Mergers & Acquisitions

  • May 09, 2024

    Ex-Minor Leaguer Settles With SEC Over Del Taco Deal Tip Off

    A former minor league baseball player has agreed to pay more than $58,000 to resolve U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission insider trading allegations involving burger chain Jack in the Box's $575 million acquisition of its fellow chain Del Taco.

  • May 09, 2024

    Skadden-Led Firm Nets $250M In May's Second SPAC Listing

    GP-Act III Acquisition Corp., a Skadden-led special-purpose acquisition company backed by multiple private investment firms, began trading on Thursday after completing a $250 million initial public offering, marking the second SPAC listing this month in an otherwise battered market.

  • May 09, 2024

    Policies Bar Origis Investor Suit Coverage, Del. Judge Finds

    A Delaware Superior Court judge dismissed most insurers from a renewable energy company and its now-former CEO's action seeking coverage for an underlying investor suit over devalued shares, saying Thursday that a "no action" clause in one set of policies and a prior acts exclusion in another preclude coverage.

  • May 09, 2024

    Musk Fights Latest Subpoena Over $44B Twitter Purchase

    Elon Musk's counsel urged a California federal judge on Thursday to undo a magistrate judge's decision requiring the businessman to testify again before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission about his $44 billion purchase of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, calling the subpoena overbroad and unconstitutional.

  • May 09, 2024

    V&E Defends Its Enviva Work From Trustee's Conflict Claim

    Vinson & Elkins LLP urged a Virginia bankruptcy court on Thursday to reject "outrageous claims" by the U.S. Trustee's Office that the law firm shouldn't be allowed to represent Enviva in the wood-pellet maker's Chapter 11 because the firm also works for one of the debtor's major equity holders, arguing that there is no conflict of interest.

  • May 09, 2024

    Masimo Makes Offer To End Activist Politan's Proxy Contest

    Medical technology company Masimo Corp. revealed Thursday that it is willing to appoint one of the director nominees put forth by activist investment firm Politan Capital Management LP in exchange for the company dropping its proxy fight, though Politan signaled distaste with the proposed deal.

  • May 09, 2024

    DOJ Task Force To Target Healthcare Monopoly, Collusion

    The U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division sharpened its focus Thursday on healthcare platforms that combine doctors with insurers, data and more in what the administration's top competition official called the "alarming" accumulation of assets.

  • May 09, 2024

    GOP Sens. Call Biden's Bluff On US Steel-Nippon

    Three Republican senators urged President Joe Biden on Thursday to block Nippon Steel's planned $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, calling his prior comments opposing the deal "worthless" while claiming he has the authority to terminate the deal immediately under laws that address "a national emergency." 

  • May 09, 2024

    Bain Capital Plugs $250M Into Professional Services Firm

    Technology-enabled professional services company Sikich LLC on Thursday announced that it has secured a $250 million minority growth investment from private equity giant Bain Capital in a transaction built by four firms.

  • May 09, 2024

    FTC's Exxon-Pioneer Nod Sets New Tone For Oil & Gas M&A

    The close of Exxon Mobil Corp.'s $60 billion purchase of Pioneer Natural Resources shows that even the largest oil and gas deals can overcome heavy regulatory and political scrutiny, but an agreement Exxon struck with the Federal Trade Commission puts other energy companies pursuing deals on notice about their public communications.

  • May 09, 2024

    Brightstar Capital Scores Slot Machine Supplier In $1.1B Deal

    Gaming supplier PlayAGS Inc., guided by Cooley LLP, on Thursday announced that it has agreed to be acquired by Kirkland & Ellis LLP-advised Brightstar Capital Partners in a $1.1 billion take-private transaction.

  • May 09, 2024

    Trump SPAC Investor Convicted Of Insider Trading

    A Manhattan federal jury on Thursday convicted a Florida investment pro of securities fraud and conspiracy for allegedly exploiting confidential plans to take Donald Trump's media company Truth Social public in a $23 million insider trading case.

  • May 09, 2024

    Deals Rumor Mill: Paramount, Peloton, International Paper

    Sony and Apollo plan to break up Paramount if their $26 billion bid prevails, private equity firms are eyeing a Peloton buyout, and International Paper gets a $15 billion bid from Brazil's Suzano. Here, Law360 breaks down the notable deal rumors from the past week.

  • May 09, 2024

    UK Luxury Watch Retailer Buys Italian Jewelry Biz For $130M

    Watches of Switzerland Group PLC said Thursday that it has acquired Italian jewelry company Roberto Coin Inc. for $130 million to expand its luxury branded jewelry strategy, building on their existing partnership.

  • May 09, 2024

    Concord Won't Increase 'Final' $1.5B Bid For Rival Hipgnosis

    Concord Chorus Ltd. said Thursday that it has ruled out raising its "final" all-cash offer of $1.25 per share for rival music rights company Hipgnosis Songs, which leaves only an improved bid by private equity firm Blackstone in the running to buy it.

  • May 09, 2024

    BBVA €12B Offer For TSB Owner Sabadell Turns Hostile

    Spanish banking giant BBVA launched a hostile takeover of Banco de Sabadell on Thursday, approaching shareholders directly with a €12 billion ($12.8 billion) all-share deal after being rebuffed by the rival bank's board.

  • May 08, 2024

    Mayer Brown, Latham Steer Proficient Auto's $215M IPO

    Proficient Auto Logistics Inc. on Wednesday priced a $215 million initial public offering within its range, represented by Mayer Brown LLP and underwriters' counsel Latham & Watkins LLP, in an IPO that will help the specialized freight company combine five logistics businesses into one publicly traded entity. 

  • May 08, 2024

    Truth Social Backer's Insider Trading Alibi In Jury's Hands

    A Manhattan federal jury weighed charges Wednesday against a Florida investor accused of fueling a $23 million insider trading scheme that exploited confidential plans to take Truth Social public, after the defense argued it was someone else who tipped speculators.

  • May 08, 2024

    99 Cents Beats Creditor Objection To Get OK On $61M DIP

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved discount store 99 Cents Only's full $60.8 million Chapter 11 financing deal after rejecting a group of noteholders' objection to the relief, finding an intercreditor agreement barred the group from blocking debtor-in-possession funding.

  • May 08, 2024

    Cannabis Law Firm Accused Of $5M Error In Pot Shop Deal

    A cannabis retailer has sued Vicente LLP in Massachusetts state court, alleging the law firm negligently drafted an amendment to a purchase agreement that prevented the company from recovering nearly $5 million in damages when the deal fell through.

  • May 08, 2024

    Shockwave Medical Investor Challenges $13B Deal With J&J

    A shareholder of cardiovascular treatment company Shockwave Medical Inc. is attempting to halt the company's "unfair" $13 billion proposed transaction with Johnson & Johnson by filing a securities suit, saying the transaction will only benefit company insiders and damage public shareholders.

  • May 08, 2024

    Icahn, Xerox Investors Settle Nixed HP Merger Suit For $2.2M

    Carl Icahn will pay $2.2 million to Xerox under an agreement reached with a pair of the company's stockholders, who accused the billionaire investor in a consolidated shareholder derivative lawsuit of trading on non-public information regarding Xerox's now-doomed bid to acquire HP Inc. for $33 billion.

  • May 08, 2024

    Japanese Crypto Exchange Coincheck Eyes US Listing In '24

    Simpson Thacher-led Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck Group BV plans to complete a long-awaited merger with a special-purpose acquisition company by the year's second or third quarter, a combination that would make it the second U.S.-listed crypto venue.

  • May 08, 2024

    Reed Smith Lands Kirkland Corporate Pro In Houston

    A former Kirkland & Ellis partner has joined Reed Smith LLP's Houston office as a capital markets and corporate lawyer, the firm announced Wednesday.

  • May 08, 2024

    Gibson Dunn Adds Ex-Wachtell, Paul Weiss Attys As Partners

    Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP has added a former Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz corporate attorney and a former Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP lawyer who specializes in liability management as partners in New York, the firm has announced.

Expert Analysis

  • Dual-Track IPO-M&A Exit Strategies For Life Science Cos.

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    A dual-track process for life sciences companies offers a proven path to securing favorable deal terms for an exit, and strategic moves can include running a crossover financing round in the lead-up, say attorneys at McDermott.

  • How New Rule Would Change CFIUS Enforcement Powers

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    Before the May 15 comment deadline, companies may want to weigh in on proposed regulatory changes to enforcement and mitigation tools at the disposal of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, including broadened subpoena powers, difficult new mitigation timelines and higher maximum penalties, say attorneys at Venable.

  • PE In The Crosshairs Of Public And Private Antitrust Enforcers

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    A series of decisions from a California federal court in the recently settled Packaged Seafood Products Antitrust Litigation, as well as heightened scrutiny from federal agencies, serve as a reminder that private equity firms may be exposed to liability for alleged anti-competitive conduct by their portfolio companies, say attorneys at Axinn.

  • Series

    Swimming Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Years of participation in swimming events, especially in the open water, have proven to be ideal preparation for appellate arguments in court — just as you must put your trust in the ocean when competing in a swim event, you must do the same with the judicial process, says John Kulewicz at Vorys.

  • A Recipe For Growth Equity Investing In A Slow M&A Market

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    Carl Marcellino at Ropes & Gray discusses the factors bolstering appetite for growth equity fundraising in a depressed M&A market, and walks through the deal terms and other ingredients that set growth equity transactions apart from bread-and-butter venture capital investing.

  • PE-Healthcare Mergers Should Prepare For Challenges

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    State and federal regulators are increasingly imposing new requirements on healthcare transactions involving private equity partners, with mergers that would have drawn little scrutiny a few years ago now requiring a multijurisdictional risk analysis during the deal formation process, say attorneys at Stinson.

  • Why RWI Insurers Should Consider Excluding PFAS

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    As regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances escalates, carriers providing representations and warranties insurance should reconsider providing PFAS coverage on a case-by-case basis, say Dave Bartoletti and Ina Avalon at Taft Stettinius.

  • Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert

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    As the old marketing adage goes, consistency is key, but law firm style guides need consistency that contemplates variety when it comes to client alert formats, allowing attorneys to tailor alerts to best fit the audience and subject matter, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.

  • Online Portal Helps Fortify Feds' Unfair Health Practices Fight

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    The Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently launched an online portal where the public can report potentially unfair healthcare practices, effectively maximizing enforcers' abilities to police anti-competitive actions that can drive up healthcare costs and chill innovation, say attorneys at Seyfarth.

  • Series

    Walking With My Dog Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Thanks to my dog Birdie, I've learned that carving out an activity different from the practice of law — like daily outdoor walks that allow you to interact with new people — can contribute to professional success by boosting creativity and mental acuity, as well as expanding your social network, says Sarah Petrie at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

  • Navigating SPAC Market Challenges For Microcap Issuers

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    For microcap issuers, the special-purpose acquisition vehicle market tells a cautionary tale in which few targets attain the advantages they seek, and important considerations for companies with market capitalization of under $300 million include negotiating costs and expenses upfront to avoid becoming saddled with debt, say attorneys at Lucosky Brookman.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic

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    Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals

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    Though attorneys may hesitate to ask for referral recommendations to generate new business, research shows that people want to help others they know, like and trust, so consider who in your network you should approach and how to make the ask, says Rebecca Hnatowski at Edwards Advisory.

  • The Drawbacks Of Banking Regulators' Merger Review Plans

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    Recent proposals for bank merger review criteria by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. share common pitfalls: increased likelihood of delays, uncertainties, and new hurdles to transactions that could impede the long-term safety and soundness of the banks involved, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Series

    Being An Equestrian Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Beyond getting experience thinking on my feet and tackling stressful situations, the skills I've gained from horseback riding have considerable overlap with the skills used to practice law, particularly in terms of team building, continuing education, and making an effort to reset and recharge, says Kerry Irwin at Moore & Van Allen.

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