Cravath represented the underwriters, BofA Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan Securities, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and Wells Fargo Securities, in connection with the US$450 million registered notes offering of Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items. The transaction closed on December 3, 2013. The notes were issued in connection with the proposed acquisition of General Parts International, Inc. by Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

Trowers & Hamlins has advised existing client Ahli United Bank B.S.C. (AUB) on the issue of an unsecured, privately placed BHD 20 million (approximately US$53 million) bond by the largest consumer finance company in Bahrain, Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company B.S.C. (BCFC).

Natixis, as arranger, has set up a securitization transaction for revolving credit tapped via PASS credit cards issued by Carrefour Banque. The receivables are transferred to a debt securitization fund with sub-funds the refinancing of which is initially undertaken via the issue of a series of priority bonds admitted to trading on Euronext Paris totalling 400 million Euros, along with subordinated bonds and transferee bonds taken out by Carrefour Banque.

Baker & McKenzie advised Mercedes-Benz Bank AG, Société Générale Corporate, Investment Banking (Société Générale), Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, Commerzbank AG, DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank, Frankfurt and Main and HSBC Bank PLC as transaction counsel in the fourth public ABS transaction of Mercedes-Benz Bank AG. In addition, Dr. Matthias Eggert acted as trustee counsel for this transaction.

Paul Hastings, a leading global law firm, announced today that the firm represented Nomura, Bank of Taiwan, Cathay United Bank, Co., Ltd., ICBC International Capital Limited and Maybank Investment Bank Berhad as mandated lead arrangers in the US$330 million term loan facility for AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc.’s (“AsiaInfo “) US$890 million going-private transaction managed by a consortium led by Chinese private equity company CITIC Capital Partners (“CITIC”). AsiaInfo is China’s leading provider of telecommunication software solutions.

Mayer Brown JSM today said it has advised ING Bank N.V., Singapore Branch ("ING") as arranger and book runner on the issuance by MIAT Mongolian Airlines ("MIAT") of US$20 million floating rate guaranteed notes due in December 2018. The notes are guaranteed by the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Mongolia, and form an important part of MIAT’s acquisition financing of a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

Simpson Thacher represented the underwriters, led by Barclays, J.P. Morgan and RBS, in connection with a registered public offering by Mondelez International, Inc. (f/k/a Kraft Foods Inc.) of $400 million of its Floating Rate Notes due 2019, $850 million of its 2.250% Notes due 2019 and $1.75 billion of its 4.000% Notes due 2024, amounting to $3 billion of new notes. The offering closed on January 16, 2014.

Mayer Brown represented Halcón Resources Corporation, an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore liquids-rich oil and natural gas assets in the United States, in connection with the offering and issuance of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of its 9.75% senior unsecured notes due 2020. Barclays Capital Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as the initial purchasers in the offering.

Baker & McKenzie has acted for global leader in protection solutions, Ansell Limited, on the equity capital raising for its USD615 million acquisition of BarrierSafe Solutions International.

The acquisition will be funded by a fully underwritten private placement to raise USD338 million, a share purchase plan for Australian and New Zealand shareholders capped at USD100 million, and a committed debt facility of USD300 million.

Cravath represented the underwriters, led by Barclays, Citigroup and Credit Suisse, in connection with the US$1 billion registered debt offering of Union Pacific Corporation, owner of one of America’s leading transportation companies. The transaction closed on January 10, 2014.

The Cravath team included partner Craig F. Arcella and associate Andy Ham. Michael S. Atamas also worked on this matter.