Aero OpCo Acquires Nautica® Brand Operations

Paul, Weiss advised Simon Property Group, L.P. and Aero OpCo LLC (Aero), an operating partner to global brands,  in the acquisition of VF Corporation’s Nautica® brand business by Authentic Brands Group, LLC (ABG) and the subsequent acquisition by Aero of substantially all of the operations of the Nautica® brand business (other than its operations in Asia and its brand marketing and licensing functions). ABG has appointed Aero to be the core licensee and operating partner for Nautica®. Aero is owned by an investment group that includes Simon, General Growth Properties and ABG. Simon is a global leader in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Paul, Weiss team included, among others, corporate partners Ted Ackerman and Robert Schumer; intellectual property partner Claudine Meredith-Goujon; tax partners Lindsay Parks and David Sicular; real estate partner Peter Fisch; employee benefits partner Robert Fleder; litigation partner Mark Mendelsohn and counsel Peter Jaffe and Rachel Fiorill; environmental counsel William O’Brien; and antitrust counsel Marta Kelly.