Neil Evans

The Firm is representing KKR in connection with its investment in Darktrace Limited, a cyber security technology company headquartered in Cambridge, England. Darktrace's Enterprise Immune System has been selected by some of the largest and most sensitive cyber security environments, including global financial institutions, telecommunications networks, legal firms, retailers, technology companies, government organizations and critical national infrastructure facilities.~~As part of this latest funding round which is being led by KKR, Darktrace will raise approximately $65 million from KKR and other investors. The transaction is expected to complete in mid-July 2016.~~The Simpson Thacher team advising KKR includes Neil Evans and Patrick Scott (M&A); Meredith Jones (Tax); and David Vann, Etienne Renaudeau and Tara Kelly (Antitrust).

Jun 7

1 min

Simpson Thacher is representing Warburg Pincus in connection with the launch of Vertice Pharma, LLC with an equity investment of up to $300 million. Warburg Pincus has partnered with pharmaceutical industry veterans, Don DeGolyer and Andrew Saik to launch the new company. Vertice Pharma also announced a definitive merger agreement to acquire VistaPharm. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.~~Vertice Pharma is a specialty pharmaceuticals company that develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes high-quality and affordable pharmaceutical products through its operating companies.~~VistaPharm, founded in 1998, is a Florida-based healthcare company that specializes in delivering generic pharmaceutical and OTC products for the hospital market, retail pharmacy and specialized clinical setting.~~The Simpson Thacher team included Robert Langdon, Austen Heim and Colin Lloyd (M&A – U.S.); Mike Wolfson, Neil Evans and Chris Vallance (M&A – U.K.); Jason Vollbracht and Judy Yan (Tax); David Rubinsky, Jeannine McSweeney and Eric Wolf (Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits); Jennifer Hobbs, Brian Gluck and Homin Lee (Debt); Timothy Mulvihill (Environmental); Peter Thomas and Michael Naughton (Antitrust); and Genevieve Dorment (Intellectual Property).

Nov 17

1 min

The Firm is advising KKR in connection with its latest investment in Darktrace Limited, the cybersecurity company headquartered in Cambridge, England. Darktrace is raising $75 million of new equity from existing investors, including KKR, and a new investor, Insight Venture Partners. KKR originally invested in Darktrace in 2016.~~The transaction is expected to close by the end of July 2017.~~The Simpson Thacher team includes Clare Gaskell, Neil Evans and Patrick Scott (M&A); Joseph Tootle (Tax); David Vann and Étienne Renaudeau (Antitrust); and Jeff Ostrow (IP).

Jul 13

1 min

The Firm is representing Office Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ: ODP) in the announced sale of its European business to the Aurelius Group. Annual revenue for the European business is approximately €2 billion. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval from the European Commission and consultation with the central works council representing employees in France. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2016.~~Office Depot, Inc. is a leading global provider of products, services and solutions for the workplace.~~The Simpson Thacher team working on the transaction includes Derek Baird, Neil Evans, Ben Squires and Hamesh Khatkar (M&A); Andrew Edelen (M&A – New York); David Vann Jr. and Tara Kelly (Competition – M&A); and Linda Nyberg (IP). Stibbe is advising on Dutch law matters and Bredin Prat is advising on French law matters.

Jul 10

1 min

Simpson Thacher represented Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. in connection with the closing of the second step of Walgreen Co.’s (NYSE: WAG) strategic transaction with Alliance Boots. The second-step transaction, involving a corporate reorganization of Walgreens and Walgreens’ purchase of the remaining 55% of Alliance Boots stock that it did not already own, fully combines the two companies to form the first global pharmacy-led, health and well-being enterprise under the name Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA). The Firm represented KKR in connection with its buyout, together with Stefano Pessina, of Alliance Boots plc in the summer of 2007 and in connection with the first step of Alliance Boots’ strategic transaction with Walgreens in the summer of 2012.~~The Simpson Thacher team included Mark Pflug, Sharo Atmeh, Nicole Tague, Karen McClendon, Jivaji Moré and Neil Evans (M&A); Shahpur Kabraji (Credit); Michael Nathan (Capital Markets); Frank Marinelli and James Rapp (Public Company Advisory Practice); and Meredith Jones and Devin Heckman (Tax).

Feb 1

1 min