Simpson Thacher is representing Microsoft Corporation in connection with its acquisition of Skype Global S.à r.l. for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake. Completion of the transaction is subject to satisfaction of customary conditions to closing, including the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals. The transaction will be Microsoft’s largest acquisition to date.
Skype, which is the leading Internet communications company, provides free messaging, voice and video communications over the Internet, as well as low cost communications to landlines or mobile devices virtually anywhere in the world.
The Simpson Thacher team includes: Casey Cogut, Alan Klein, Anthony Vernace, Jonathan Strom, Andrew Sparks and Michael Sullivan (M&A), Gary Mandel, Jonathan Goldstein and Danny Salinas (Tax), Greg Grogan, Jennifer Pepin and David Cheng (Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits), Lori Lesser, Marcela Robledo and Mindy Jeng (Intellectual Property), Scott Dyer (Labor), Adeeb Fadil (Environmental), Elisa Alcabes (Insurance) and Arun Goel (Litigation).