The Firm's Hong Kong and New York offices recently advised South Korea’s Dongwon Enterprise Co., Ltd. in its announced agreement to acquire the Starkist seafood brand and related manufacturing from Del Monte Corporation for US$363 million. In the deal, Del Monte will sell its manufacturing capabilities in American Samoa, Manta (Ecuador) and certain manufacturing assets in Terminal Island, California and Guayaquil, Ecuador. Dongwon will take over all plant employees plus 34 other salaried positions.
The Simpson Thacher attorneys working on the transaction include: Jin Park, Youngjin Sohn, Anthony Choi, Tim Slavin, Jean Chen, Daniel Layfield (M&A); Greg Grogan, Aimee Adler, Nisha Jain (ECEB); Adeeb Fadil, Tim Mulvihill (Environmental); John Creed, Noah Beck, Jeffrey Graff (Tax); Julie Levy (Labor); Krista McManus (Real Estate); Ivan Rothman, Marcela Robledo (IP); Jeff Ostrow (Litigation); Michael Naughton, Alastair Mackay (Competition).