Partner Brian Burke (New York/Shanghai-Litigation) participated in a webinar titled “Hold the Phone! How Instant Messaging Apps are Changing Internal Compliance Investigations,” on December 12 at 3 pm ET. The webinar, hosted by Consilio, discussed the complexities that arise from collecting and reviewing correspondence among employees on instant messaging applications and how to strike a balance between ephemeral messaging and effective investigations. 

On December 2, 2019, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) issued final and proposed regulations (the “Final Regulations” and the “2019 Proposed Regulations,” respectively) regarding the base erosion and anti-abuse tax (generally referred to as the “BEAT”).

Senior associate Mathew Orr (London-Litigation) spoke at the 7th Annual Conference of Le Cercle De La Compliance at the OECD in Paris on December 10, 2019.

Shearman & Sterling advised Jefferies Finance LLC, as administrative agent, and Ares Capital Corporation, as lender, on a $125 million first lien senior secured incremental term loan facility for PetVet Care Centers (PetVet). PetVet will use the proceeds for working capital, general corporate purposes (including the financing of acquisitions) and to pay the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the first lien senior incremental term loan facility.

Shearman & Sterling advised initial purchaser Citibank del Perú S.A. and international initial purchasers BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities plc. in connection with the issuance of the Republic of Peru’s Sol-Denominated 5.350% Bonos Soberanos due 2040 and reopening of its Sol-Denominated 5.400% Bonos Soberanos due 2034 in an aggregate principal amount between the two series of S/10,102,884,000.  Both series were sold in a private placement pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S and included the issuance of global depositary notes (GDNs), which represent the underlying Bonos Soberanos.

Senior associate Dimitrios Katsikis (Singapore-International Arbitration) spoke at the ICC India Arbitration Conference 2019, in Mumbai, India on a panel titled “Dialling 101 - Emergency Arbitrations - Clarifying concepts: applicability, admissibility, jurisdiction and urgency of Emergency Arbitration.” Dimitrios compared the SIAC and ICC experiences in Emergency Arbitration, both frequently used by parties in arbitration worldwide.  

Shearman & Sterling is advising communications and information technology company Telus in its agreement to acquire Germany-based Competence Call Center in a deal valued at about $1 billion. The seller is an independent investment firm Ardian.

Shearman & Sterling advised Armira on the financing of the acquisition of a majority stake in Scheu-Dental Group. The seller is, amongst others, former majority shareholder Christian Scheu, who will continue to hold a significant stake in the company.

Shearman & Sterling represented Transportes Aéreos Portugueses, S.A. on its inaugural high yield bond offering of €375 million 5.625% senior notes due 2024. Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and J.P. Morgan acted as initial purchasers.

Partner Brian Burke (New York and Shanghai-Litigation) spoke at the American Conference Institute’s (ACI) Asia-Pacific (APAC) & Latin America Regulatory and Enforcement Update Seminar on Friday, December 6, 2019 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Washington, D.C.