Simpson Thacher represented Nielsen Finance LLC and Nielsen Finance Co., indirect subsidiaries of Nielsen N.V., in connection with their issuance of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.000% Senior Notes due 2022 in an offering conducted in reliance upon Rule 144A and Regulation S. The notes represent a further issuance of the 5.000% Senior Notes due 2022 that were issued on April 11, 2014 and July 8, 2014. Nielsen intends to use the net proceeds of this offering to make repurchases of its outstanding common stock from time to time, in the open market or otherwise, pursuant to its existing share repurchase programs, to reduce outstanding amounts under its revolving credit facility, to pay related fees and expenses, and for general corporate purposes. More >>

General Maritime and Navig8 Crude (N-OTC: BLUE) entered into a definitive agreement to create Gener8 Maritime Inc. (“Gener8 Maritime” or the “Company”), a world-class provider of international seaborne oil transportation services. Under the terms of the agreement, General Maritime and Navig8 Crude will merge to create a company with a fleet valued at over $3.0 billion in a stock-for-stock transaction. More >>

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Rory J. McEvoy has joined the Firm as a Partner in the Labor and Employment group. For nearly four decades, Mr. McEvoy has represented clients in a wide variety of management-side labor and employment matters, including employment litigation in federal and state courts and before federal, state, and local anti-discrimination agencies; collective bargaining; arbitrations; and unfair labor practices before the National Labor Relations Board. In addition, Mr. McEvoy represents clients in all aspects of the employment relationship, including non-compete litigations, breach of employment contracts, wage and hour matters, and defamation. He joins the Firm from Locke Lord Edwards LLP (formerly Edwards Wildman Palmer) where he served as the Chair of the Labor and Employment Group. He is based in Blank Rome’s New York Office. More >>

The Firm represented Aramark in connection with a secondary offering of 30,000,000 shares of Aramark’s common stock by certain selling stockholders, resulting in proceeds of $896.4 million to the selling stockholders. The offering closed on February 23, 2015. More >>

Willkie represents HBC in agreement to form a real estate-focused joint venture.

On February 25, Willkie client Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), owner of Saks Fifth Avenue and other leading department stores, and Simon Property Group Inc., a major retail real estate owner, announced they have agreed to form a joint venture focused on credit tenant, net-leased and multi-tenanted retail buildings in the United States and internationally. More >>

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP represented BofA Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo Securities, Goldman, Sachs & Co., RBC Capital Markets and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey as initial purchasers in connection with the private offering of $350 million aggregate principal amount of USG Corporation’s 5.50% Senior Notes due 2025. In addition, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP represented BofA Merrill Lynch as dealer manager in the concurrent cash tender offer for any and all of USG Corporation’s 8.375% Senior Notes due 2018. More >>

Cahill represented the joint book-running managers and co-managers in connection with the Rule 144A offering of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5% Senior Notes due 2022 by Nielsen Finance LLC and Nielsen Finance Co., a leading global performance management company. Proceeds from the offering will be used for general corporate purposes and to refinance existing indebtedness.

Davis Polk advised underwriters represented by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in connection with an offering by Kemper Corporation of $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.350% senior notes due 2025. More >>