Shearman & Sterling advised Citigroup Global Markets Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Evercore Group LLC, Global Hunter Securities, LLC and Pareto Securities AS, as initial purchasers, in the inaugural High Yield notes offering by Global Ship Lease, Inc. (“Global Ship Lease”) of $420 million 10.000% First Priority Secured Notes due 2019. The notes are guaranteed on a senior basis by Global Ship Lease Services Limited and each of Global Ship Lease’s 17 vessel-owning subsidiaries. Global Ship Lease intends to use the net proceeds of the offering – primarily to repay existing indebtedness, to terminate its existing interest rate swap agreements and for general corporate purposes.

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International law firm, Osborne Clarke has advised the syndicate of institutional investors, who included Imperial Innovations and Invesco Perpetual on the £581m flotation of Circassia on the London Main Market.

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A Weil team is advising Baring Private Equity Asia as a member of a consortium led by Giant Interactive Group’s Chairman Yuzhu Shi that has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Giant Interactive Group, China’s leading online game developer and operator listed on the NYSE. Giant Interactive is one of the largest US-listed Chinese companies to be taken private with a total deal value of approximately $3 billion. The transaction will be financed in part with debt to be underwritten or arranged by an international banking syndicate. More >>

Clyde & Co’s global aviation finance team has advised Indian low cost carrier and fourth-biggest airline by market share, SpiceJet, on the purchase of 42 Boeing 737 MAX jets. Valued at USD 4.4 billion manufacturer list price, the order is the first purchase of Boeing 737 MAX jets in the Indian Subcontinent.

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Cooley LLP announced today that it advised the underwriters on Castlight Health, Inc.’s $204.1 million initial public offering. Castlight Health enables employers, their employeesand health plans to take control of health care costs and improve care. The company’s stock now trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CSLT.”

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Davis Polk is advising MSCI Inc. in connection with the $364 million sale of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of MSCI, to Vestar Capital Partners. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close within the next three months.

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Legal & General has secured a portfolio of over 4,000 housing units, let to Places for People Homes on a new 50 year lease, as it continues to grow its role in supporting the UK’s housing needs. Places for People Homes will use the new finance from L&G’s investment to expand the housing stock in the UK by building 7,000 new housing units over the next seven years. The new housing stock will include affordable, private rented sector and owner-occupier accommodation.

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Simpson Thacher recently represented Tesoro Corporation in its issuance and sale of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2024. Tesoro will use the proceeds from the offering, together with cash on hand, to fund the redemption of its 9.750% Senior Notes due 2019 and to pay any fees and expenses related to the offering.

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A team of Akin Gump attorneys is advising Duff & Phelps LLC as joint financial advisor to the Special Committee of Giant Interactive Group, one of China’s leading online game developers and operators, as it enters into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger with Giant Investment Ltd. and Giant Merger Limited. The transaction values the company at $3 billion and will take it private.

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