The Firm recently represented Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as initial purchasers, in connection with a US$300 million international offering of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2022 by CFR Pharmaceuticals S.A. and certain of its subsidiaries. The offering was made to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The net proceeds from the offering is expected to finance part of the purchase price for CFR’s acquisition of Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S.

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Shearman & Sterling is advising long-time client Bunge Limited in connection with the sale of its Brazilian fertilizer business, including blending facilities, brands and warehouses, for $750 million in cash to Yara International ASA.

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Adding another large capital markets transaction for leading Chilean retailer Cencosud S.A., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy has advised the company in its sale of $1 billion in 10-year bonds – the offering was increased by $200 million due to strong investor demand.

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The firm is representing TD Bank Group in connection with its announced acquisition of Epoch Holding Corporation for $28.00 per share in cash. The transaction is valued at approximately $668 million. Epoch Holding’s subsidiary, Epoch Investment Partners, Inc., provides investment management and investment advisory services to institutional, sub-advisory and high net worth clients. With the acquisition of Epoch, TD expects to add approximately $24 billion in assets under management to the $207 billion already under management by TD Asset Management. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2013, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

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Simpson Thacher represented JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent in connection with a $1.75 billion multi-currency revolving credit facility for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. The facility includes sub-tranches in Canadian Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling, Australian Dollars, Yen and Mexican Pesos which are available to be drawn by certain subsidiaries of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

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A Weil team led by New York M&A partner Michael Aiello advised the special committee of McMoRan Exploration Co.’s board of directors in the company’s $3.4 billion sale to Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX), a leading international mining company. McMoRan is an independent public company engaged in the exploration, development, and production of natural gas and oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Upon closing, McMoRan shareholders will receive a distribution of units of a royalty trust that holds a five percent overriding royalty interest on future production in McMoRan’s existing ultra-deep properties.

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Kramer Levin represented certain noteholders in connection with a private exchange of approximately $1.6 billion in various classes of outstanding Energy Future Holdings unsecured notes for approximately $1.15 billion of new unsecured notes issued by EFH’s subsidiary, Energy Future Intermediate Holdings, in a transaction which closed Wednesday, December 5.

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International law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP announced today that John Kaufmann has joined the Corporate Group in the Firm’s New York office as a Partner. Mr. Kaufmann’s practice focuses on private equity, mezzanine and venture capital fund formation and transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance. His clients include domestic and off-shore private equity and venture capital funds, real estate funds, Small Business Investment Companies, private investors, and companies in a variety of industries.

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Glenn Fox has joined Baker & McKenzie’s highly regarded Tax Practice as a partner in New York, bringing to the Firm over 20 years experience representing domestic and foreign clients with worldwide assets in estate, trust, tax and tax exempt matters.

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On December 5, 2012, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (“FCX”), Plains Exploration & Production Company (“PXP”) and McMoRan Exploration Co. (“MMR”) announced that they have signed definitive merger agreements under which FCX will acquire PXP for approximately $6.9 billion in cash and stock. FCX will concurrently acquire MMR for approximately $3.4 billion in cash, or $2.1 billion net of 36 percent of the MMR interests currently owned by FCX and PXP. Cravath represented JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as lead arranger of $9.5 billion in committed financing in connection with these transactions, which are expected to close in the second quarter of 2013.

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