Try our Advanced Search for more refined results
Mergers & Acquisitions
-
April 24, 2024
Private Equity Lag Continues To Stunt M&A Growth
Large leveraged buyout activity remained muted in the first quarter as the refinancing of old private equity loans took precedence over new loans, contributing to a slower-than-anticipated rebound in overall mergers and acquisitions, according to a new report from data provider PitchBook.
-
April 24, 2024
CMA Chair Defends Agency's Interventionist Merger Approach
The chair of the Competition and Markets Authority has defended the U.K.'s antitrust watchdog's aggressive and interventionist attitude, saying it helps drive the country's "economic growth and productivity."
-
April 24, 2024
MassMutual Plugs Billions Into Apollo-Backed Atlas SP
Private equity giant Apollo, led by Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP, on Wednesday announced that Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP-led insurance company MassMutual has become the newest minority equity owner of its Atlas SP Partners after a multibillion-dollar investment.
-
April 24, 2024
UK Eyes Amazon, Microsoft AI Deals For Merger Probes
The U.K.'s antitrust watchdog said Wednesday it would look into Amazon's $4 billion investment in U.S.-based artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, and Microsoft Corp.'s deals with two other big AI players, to see if they fall under the country's merger control rules.
-
April 24, 2024
Ex-Kirkland M&A Atty Joins Greenberg Traurig In Chicago
Greenberg Traurig LLP has announced the hiring of a former Kirkland & Ellis LLP attorney in Chicago as the latest shareholder in its mergers and acquisitions and private equity practices.
-
April 24, 2024
Baker McKenzie Adds 17-Atty Deals Team From Munger Tolles
A team of 11 transactional partners and six associates in Los Angeles is heading to Baker McKenzie from Munger Tolles & Olson LLP, according to an announcement Wednesday.
-
April 24, 2024
Container Giant MSC Offers $700M For Shipping Rival
A subsidiary of MSC, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, said on Wednesday that it has agreed to buy Gram Car Carriers for 7.6 billion Norwegian kroner ($692 million), in a deal steered by Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS.
-
April 24, 2024
GXO Gets UK All-Clear For £762M Bid For Logistics Biz
GXO Logistics Inc. said Wednesday that the U.K. government has granted national security clearance to its proposed £762 million ($950 million) takeover of British supply-chain group Wincanton PLC.
-
April 24, 2024
Ithaca Energy Inks £754M Deal For Eni's UK Oil, Gas Sites
Ithaca Energy has agreed to buy a "substantial" portion of the U.K. oil and gas-producing assets of Eni of Italy for approximately £754 million ($937 million) as the independent operator eyes expansion in the North Sea.
-
April 23, 2024
Ex-Autonomy Tech Exec Doubted 'Bizarre' $6M Deal, Jury Told
Autonomy's ex-chief technology officer testified Tuesday in the California federal fraud trial of former CEO Michael Lynch that he had concerns about Autonomy's "bizarre" 2010 deal to sell $6 million in repackaged hardware, which prosecutors allege was never delivered and was only used to artificially inflate Autonomy's revenues.
-
April 23, 2024
Grain Co.'s $18B Deal Raises Competition Flags For Canada
Canada's competition enforcer said Tuesday it has concerns over grain and seed supplier Bunge Ltd.'s plan to buy global grain trader Viterra Ltd. in an $18 billion deal, saying the acquisition could result in lower prices paid to farmers and higher prices for refined canola oil.
-
April 23, 2024
EV Co.'s SPAC Suit Gets Final OK For $1.9M Settlement
Lightning eMotors Inc., which made electric commercial vehicles and has announced liquidation of its assets, has received final approval for a $1.85 million settlement of shareholder derivative claims against its brass alleging they hid supply chain issues that would keep it from scaling after going public via merger with a special purpose acquisition company.
-
April 23, 2024
Trump's Stake In Truth Social Swells An Additional $1.2B
The value of Donald Trump's stake in his newly public social media company soared by nearly $1.2 billion on Tuesday as the former president became eligible to receive bonus shares that were conditioned on the company's stock performance.
-
April 23, 2024
Israeli Biotech Files Ch. 15 To Implement Take-Private Deal
Gamida Cell Ltd., an Israeli biotechnology company developing immunotherapy products, filed for Chapter 15 protection Monday in Delaware seeking the American court's approval of its foreign take-private proposal with unsecured lenders.
-
April 23, 2024
Fenwick, Covington Build $750M Sale Of Pharmaceutical Biz
Global biopharmaceutical company Incyte, advised by Covington & Burling LLP, on Tuesday announced plans to buy clinical-stage drug discovery company Escient Pharmaceuticals, led by Fenwick & West LLP, for $750 million.
-
April 23, 2024
Pre-Merger Deal Prompts Pharma Co. Derivative Suit In Del.
An Ayala Pharmaceuticals stockholder has launched a derivative suit against the company's board and controlling investors in Delaware's Court of Chancery, accusing directors of issuing new shares to the controllers at far below market value, timed to take advantage of an asset sale worth up to $85 million.
-
April 23, 2024
Cleveland-Cliffs Execs Say US Steel-Nippon Deal Is 'Dead'
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. executives said Tuesday that U.S. Steel is "denying reality" as it continues to pursue its $14.9 billion sale to Japan's Nippon Steel, suggesting that the deal is effectively "dead" following President Joe Biden's opposition to it and that the Ohio-based steel manufacturer remains the only viable buyer.
-
April 23, 2024
Virtua Says Trinity Health Won't Pay $12M ER Fight Legal Bill
Virtua claimed Monday in New Jersey federal court that Trinity Health has backed out of an agreement to cover $12 million in counsel fees and costs incurred in a legal fight with a rival healthcare system over Virtua's acquisition of Our Lady of Lourdes Health Care Services from Trinity.
-
April 23, 2024
Paul Hastings Transaction Security Adviser Joins V&E
Vinson & Elkins LLP announced the hire Monday of a Paul Hastings LLP attorney with experience advising on national security laws related to foreign investment as a partner in Washington, D.C.
-
April 23, 2024
Md.-Based Career Public Servant Is The FTC's Newest ALJ
The Federal Trade Commission announced the appointment of another administrative law judge on Tuesday, elevating a longtime public servant who had previously become the first female Muslim American administrative law judge at the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings.
-
April 23, 2024
PE Giant Faces Sanctions Bid For Mexico Corruption Claim
Advent International Corp. and its counsel at Ropes & Gray and Quinn Emanuel allegedly fabricated claims that a Mexican corporation's lawyers corruptly influenced prosecutors and judges in the country to freeze the private equity firm's assets and issue arrest warrants for executives, according to a filing in Massachusetts federal court.
-
April 23, 2024
King & Spalding Adds Kirkland Employment Partner In DC
King & Spalding LLP is boosting its global employment practice with the addition of a Kirkland & Ellis LLP partner who will be part of her new firm's Washington, D.C., office.
-
April 23, 2024
Terminated Sale Of NBA's T-Wolves Looks Like A Power Play
The canceled $1.5 billion sale of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves to a group featuring Alex Rodriguez can be attributed, in part, to explosive growth in team valuations over the last three years, but just as large a factor is the owner's hesitance to surrender the power inherent in major franchise ownership, legal experts say.
-
April 23, 2024
KKR Pushes Smart Metering Investors To Accept £1.3B Bid
Private equity giant KKR on Tuesday urged the shareholders of British energy infrastructure company Smart Metering who have not yet accepted its £1.3 billion ($1.6 billion) takeover offer to submit their shares by May 7.
-
April 23, 2024
Freshfields-Led JD Sports Agrees To Buy US Rival For $1.1B
JD Sports said on Tuesday that it has proposed to buy U.S. athletic fashion retailer Hibbet Inc. for approximately $1.08 billion as the U.K. sportswear store chain eyes expansion in the American southeast.
Expert Analysis
-
Reverse Merger Tips For Biotechs After SEC's Recent Actions
Several recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission developments could limit the viability of reverse mergers for biotech companies, and will require additional creativity and analysis for private companies looking to go public, say attorneys at Orrick.
-
What R&W Insurance Access Means For Small-Cap M&A
As a slowdown in mergers and acquisitions has increased insurer appetite for underwriting small-cap transactions, buyers of small and midsize enterprises stand to benefit from easier access to representations and warranties insurance, which can add protection and reassurance for all parties involved in a deal, say Caroline Thee and Ewelina Mikocewicz at Taft Stettinius.
-
Del. Dispatch: Efforts Clause Trumps Contractual Right
The Delaware Court of Chancery's Chordia v. Lee ruling this month — that the efforts clause set forth in a stockholders' agreement overrode the acquired company's right to fire its officers and employees — highlights key considerations for parties in such agreements to avoid post-acquisition disputes, say attorneys at Fried Frank.
-
Employee Experience Strategy Can Boost Law Firm Success
Amid continuing business uncertainty, law firms should consider adopting a holistic employee experience strategy — prioritizing consistency, targeting signature moments and leveraging measurement tools — to maximize productivity and profitability, says Haley Revel at Calibrate Consulting.
-
Series
Competing In Triathlons Makes Me A Better Lawyer
While practicing law and competing in long-distance triathlons can make work and life feel unbalanced at times, participating in the sport has revealed important lessons about versatility, self-care and perseverance that apply to the office as much as they do the racecourse, says Laura Heusel at Butler Snow.
-
Notes Of Interest From 5th Circ. Illumina-Grail Merger Ruling
Attorneys at Simpson Thacher consider the Fifth Circuit's recent decision upholding the Federal Trade Commission's challenge of the Illumina merger with Grail, its much-needed boost to the Biden administration's antitrust agenda, and some silver linings the decision offers to merging parties.
-
Where Justices Stand On Chevron Doctrine Post-Argument
Following recent oral argument at the U.S. Supreme Court, at least four justices appear to be in favor of overturning the long-standing Chevron deference, and three justices seem ready to uphold it, which means the ultimate decision may rest on Chief Justice John Roberts' vote, say Wayne D'Angelo and Zachary Lee at Kelley Drye.
-
GAO Decision Underscores Complexity Of '180-Day Rule'
The Government Accountability Office's ruling last month in Washington Business Dynamics, evaluating its eligibility for a small business set-aside contract, provides an important reminder for companies to stay vigilant of developments around the evolving "180-day rule" for submitting a proposal, say Stephen Ramaley and Adam Bartolanzo at Miles & Stockbridge.
-
Perspectives
6 Practice Pointers For Pro Bono Immigration Practice
An attorney taking on their first pro bono immigration matter may find the law and procedures beguiling, but understanding key deadlines, the significance of individual immigration judges' rules and specialized aspects of the practice can help avoid common missteps, says Steven Malm at Haynes Boone.
-
Bank M&A Considerations Amid 2024's Regulatory Uncertainty
Following the decline in banking mergers to the lowest level in more than a decade last year, receptiveness to community bank combinations and positive macroeconomic factors may help banks with less than $50 billion in assets see increased deal-making opportunities this year, despite regulatory uncertainty, say Robert Azarow and Amber Hay at Arnold & Porter.
-
Lessons From Country Singer's Personal Service Saga
Recent reports that country singer Luke Combs won a judgment against a Florida woman who didn’t receive notice of the counterfeit suit against her should serve as a reminder for attorneys on best practices for effectuating service by electronic means, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.
-
Inside Del. Determinations Of Specific Performance In M&A
Delaware M&A rulings, including several from the end of 2023, shed light on the facts that courts may consider when determining whether a party to a transaction is entitled to specific performance, say attorneys at White & Case and Odeko.
-
9 Contractual Issues Tech Startups Should Be Wary Of
Technology startups often overlook relatively simple but crucial contracting steps that are essential to owning and protecting their intellectual property, and the consequences of this will almost always surface at some point, typically in connection with a key investment or other significant transaction involving the business, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.
-
A Potential Proactive Tool For Public-Private Joint Ventures
In the current environment of heightened antitrust enforcement, the National Cooperative Research and Production Act seems tailor-made for the collaborative work among competitors encouraged by the Biden administration's infrastructure and green energy funding legislation, say Jeetander Dulani and Susan Ebner at Stinson.
-
Bracing For Calif.'s New Health Transaction Framework
As California's new cost and market impact review regulations' April 1 date for its updated notice and review process approaches, healthcare entities should ready themselves for dramatic changes to the state's regulatory landscape and prepare for potentially substantial transaction delays, say Jordan Grushkin and Matthew Goldman at Sheppard Mullin.