Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised EIG Global Energy Partners on its $500 million equity commitment, on behalf of EIG managed funds, to Rice Midstream Holdings LLC, a midstream-focused subsidiary of Rice Energy Inc. and the indirect owner of the general partner of Rice Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: RMP). Rice announced the completion of an initial funding of $375 million of this investment. The full release is available here.

The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners Andy Calder and John Pitts; capital markets partner Matt Pacey; and debt finance partners Will Bos and Mary Kogut.

Barclays Capital Inc. acted as financial advisor and Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. served as legal counsel to Rice.

RMH will use approximately $75 million of the proceeds to repay all outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility and to pay transaction fees and expenses, and the remaining $300 million will be distributed to Rice Energy to fund a portion of its 2016 development program in the cores of the Marcellus and Utica Shales, Rice Energy said in a release. In addition, RMH will have an additional $125 million commitment from EIG (subject to designated drawing conditions precedent) for a period of 18 months.

Read more about the deal.

NBTY, Inc., a global leader in vitamins, nutritional supplements and sports and active nutrition, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its U.S. retail business, Vitamin World, to Centre Lane Partners. The deal will enable Vitamin World to operate as a stand-alone retail business. Today, there are 380 Vitamin World stores in the United States, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Latham & Watkins LLP advised NBTY on the transaction with a Washington, DC-based team led by corporate partner David Dantzic and tax partner Andrea Ramezan-Jackson.  Advice was also provided on employee benefits, intellectual property, environmental and real estate matters.

NBTY is the owner of several of the most recognized brands in the marketplace, including:  Nature’s Bounty, Sundown Naturals, Osteo Bi-Flex, Solgar, MET-Rx, Pure Protein, Body Fortress, Puritan’s Pride, Holland & Barrett and many others.

Centre Lane Partners is a private investment firm with investments in North American middle market companies across a broad range of industries. Centre Lane targets companies with revenues between $20 million and $500 million that have leading market positions and sustainable competitive advantages in their respective niches.

“Vitamin World has a long history of meeting its customers’ wellness needs. For some time, it has been clear that it should be a stand-alone business with the right investment and resources tailored to a retail operation,” said Steve Cahillane, President and CEO of NBTY. “With the shift of NBTY’s focus in our US business to investing in and building our core brands, this sale of Vitamin World to Centre Lane Partners will ensure Vitamin World has the right investment and focus on its future as a stand-alone retail business,” Cahillane added.

Mayank Singh, a Managing Director at Centre Lane, said, “We are enthusiastic about working with the Vitamin World management team and employees to position the business for long term growth and success.  They have done a terrific job of making Vitamin World one of the leading specialty retailers of vitamins, minerals and supplements and we want to build on that foundation.”

“The Vitamin World employees are dedicated to helping our customers meet their wellness goals,” said Sue Gove, President of Vitamin World.  “We are excited to begin this new journey with Centre Lane Partners and to continue giving Vitamin World’s loyal customers the best products and service in the industry.”

Vitamin World began in 1976 with a kiosk in Williamsville, New York. Today, there are 380 Vitamin World stores in the United States, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

NBTY is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group.

Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal advisor and Lazard Middle Market LLC as the financial advisor to NBTY in connection with the transaction. Katten Muchin Rosenman acted as legal advisor and Alvarez & Marsal as the financial advisor to Centre Lane Partners in connection with the transaction.

Strong economic growth coupled with low interest rates resulted in a perfect storm for acquisition finance, with plenty of cheap debt available to fund deals, MergerMarket reports in its Global M&A roundup for 2015 for legal advisors.

During 2015 the value of cash & equity transactions increased to US$ 699.8bn, up 43.5 percent, compared to 2014’s annual total (US$ 487.7bn), reflecting a balance between cheap loans and cash piles on balance sheets.

Law firm Skadden Arps Slate Meagher holds on to the number one spot for deal value for another year while Latham & Watkins jumps from fourth to second last year. Cravath, Swaine & Moore makes an enormous leap from thirteenth place in 2014 to third in 2015, the report says.

“Attractive tax laws have resulted in Ireland and the UK becoming the most targeted countries by US companies in 2015. Ireland (36 deals, US$ 190.7bn) received the bulk of investment from the Allergan/Pfizer deal, whilst the UK (244 deals, US$ 61.8bn) benefited from the US$ 18.2bn acquisition of Visa Europe by US-based Visa Inc.,” according to the report.

Read the report.