Simpson Thacher represented J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as lead arranger, in connection with a $225 million, second lien term loan facility for Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (“Lions Gate”).  In connection with the financing, Lions Gate also issued $225 million of senior secured second priority notes.

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Leading regional grocery distributor and retailer Spartan Stores and one of the leading food distribution companies in the U.S., Nash Finch Company, today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spartan Stores and Minneapolis-based Nash Finch will combine in an all-stock merger valued at approximately $1.3 billion, including existing net debt at each company.

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Paul Hastings, a leading global law firm, announced today that the firm is representing Citigroup Global Markets, J.P. Morgan, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, BofA Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, in the underwritten committed debt financing for Fieldwood Energy’s LLC’s acquisition of Apache Corporation’s Gulf of Mexico Shelf business for $3.75 billion.

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Clifford Chance’s London, New York and Sydney offices recently advised a consortium of 80 Lenders on the US$17.34 billion refinancing of commodity trading and mining company Glencore Xstrata.  The new revolving credit facilities are for general corporate purposes and replace the previous facilities of both Glencore and Xstrata.

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Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced today that Guy D. Singer has joined the firm as a partner in its White Collar and Corporate Investigations Practice Group, resident in New York.  Mr. Singer joins Orrick from Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, where he was head of the Government Investigations and White Collar Group for the New York office.  Prior to that, Mr. Singer served as a prosecutor for more than 13 years, at the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) in the Fraud Section, as an Assistant State Attorney at the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office, and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.

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Arent Fox LLP is pleased to announce the addition of leading litigators and arbitration partners Howard Graff and Nikol Gruning Thompson to its New York office and nationally recognized Complex Litigation practice. Mr. Graff joins Arent Fox with a reputation for successfully crafting legal strategies to advance his clients’ business goals in industries that include commercial real estate, communications, finance, and alcoholic beverages.

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Davis Polk advised J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as joint book-running managers on an SEC-registered offering by LYB International Finance B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of LyondellBasell Industries N.V., of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 4% guaranteed notes due 2023 and $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% guaranteed notes due 2043. The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

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Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that the firm represented BMO Capital Markets and Madison Capital Funding LLC, as joint lead arrangers, and Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent, in connection with a $125 million senior secured first lien term loan and revolving credit facility for ANCILE Solutions, Inc.

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The Firm is representing Embotelladora Andina S.A. (“Andina”) as well as its Brazilian subsidiary, Rio de Janeiro Refrescos Ltda., in connection with the announced acquisition of Companhia de Bebidas Ipiranga for a purchase price of approximately US$539 million.  The closing of the transaction is subject to receipt of certain regulatory and other approvals. Andina is among the ten largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the world, servicing franchised territories with 36 million people, delivering over 7.8 million liters of soft drinks, juices, and bottled waters on a daily basis. Andina is the second bottler of the Coca-Cola System in South America and the seventh globally. It is also the largest producer of soft drinks in Chile and Argentina and the second largest soft drink producer in Brazil. Andina is listed on the Santiago Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago) and on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP (Cadwalader), a leading counselor to global financial institutions and corporations, today announced that Steven G. Eckhaus, one of the preeminent figures in U.S. executive compensation and employment law, has joined the Firm as Partner.

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