Mergers & Acquisitions

  • October 25, 2024

    9th Circ. Dubious Of Tesla Investors' Appeal Of $12B Trial Loss

    Ninth Circuit judges appeared skeptical Friday of Tesla investors' argument that an erroneous trial instruction improperly led a jury to reject their $12 billion claim over Elon Musk's 2018 tweets that he had "funding secured" to take the electric car giant private.

  • October 25, 2024

    Glocal, UpHealth May Settle $115M Award Feud

    Indian healthcare services platform Glocal and bankrupt digital health services company UpHealth may be on the verge of resolving their bitter dispute over an ill-fated merger that resulted in a $115 million arbitral award, Glocal has informed an Illinois federal court in a recent request to stay enforcement proceedings. 

  • October 25, 2024

    Spirit Airlines Eyes $80M In Cost Cuts Amid New Deal Rumor

    Spirit Airlines will implement layoffs as part of a plan to cut roughly $80 million in costs and has agreed to sell 23 Airbus aircraft to GA Telesis for about $519 million, disclosing the measures as the company is said to be in renewed talks to potentially sell itself to Frontier Airlines. 

  • October 25, 2024

    UK Antitrust Arm Opens Formal Probe Of $35B Software Deal

    United Kingdom antitrust authorities triggered a formal investigation Friday into Synopsys Inc.'s $35 billion acquisition of Ansys Inc., satisfied that the transaction has enough ties to the country to merit greater scrutiny.

  • October 25, 2024

    Paris Apparel Co. Valued At €505M As Permira Takes Stake

    Private equity giant Permira is taking a significant minority stake in Parisian outdoor-inspired lifestyle brand K-Way from Italian apparel giant BasicNet in an agreement that values K-Way at an enterprise value of €505 million ($545.3 million), the parties announced in a Friday statement.

  • October 25, 2024

    Frontier Urges Approval Of 'Highly Attractive' Verizon Deal

    Frontier Communications on Friday urged shareholders to support its planned $20 billion sale to Verizon, calling the $38.50 per-share price tag "highly attractive" despite mounting opposition from top investors, one of which claimed the company may be worth double that.

  • October 25, 2024

    Judge Wants More Clarity About Alex Jones Ch. 7 Asset Sales

    A Texas bankruptcy judge deferred ruling on a motion from the Chapter 7 trustee in the bankruptcy of right-wing media fabulist Alex Jones to conduct sales of certain of the estate's assets, saying he wants to know whether the parties to the case anticipate future litigation on the trustee's ability to sell the assets.

  • October 25, 2024

    Big Lots Inc. Gets OK For Oct. 30 Ch. 11 Asset Auction

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge Friday approved discount retailer Big Lots Inc.'s plans to put itself on the block next week after hearing the provider of the baseline bid for the sale had secured the financing for its $760 million offer.

  • October 25, 2024

    Taxation With Representation: Davis Polk, Skadden, Kirkland

    In this week's Taxation With Representation, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp. absorbs Sandy Spring Bancorp, Sophos and Secureworks merge, Wendel Group takes a stake in Monroe Capital LLC, and Acuity Brands Inc. buys QSC LLC.

  • October 25, 2024

    MVP: Davis Polk & Wardwell's Oliver Smith

    Oliver Smith of Davis Polk & Wardwell's mergers and acquisitions practice was a leader on the team that advised ExxonMobil Corp. on its blockbuster $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources and Truist Financial Corp. on the sale of its remaining stake in Truist Insurance Holdings at a $15.5 billion enterprise value, earning him a spot as one of the 2024 Law360 M&A MVPs.

  • October 24, 2024

    Colo. Says Grocers' Execs Get Paid, No Matter The Fallout

    Colorado told a state judge Thursday that consumers bear the risk in a proposed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger Co. and Albertsons, arguing grocery executives will still get their multimillion-dollar payouts even if prices go up or stores close.

  • October 24, 2024

    FTC Official Doubts Election Will Deter Antitrust 'New Era'

    The Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition director defended the agency's new guidelines and its track record during a wide-ranging discussion at the 34th annual Golden State Institute on Thursday, and he expressed confidence that whichever presidential candidate wins, a new administration won't deter this "new era" of FTC antitrust enforcement actions.

  • October 24, 2024

    Truth Social SPAC Founder Wants $1M Award For Payout Suit

    The investment sponsor of the special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, that took former President Donald Trump's Truth Social media company public has asked for a $1 million fee award for driving the Delaware Chancery Court litigation over the Trump camp's attempts to slash a SPAC deal stock conversion ratio that would have cost some preferred investors millions.

  • October 24, 2024

    FTC Probing Boeing's $4.7B Spirit Aero Takeover

    The Federal Trade Commission wants to know more about Boeing's $4.7 billion plan to take over aircraft parts maker Spirit AeroSystems before it decides whether to sign off on the transaction, new filings have revealed.

  • October 24, 2024

    Cooper Hefner's $100M Bid To Buy Playboy Brand Is Rejected

    The owner of Playboy, PLBY Group Inc., has turned down a reported $100 million offer from Cooper Hefner, the youngest son of late founder Hugh Hefner, to buy the Playboy brand, stating Thursday that the bid is too low.

  • October 24, 2024

    DOJ, DOT Launch Inquiry Into Air Travel Competition

    The U.S. departments of Justice and Transportation said Thursday that they're launching a joint inquiry into the state of competition in air travel, the latest in a run of Biden administration competition- and consumer-driven initiatives.

  • October 24, 2024

    Chancery Won't Block Dura Medic Merger Insurance Claims

    Dura Medic, a private equity-controlled medical equipment supplier, and its directors and officers won their bid Thursday in Delaware's Court of Chancery to beat back, for now, a request for a temporary restraining order blocking a settlement that could put a $5 million directors and officers insurance policy beyond the reach of the previous owners' damage claims.

  • October 24, 2024

    Katten, Hogan Lovells Guide Tampa Bay Lightning Stake Sale

    The duo behind Blue Owl Capital on Thursday announced plans to buy a stake in NHL team the Tampa Bay Lightning in a deal strung together by Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP and Hogan Lovells.

  • October 24, 2024

    Willkie-Led Ingram Micro Rejoins Markets After $409M IPO

    Private equity-backed technology products distributor Ingram Micro Holding Corp. rallied in debut trading on Thursday, marking the company's return to public markets following a $409 million initial public offering, represented by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and underwriters' counsel Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP.

  • October 24, 2024

    Court Pauses $8.5B Handbag Merger For FTC Challenge

    A New York federal judge on Thursday paused the planned $8.5 billion merger between the owners of Michael Kors and Coach while the Federal Trade Commission challenges the deal over concerns about "accessible luxury" handbags.

  • October 24, 2024

    Southwest Shakes Up Boardroom In Deal With Activist Elliott

    Southwest Airlines on Thursday announced a board shake-up, marking the latest of the airline's moves as part of its "transformational" plan amid pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management.

  • October 24, 2024

    ConvergeOne Can't Ax Snubbed Creditors' Ch. 11 Plan Appeal

    A Texas federal judge said he wouldn't toss an appeal by a group of secured creditors who say they were improperly iced out of a new equity offering pool for ConvergeOne, writing that the group's challenge wouldn't unravel the reorganized information technology services company's confirmed Chapter 11 plan or harm third parties.

  • October 24, 2024

    Biden Issues Guidelines For National Security Uses Of AI

    President Joe Biden issued a memo Thursday on the development and use of artificial intelligence for national security, directing actions such as shoring up the security of computer chip supply chains and ensuring AI is not used to commit human rights violations.

  • October 24, 2024

    MVP: Sullivan & Cromwell's Melissa Sawyer

    Melissa Sawyer of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP's mergers and acquisitions practice led cancer therapy company Seagen through its $43 billion sale to Pfizer and facilitated the sale of privately held sandwich giant Subway to private equity firm Roark Capital, earning her a spot as one of the 2024 Law360 Mergers & Acquisitions MVPs.

  • October 24, 2024

    Cleary-Led Keurig Buying Ghost Energy For $1B-Plus

    Cleary Gottlieb-led Keurig Dr Pepper said Thursday it has agreed to purchase Winston & Strawn LLP-advised energy drink purveyor Ghost in a two-part transaction that will include the upfront purchase of a 60% stake in Ghost for $990 million, followed by the purchase of the remaining 40% stake in 2028. 

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Boxing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Boxing has influenced my legal work by enabling me to confidently hone the skills I've learned from the sport, like the ability to remain calm under pressure, evaluate an opponent's weaknesses and recognize when to seize an important opportunity, says Kirsten Soto at Clyde & Co.

  • Anticipating Disputes In Small Biz Partnerships And LLCs

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    In light of persistently high failures of small business partnerships and limited liability companies, mediator Frank Burke discusses proactive strategies for protecting and defining business rights and responsibilities, as well as reactive measures for owners.

  • Opinion

    Industry Self-Regulation Will Shine Post-Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's Loper decision will shape the contours of industry self-regulation in the years to come, providing opportunities for this often-misunderstood practice, says Eric Reicin at BBB National Programs.

  • 3 Ways Agencies Will Keep Making Law After Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court clearly thinks it has done something big in overturning the Chevron precedent that had given deference to agencies' statutory interpretations, but regulated parties have to consider how agencies retain significant power to shape the law and its meaning, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

  • Roundup

    After Chevron

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    Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference standard in June, this Expert Analysis series has featured attorneys discussing the potential impact across 36 different rulemaking and litigation areas.

  • Opinion

    Atty Well-Being Efforts Ignore Root Causes Of The Problem

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    The legal industry is engaged in a critical conversation about lawyers' mental health, but current attorney well-being programs primarily focus on helping lawyers cope with the stress of excessive workloads, instead of examining whether this work culture is even fundamentally compatible with lawyer well-being, says Jonathan Baum at Avenir Guild.

  • How Generative AI May Aid Merger Clearance Process

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    Generative artificial intelligence capable of analyzing and searching large datasets stands to revolutionize the merger clearance process, including by significantly reducing the time and effort required to respond to Hart-Scott-Rodino second requests, say Kenneth Koch and Brian Blush at BDO USA.

  • Antitrust In Retail: The Meaning Of 'Accessible Luxury'

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    In order for the Federal Trade Commission to block a deal that would put six "accessible luxury" brands, including Coach and Michael Kors, under one roof, the agency will need to prove that this category is distinct from the true luxury or mass-market categories, says David Kully at Holland & Knight.

  • A Case Study For Calif. Cities In Water Utility Takeovers

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    With growing water scarcity and drier weather looming, some local governments in California have sought to acquire investor-owned water utilities by eminent domain — but the 2016 case of Claremont v. Golden State Water is a reminder that such municipalization attempts must meet certain statutory requirements, say attorneys at Nossaman.

  • 4 Important Events In Bank Regulation: A Midyear Review

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    The first six months of 2024 have been fairly stable for the banking industry, though U.S. Supreme Court decisions and proposals from regulators have significantly affected the regulatory standards applicable to insured depository institutions, says Christina Grigorian at Katten.

  • Series

    Skiing And Surfing Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I’ve learned while riding waves in the ocean and slopes in the mountains have translated to my legal career — developing strong mentor relationships, remaining calm in difficult situations, and being prepared and able to move to a backup plan when needed, says Brian Claassen at Knobbe Martens.

  • Unpacking The Circuit Split Over A Federal Atty Fee Rule

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    Federal circuit courts that have addressed Rule 41(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are split as to whether attorney fees are included as part of the costs of a previously dismissed action, so practitioners aiming to recover or avoid fees should tailor arguments to the appropriate court, says Joseph Myles and Lionel Lavenue at Finnegan.

  • 6 Tips For Maximizing After-Tax Returns In Private M&A Deals

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    With potential tax legislation likely to spur a surge in private business sales, sellers can make the most of after-tax proceeds with strategies that include price allocation and qualified investment options, say Isaac Grossman and Daniel Studin at Morrison Cohen.

  • After A Brief Hiccup, The 'Rocket Docket' Soars Back To No. 1

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    The Eastern District of Virginia’s precipitous 2022 fall from its storied rocket docket status appears to have been a temporary aberration, as recent statistics reveal that the court is once again back on top as the fastest federal civil trial court in the nation, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • The Current State Of Healthcare Transaction Reviews In Calif.

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    As of April, certain healthcare transactions in California have been subject to additional notification compliance requirements, and complying with these new rules could significantly delay and discourage some deals, says Andrew Demetriou at Husch Blackwell.

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