owned subsidiary, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. The transaction is valued at $7.5 billion. More >>

Simpson Thacher represented GTP Acquisition Partners I, LLC (“GTP Acquisition Partners”) and certain other asset entities formerly owned by Global Tower Partners, which American Tower Corporation (“AMT”) acquired in 2013, in the offering of $875 million aggregate principal amount of American Tower Secured Revenue Notes by GTP Acquisition Partners. The Notes were issued in two series, $350 million principal amount of Series 2015-1, Class A Notes having an anticipated maturity of 5 years and $525 million principal amount of Series 2015-2, Class A Notes having an anticipated maturity of 10 years. The proceeds from the offering were primarily used to repay all outstanding amounts under existing notes issued by GTP Acquisition Partners, plus prepayment consideration and other related costs and expenses. Barclays Capital Inc. served as sole structuring advisor and lead bookrunner. The offering closed on May 29, 2015. More >>

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP represented the initial purchasers, led by Citigroup Global Markets Inc., in the $1.02 billion offering of enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETC) backed by 17 aircraft by LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (LATAM). This is the first aircraft-backed EETC in South America and one of only six non-U.S. airlines to issue a modern EETC.

The offering was split between two tranches of $845,213,000 aggregate face amount of 4.200% class A pass through trust certificates and $175,610,000 aggregate face amount of 4.500% class B pass through trust certificates. More >>