Recent Transactions

Advising Tate & Lyle PLC, a leading UK-based global provider of food and beverage ingredients and solutions, on its sale of a controlling stake in its Primary Products business in North America and Latin America

Advised Gannett Co., Inc., a media and marketing solutions company, in relation to an unsolicited acquisition proposal from and successful proxy contest with MNG Enterprises, Inc.

Advised the Special Committee of the Board of Trustees of Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust ("PIRET"), the largest pure-play industrial REIT in Canada, regarding the acquisition of PIRET by Blackstone Property Partners

Advised the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of IAC/InterActiveCorp, a leading media and internet company, on the potential creation of a new class of non-voting common stock 

Advised Aralez Pharmaceuticals Inc., a global specialty pharmaceutical company in connection with the financing of its acquisition of the US rights to cardiovascular drug Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate) and its Authorized Generic from AstraZeneca.

Advised Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc., a 75% owner and operator of the largest and most visited mountain resort in North America, on its sale to Vail Resorts, Inc.

Advised the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Blount International Inc., a leading global manufacturer of saw chains, guide bars, sprockets and other equipment for the forestry, agriculture and construction markets, on its sale to American Securities LLC and P2 Capital Partners, LLC

Advised the Special Committee of GFI Group Inc. on its sale to BGC Partners, Inc.

Advised the Independent Committee of the Board of Directors of Voya Financial, Inc. in connection with Voya Financial, Inc.’s repurchase of 7.7mm shares (aggregate repurchase of $300mm) from ING Groep N.V.

Advised the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Par Petroleum in connection with its acquisition of Tesoro Hawaii, LLC from Tesoro Corporation

Advised the Special Transaction Committee of the Board of Morgans Hotel Group on the transfer of its ownership interests in Delano South Beach and The Light Group to The Yucaipa Companies in exchange for the cancellation of certain securities held by Yucaipa (debt, preferred stock and warrants) together with a $100 million rights offering backstopped by Yucaipa

Advised the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of TNS, Inc., a leading global provider of data communications and interoperability solutions, on its sale to Siris Capital Group, a private equity firm focused on complex, control equity investments in the telecom, technology and technology-enabled business service sectors

Advised the Special Committee of the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of Athene Holding Ltd. in connection with the purchase of non-cash investment assets of AP Alternative Assets L.P.

Advised The Hartford, a leading provider of insurance and wealth management services, on the divestiture of its Individual Life Insurance Business to Prudential Financial, Inc.

Advised the Independent Directors of the Board of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners on the acquisition of Tennessee Gas Pipeline, a ~14,000 mile natural gas pipeline system connecting Texas, Louisiana, and the Gulf of Mexico with the northeastern US, and 50% of El Paso Natural Gas, a ~10,000 mile natural gas pipeline system connecting the Permian Basin in Texas / New Mexico with key consumer markets in Arizona, California and Mexico

Provided fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of Pentair, Inc. in connection with its all-stock merger with Tyco Flow Control, a division of Tyco International Ltd. (+Transaction value represents enterprise value of combined entity)

Advised American Dental Partners, Inc. (NASD: ADPI), one of the nation’s leading business partners to dental group practices, on its sale to JLL Partners, a leading private equity firm

Advised Coal and Allied Industries Limited, an Australian based coal mining company, in relation to an acquisition proposal from Rio Tinto Limited and Mitsubishi Corporation to acquire all the outstanding shares in the company not already held by Rio Tinto and Mitsubishi

Advised the Special Committee of Wesco Financial Corporation in connection with Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s proposal to acquire the remaining 19.9% of the shares of Wesco’s common stock that it does not presently own

Advised Dynegy Inc., an independent power producer, on its sale to Icahn Enterprises LP in an all-cash transaction

Advised Lihir Gold Limited, a leading global gold company with operations in Papua New Guinea, Australian and West Africa on an unsolicited takeover proposal from Newcrest Mining Ltd, an international gold company with gold and copper operations

Advised the shareholders of Camelot – Cadbury, De La Rue, Fujitsu, Royal Mail and Thales – on the sale of their shareholdings in Camelot, the operator of the UK National Lottery, to Ontario Teachers’ Pensions Plan

Advised Minerva plc, a UK real estate development company, on its successful defence following an unsolicited offer from KiFin Limited, a company that makes investments for the benefit of Mr Nathan Kirsh

Advised the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Barnes & Noble, Inc., the world’s largest bookseller, on its acquisition of Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, Inc.

Advised the Independent Committee of the Board of Directors of EPCOR Power L.P., an Alberta-based power trust, on approval of the transfer of its GP interest and 30.6% LP interest from EPCOR Utilities to a newly formed company, Capital Power Corporation

Advised Lonmin plc, a major producer of Platinum Group Metals, regarding an unsolicited pre-conditional offer for the company by Xstrata plc, a global diversified mining company

Advised the special committee of the board of directors in connection with its merger with Triarc Companies, Inc., the operator of the Arby’s franchise. The combined systems will have approximately 10,000 restaurant units and pro forma annual system sales of approximately $12.5 billion, positioning it as the nation’s third largest quick service restaurant company

Acted as sole financial adviser to Ceridian Corporation, an information services provider to the human resource, transportation and retail markets, on its sale to Thomas H. Lee Partners and Fidelity National Financial

Advised the Transaction Committee of the Board of Directors of SLM Corporation, commonly known as Sallie Mae, on the sale to a consortium consisting of J.C. Flowers, Friedman Fleischer & Lowe, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase

Provided fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of The ServiceMaster Company, a diversified consumer services business whose brands include Terminix, TruGreen and American Home Shield, in connection with its sale to private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice

Provided advisory services and fairness opinion to the board of directors of Raytheon Company, a market leader in the aerospace and defense industry, on the sale of its Raytheon Aircraft division, which offers aircrafts and services and the renowned Hawker and Beechcraft brand names

Advised the independent directors of Reckson, a real estate investment trust specializing in properties located in New York City and the surrounding Tri-State area, on the sale of Reckson to SL Green

Acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Refco Inc. in connection with its Chapter 11 proceedings which included the sale of substantially all of the assets of Refco's regulated commodities futures business to Man Financial for $1.2 billion

Advised leading European support services company Rentokil Initial on unsolicited approach from Raphoe Management Limited

Advised the Special Committee of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of LNR Property Corporation, one of the US’ leading real estate investment, finance and management companies, on its sale to Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. and its real estate affiliate, Blackacre Institutional Capital Management, LLC

Advised Wella AG, a global market leader in hair care and fragrances, on its sale to The Procter & Gamble Company

Retained by the US Justice Department to advise it on the financial implications of the full range of potential remedies in the Microsoft antitrust case (US v. Microsoft).