The Deal Awards NYC 2019 Shortlist

Jun. 20, 2019

Award Categories

Deal of the Year

CVS acquires health insurer Aetna

Target: Aetna Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Evercore Partners Inc.
Allen & Co. LLC
Lazard Ltd.
Counsel to I-bank: White & Case LLP
Outside Counsel:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Georgeson LLC
PR Firm: Sloane & Co. 

Acquirer: CVS Health Corp.
Investment Adviser:
Barclays
Centerview Partners LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Outside Counsel:
Shearman & Sterling LLP
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Locke Lord LLP
Special Counsel: Dechert LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Okapi Partners LLC
PR Firm: Kekst and Co. 

Danaher acquires General Electric’s biopharma business

Target/Seller:
GE Biopharma/General Electric Co.
Investment Adviser:
PJT Partners Inc.
Citigroup Inc.
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Outside Counsel: Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP 

Acquirer: Danaher Corp.
Investment Adviser: Barclays
Outside Counsel: Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Special Counsel: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
PR Firm: Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC

Walt Disney acquires television and film assets of Twenty-First Century Fox

Target/Seller: Twenty-First Century Fox Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Centerview Partners LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Deutsche Bank AG
Counsel to I-bank: Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Outside Counsel:
Hogan Lovells
Allen & Overy LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Special Counsel: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
PR Firm: Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC 

Acquirer: Walt Disney Co.
Investment Adviser:
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Guggenheim Partners LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Outside Counsel:
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Covington & Burling LLP
White & Case LLP
Delaware Firms as Outside Counsel: Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
Special Counsel: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
PR Firm: Gladstone Place Partners LLC 

L3 Technologies acquired by Harris Corp. 

Target/Seller: L3 Technologies Inc.
Investment Adviser: Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Outside Counsel:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Innisfree M&A Inc.
PR Firm: Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC 

Acquirer: Harris Corp.
Investment Adviser(s): Morgan Stanley
Counsel to I-bank: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Outside Counsel(s):
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Richards, Layton & Finger PA
Proxy Solicitor: Georgeson LLC

Dealmaker of the Year

  • Michael Aiello—Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
  • Lawrence Elbaum—Vinson & Elkins LLP
  • Richard Hall—Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
  • Jamie Leigh—Cooley LLP
  • Daniel Wolf—Kirkland & Ellis LLP

PR Firm of the Year

  • Abernathy MacGregor
  • Brunswick Group
  • Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
  • Kekst CNC
  • Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC

Most Innovative of the Year

Novartis acquires Nasdaq-listed AveXis

Target/Seller(s): AveXis Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Centerview Partners LLC
Counsel to I-bank:
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Outside Counsel:
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Cooley LLP
Delaware Firms as Outside Counsel: Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
PR Firm: Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC 

Acquirer: Novartis AG
Investment Adviser: Dyal Co. LLC
Outside Counsel:
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Hogan Lovells
Information Agent: Innisfree M&A Inc. 

AT&T seals mega media deal for Time Warner  

Target: Time Warner Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Morgan Stanley
Citigroup Inc.
Allen & Co. LLC
Morrow Sodali Global LLC
Counsel to I-bank: White & Case LLP
Outside Counsel: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Delaware Firms as Outside Counsel: Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP 

Acquirer: AT&T Inc.
Investment Adviser:
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Perella Weinberg Partners LP
Counsel to I-bank: Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Outside Counsel:
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Crowell & Moring LLP
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Proxy Solicitor: D.F. King & Co.
PR Firm: Brunswick Group LLP 

Constellation acquires stake in Canopy Growth 

Target: Canopy Growth Corp.
Investment Adviser: Greenhill & Co.
Counsel to I-bank: McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Outside Counsel: LaBarge Weinstein LLP
Special Counsel: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Kingsdale Advisors 

Acquirer: Constellation Brands Inc.
Investment Adviser: Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Outside Counsel:
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Nixon Peabody LLP

First Data agrees to combination with Fiserv 

Target/Seller(s): First Data Corp./ KKR & Co. LP
Investment Adviser:
Bank of America Corp.
Evercore Partners Inc.
Counsel to I-bank:
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Outside Counsel:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
Delaware Firms as Outside Counsel: Richards, Layton & Finger PA
Proxy Solicitor: Morrow Sodali Global LLC 

Acquirer: Fiserv Inc.
Investment Adviser: JPMorgan Securities LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Outside Counsel: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher 

Dell acquires tracking stock of VMware

Target: VMware Inc.
Investment Adviser:
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Perella Weinberg Partners LP
Lazard Ltd.
Outside Counsel:
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
Delaware Firms as Outside Counsel: Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP 

Acquirer(s): Dell Technologies Inc./Silver Lake Partners LP
Investment Adviser:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Evercore Partners Inc.
UBS Investment Bank
Credit Suisse Group
Barclays
Counsel to I-bank: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Outside Counsel:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Abrams & Bayliss LLP
Delaware Firms as Outside Counsel: Richards, Layton & Finger PA
Proxy Solicitor:
MacKenzie Partners Inc.
Innisfree M&A Inc.
Okapi Partners LLC
PR Firm:
Gladstone Place Partners LLC
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Activist Campaign of the Year

Cruiser Capital, Neuberger settle with Ashland after two-year campaign

Target: Ashland Global Holding Inc.
Investment Adviser: Bank of America
Outside Counsel: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Activist: Cruiser Capital Master Fund LP 

D.E. Shaw, Continental Grain settle with agribusiness and food company Bunge

Target: Bunge Ltd.
Activist(s): D.E. Shaw & Co./ Continental Grain Co.
Outside Counsel:
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft
Vinson & Elkins LLP
PR Firm:
Sloane & Co.
Gagnier Communications 

Papa John’s, Starboard team up to defend company

Target Company: Papa John’s International Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Lazard Ltd.
Bank of America Corp.
Outside Counsel:
Hogan Lovells
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Delaware Firms as Outside Counsel: Richards, Layton & Finger PA
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Activist: Starboard Value LP
Outside Counsel: Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP

Blackwells Capital pushes SuperValu toward sale with United Natural

Target: SuperValu Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Lazard Ltd.
Barclays Capital
Outside Counsel: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Special Counsel: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Innisfree M&A Inc.
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher  

Acquirer: United Natural Foods Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Foros
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Outside Counsel:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Okapi Partners LLC
PR Firm: Kekst and Co.
Activist: Blackwells Capital
Investment Adviser: Spotlight Advisors
Outside Counsel: Vinson & Elkins LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Morrow Sodali Global LLC
PR Firm: Gagnier Communications 

Elaine Wynn’s ‘just vote no’ campaign at Wynn Resorts

Target: Wynn Resorts Inc.
Shareholder: Elaine Wynn
Investment Adviser: M. Klein & Co.
Outside Counsel: Sidley Austin LLP
Proxy Solicitor: MacKenzie Partners Inc.
PR Firm: Teneo 

Cross-border Deal of the Year

Uber acquires Saudi ride hailing app Careem from investor group 

Target/Seller(s): Careem Networks FZ LLC/ Rakuten Inc./ Daimler AG/
Kingdom Holding Co./ STC Ventures/ Didi Chuxing
Investment Adviser: Jefferies LLC
Outside Counsel:
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Hogan Lovells

Acquirer(s): Uber Technologies Inc./ Dragoneer Investment Group LLC/ SoftBank Group Corp.
Outside Counsel: Morrison & Foerster LLP

Walmart acquires controlling stake in India’s Flipkart from multiple investors 

Target(s)/Seller(s): Flipkart Pvt. Ltd./ Naspers Ltd./ SoftBank Group Corp./ Tiger Global Management LLC/ Accel Partners LP/ Microsoft Corp./ Tencent Holdings Ltd.
Investment Adviser: Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Outside Counsel:
Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP
Allen & Gledhill LLP
Khaitan & Co.
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Acquirer: Walmart Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Credit Suisse Group
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Barclays
Counsel to I-bank:
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Outside Counsel:
Hogan Lovells
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.
PR Firm:
Edelman Inc.
Brunswick Group LLP

Comcast prevails in bidding for British broadcaster Sky 

Target(s)/Seller(s): Sky plc/ Twenty-First Century Fox Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Morgan Stanley
Barclays
PJT Partners Inc.
Outside Counsel:
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Hogan Lovells
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Acquirer(s): Comcast Corp.
Investment Adviser:
Evercore Partners Inc.
Robey Warshaw LLP
Outside Counsel:
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
CMS Legal Services EEIG
Proxy Solicitor: MacKenzie Partners Inc.
PR Firm: Tulchan Communications LLP

Kinder Morgan sells Trans Mountain Pipeline system to Canadian government

Seller: Kinder Morgan Inc.
Outside Counsel:
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Acquirer: Government of Canada
Investment Adviser: Greenhill & Co.
Outside Counsel:
Sidley Austin LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Michael Kors acquires Gianni Versace, creating a U.S. luxury conglomerate Capri

Target/Seller: Gianni Versace SpA/ Versace family
Investment Adviser:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Lazard Ltd.
Outside Counsel:
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Chiomenti Studio Legale

Acquirer: Michael Kors Holdings Ltd.
Investment Adviser:
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Barclays
Counsel to I-bank: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Outside Counsel: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Specialty Awards

Private Equity Deal of the Year

Carlyle & GIC acquire AkzoNobel’s specialty chemicals business

Target/Seller: Akzo Nobel Chemicals/ Akzo Nobel NV
Investment Adviser:
Jamieson Corporate Finance LLP
Nexant Ltd.
HSBC Holdings PLC
Lazard Ltd.
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Outside Counsel:
Van Doorne NV
Macfarlanes LLP
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek NV
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Special Counsel: McCarthy Tetrault LLP
PR Firm(s):
CNC – Communications & Network Consulting AG
Brunswick Group LLP
Accountant: Deloitte & Touche LLP 

Acquirer(s): Carlyle Group LP/ GIC Pte. Ltd.
Investment Adviser:
Bain & Co.
Valence Group LLC
Evercore Partners Inc.
Outside Counsel:
Latham & Watkins LLP
Proskauer Rose LLP
Loyens & Loeff NV
Special Counsel: McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Advisor:
Risk International Services Inc.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Sweco AB 

Athenahealth taken private by Veritas Capital and Evergreen Coast Capital 

Target: Athenahealth Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Lazard Ltd.
Centerview Partners LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Outside Counsel: Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Innisfree M&A Inc.
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher 

Acquirer(s): Virence Health Technologies/ Veritas Capital Fund Management LLC/ Elliott Management Corp./ Evergreen Coast Capital Corp.
Investment Adviser:
RBC Capital Markets
Deutsche Bank AG
Outside Counsel:
Covington & Burling LLP
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
PR Firm: Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC

Leggett & Platt acquires Elite Comfort Solutions from Arsenal Capital 

Target/Seller: Elite Comfort Solutions LLC/ Arsenal
Capital Partners LP
Outside Counsel: Kirkland & Ellis LLP
PR Firm: Chris Tofalli Public Relations LLC
Acquirer: Leggett & Platt Inc.
Investment Adviser: JPMorgan Securities LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Outside Counsel: Perkins Coie LLP
Special Counsel:
Latham & Watkins LLP
Jones Day
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Omers and Leonard Green-backed Caliber Collision merges with Hellman Friedman-backed Abra Auto Body

Target/Seller(s): Caliber Holdings Corp./ Leonard Green & Partners LP/ Omers Private Equity Inc.
Investment Adviser: Jefferies LLC
Outside Counsel:
Latham & Watkins LLP
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
PR Firm: Finsbury 

Acquirer(s): ABRA Auto Body & Glass LP/ Hellman & Friedman LLC
Investment Adviser:
Houlihan Lokey Inc.
Deutsche Bank AG
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Outside Counsel: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
PR Firm: Abernathy MacGregor Group Inc.

Oaktree Capital sells controlling stake to Brookfield Asset Management

Target/Seller: Oaktree Capital Group LLC
Investment Adviser:
Sandler O’Neill & Partners LP
Perella Weinberg Partners LP
Counsel to I-bank:
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Outside Counsel:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Mayer Brown LLP
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
McCarthy Tetrault LLP

Acquirer: Brookfield Asset Management Inc.
Outside Counsel:
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Torys LLP
PR Firm: Gasthalter & Co. LP

Restructuring Deal of the Year

Fieldwood Energy acquires assets while raising capital 

Debtor: Fieldwood Energy Corp.
Legal Counsel: Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Restructuring Adviser: Opportune LLP
Investment Bank: Evercore Partners Inc.

Fullbeauty breaks the speed record for Chapter 11 

Debtor: Fullbeauty Brands Holdings Corp.
Legal Counsel: Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Restructuring Adviser: AlixPartners LLP
Investment Bank: PJT Partners Inc.

HCR Manorcare case takes a twist

Debtor: HCR ManorCare Inc.
Legal Counsel:
Sidley Austin LLP
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP
Restructuring Adviser: AlixPartners LLP
Investment Bank: Moelis & Co. LLC

Pacific Drilling reaches new plan via mediation 

Debtor: Pacific Drilling SA
Legal Counsel:
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Togut, Segal & Segal LLP
Restructuring Adviser: AlixPartners LLP
Investment Bank: Evercore Partners Inc.

Seadrill resolves dueling reorganization plans

Debtor: Seadrill Ltd.
Legal Counsel:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Jackson Walker LLP
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Restructuring Adviser: Alvarez & Marsal LLC
Investment Bank:
Houlihan Lokey Inc.
Morgan Stanley

Private Equity Dealmaker of the Year

  • Harvey Eisenberg—Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
  • Peter Martelli—Kirkland & Ellis LLP
  • Jeffrey Poss—Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
  • Brian Stadler —Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
  • Taurie Zeitzer—Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Restructuring Advisory Firm of the Year

  • Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
  • Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
  • Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
  • Dechert LLP
  • Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Retail, Consumer, Food & Beverage

Retail, Consumer, Food & Beverage Deal of the Year

L Catterton’s Steiner Leisure sells Elemis to L’Occitane International 

Target(s)/Seller(s): Elemis Ltd./ Steiner Leisure Ltd./ L Catterton
Investment Adviser:
Jefferies LLC
Nomura Securities Co. Ltd.
Outside Counsel: Kirkland & Ellis LLP
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Acquirer: L’Occitane International SA
Geiger, Reinold [Corporate Dealmaker]
Outside Counsel:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Altria acquires stake in e-cig maker Juul Labs

Target/Seller(s): Juul Labs Inc./ Global Asset Capital LLC/ Tao Capital Partners LLC
Investment Adviser: Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank: Paul Hastings LLP
Outside Counsel:
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Acquirer: Altria Group Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Perella Weinberg Partners LP
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Outside Counsel:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Tyson Foods acquires Keystone Foods from Marfrig Global

Target/Seller: Keystone Foods/ Marfrig Global Foods SA
Investment Adviser:
Rabo Securities USA Inc.
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Outside Counsel:
Linklaters LLP
Lefosse Advogados

Acquirer: Tyson Foods Inc.
Investment Adviser: Morgan Stanley

PepsiCo acquires carbonated beverage specialist SodaStream International

Target: Sodastream International Ltd.
Investment Adviser: Perella Weinberg Partners LP
Counsel to I-bank: Shearman & Sterling LLP
Outside Counsel: White & Case LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Morrow Sodali Global LLC

Acquirer: PepsiCo Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Centerview Partners LLC
Counsel to I-bank:
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Outside Counsel:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Herzog Fox & Neeman
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
PR Firm: Brunswick Group LLP

Roark Capital’s Inspire Brands takes Sonic restaurants private

Target: Sonic Corp.
Investment Adviser: Guggenheim Securities LLC
Counsel to I-bank:
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Outside Counsel: Shearman & Sterling LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Innisfree M&A Inc.
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Acquirer(s): Inspire Brands Inc./ Roark Capital Group
Outside Counsel: White & Case LLP
PR Firm: Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC

Retail, Consumer, Food & Beverage Law Firm of the Year

  • Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
  • Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
  • Jones Day
  • Kirkland & Ellis LLP
  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Retail, Consumer, Food & Beverage Investment Bank of the Year

  • Bank of America Merrill Lynch
  • Centerview Partners
  • Evercore Partners Inc.
  • Goldman, Sachs & Co.
  • Houlihan Lokey Inc.

Energy & Industrials

Energy & Industrials Deal of the Year

Andeavor acquired by Marathon Petroleum

Target/Seller: Andeavor
Investment Adviser: Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank:
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Outside Counsel:
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Richards, Layton & Finger PA
Proxy Solicitor: Innisfree M&A Inc.
PR Firm: Gladstone Place Partners LLC

Acquirer: Marathon Petroleum Corp.
Investment Adviser(s): Barclays
Counsel to I-bank: Shearman & Sterling LLP
Outside Counsel(s):
Jones Day
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Innisfree M&A Inc.
Information Agent: Georgeson LLC
PR Firm(s): Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC

Waste Industrials USA sold to GFL Environmental

Target/Seller: Waste Industrials USA Inc.
Investment Adviser: J. Lee Lloyd LLC
Outside Counsel:
Latham & Watkins LLP
Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP

Acquirer: GFL Environmental Inc.
Outside Counsel:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Stikeman Elliott LLP
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
PR Firm: Kekst CNC

Energen acquired by fellow Permian producer Diamondback Energy

Target/Seller: Energen Corp.
Investment Adviser:
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Outside Counsel: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Proxy Solicitor: Innisfree M&A Inc.
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Acquirer: Diamondback Energy Inc.
Investment Adviser: Citigroup Inc.
Counsel to I-bank:  White & Case LLP
Outside Counsel: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Proxy Solicitor: MacKenzie Partners Inc.
PR Firm(s): Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC

L3 Technologies acquired by Harris Corp.

Target/Seller: L3 Technologies Inc.
Investment Adviser(s): Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Outside Counsel:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Innisfree M&A Inc.
PR Firm: Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC

Acquirer: Harris Corp.
Investment Adviser(s): Morgan Stanley
Counsel to I-bank: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Outside Counsel(s):
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Richards, Layton & Finger PA
Proxy Solicitor: Georgeson LLC

Johnson Controls sells power solutions business to  
Brookfield-led investor group

Target/Seller: Power Solutions Business/Johnson Controls International plc
Investment Adviser(s):
Centerview Partners LLC
Barclays
Counsel to I-bank: White & Case LLP
Outside Counsel: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
PR Firm: Gladstone Place Partners LLC

Acquirer(s): Brookfield Business Partners LP/ Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec
Investment Adviser(s):
Citigroup Inc.
HSBC Bank plc
CIBC World Markets Corp.
Credit Suisse Group
RBC Capital Markets
Deutsche Bank AG
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
TD Securities Inc.
BMO Capital Markets Corp.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Bank of Nova Scotia
Outside Counsel:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
PR Firm: Gasthalter & Co. LP

Energy & Industrials Law Firm of the Year

  • Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
  • Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
  • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
  • Vinson & Elkins LLP
  • Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz

Energy & Industrials Investment Bank of the Year

  • Barclays
  • Evercore Partners Inc.
  • Goldman, Sachs & Co.
  • JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  • Jefferies LLC

Financial Services

Financial Services Deal of the Year

Dun & Bradstreet acquired by investor consortium

Target/Seller: Dun & Bradstreet Corp.
Investment Adviser: JPMorgan Securities LLC
Outside Counsel: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Proxy Solicitor: 
Innisfree M&A Inc.
Morrow Sodali Global LLC
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Acquirer(s): Black Knight Inc./ Motive Partners GP LLC/ Thomas H. Lee Partners LP/ CC Capital Management LLC/ Cannae Holdings Inc.
Investment Adviser(s):
Citigroup Inc.
RBC Capital Markets
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Outside Counsel(s):
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
PR Firm(s):
Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Jones Lang LaSalle acquires HFF Inc.

Target/Seller: HFF Inc.
Investment Adviser: Morgan Stanley
Counsel to I-bank: Proskauer Rose LLP
Outside Counsel: Dechert LLP

Acquirer: Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.
Investment Adviser: JPMorgan Securities LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Outside Counsel: Sidley Austin LLP
PR Firm: Brunswick Group LLP

Marsh & McLennan acquires Jardine Lloyd Thompson 

Target/Seller: Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc
Investment Adviser:
Rothschild
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Simon Robertson Associates LLP
Outside Counsel: Clifford Chance LLP
PR Firm: Brunswick Group LLP

Acquirer: Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc.
Investment Adviser: Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Outside Counsel:
Slaughter and May Ltd.
Carey Olsen
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
PR Firm: Finsbury

Hartford Financial Services acquires marine-specialty underwriter Navigators Group  

Target/Seller: Navigators Group Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Moelis & Co. LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank:
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Outside Counsel: Sidley Austin LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Morrow Sodali Global LLC

Acquirer: Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Citigroup Inc.
Deutsche Bank AG
Outside Counsel: Mayer Brown LLP

BB&T agrees to merger with SunTrust Bankers

Target/Seller: SunTrust Banks Inc.
Investment Adviser: 
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc.
Counsel to I-bank: Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Outside Counsel: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Georgeson LLC
PR Firm: Abernathy MacGregor Group Inc.

Acquirer: BB&T Corp.
Investment Adviser: RBC Capital Markets
Counsel to I-bank: O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Outside Counsel: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Proxy Solicitor: Georgeson LLC

Financial Services Law Firm of the Year

  • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
  • Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
  • Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
  • Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Financial Services Investment Bank of the Year

  • Bank of America Corp.
  • Evercore Partners LLC
  • JPMorgan Securities LLC
  • Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc.
  • Sandler O’Neill & Partners LP

Healthcare & Pharma

Healthcare & Pharma Deal of the Year

CVS acquires health insurer Aetna 

Target: Aetna Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Evercore Partners Inc.
Allen & Co. LLC
Lazard Ltd.
Counsel to I-bank: White & Case LLP
Outside Counsel:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Georgeson LLC
PR Firm: Sloane & Co.

Acquirer: CVS Health Corp.
Investment Adviser:
Barclays
Centerview Partners LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Outside Counsel:
Shearman & Sterling LLP
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Locke Lord LLP
Special Counsel: Dechert LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Okapi Partners LLC
PR Firm: Kekst and Co. 

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s agrees to acquire cancer drug specialist Celgene 

Target: Celgene Corp.
Investment Adviser:
Citigroup Inc.
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Outside Counsel:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Special Counsel: Jones Day
Proxy Solicitor:
Innisfree M&A Inc.
Morrow Sodali Global LLC
PR Firm: Kekst CNC
Buyer: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
Investment Adviser:
Evercore Partners Inc.
Morgan Stanley
Dyal Co. LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Outside Counsel: Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Special Counsel: Mayer Brown LLP
Proxy Solicitor: MacKenzie Partners Inc.
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Blackstone acquires Center for Autism & Related Disorder

Target: Center for Autism and Related Disorders LLC
Investment Adviser: Berkery, Noyes & Co.
Outside Counsel:
Nevers, Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC

Acquirer: Blackstone Group LP
Investment Adviser: Cain Brothers & Co. LLC
Outside Counsel: Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Danaher acquires General Electric’s biopharma business

Target/Seller: GE Biopharma/ General Electric Co.
Investment Adviser:
PJT Partners Inc.
Citigroup Inc.
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Outside Counsel: Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Acquirer: Danaher Corp.
Investment Adviser: Barclays
Outside Counsel: Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Special Counsel: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
PR Firm: Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC

Eli Lilly’s acquisition of Loxo Oncology

Target: Loxo Oncology Inc.
Investment Adviser: Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Counsel to I-bank: Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Outside Counsel: Fenwick & West LLP

Acquirer: Eli Lilly and Co.
Investment Adviser: Deutsche Bank AG
Counsel to I-bank: Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Outside Counsel:
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Georgeson LLC

Healthcare & Pharma Law Firm of the Year

  • Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
  • Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
  • Kirkland & Ellis LLP
  • Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Healthcare & Pharma Investment Bank of the Year

  • Barclays
  • Berkery, Noyes & Co.
  • Cain Brothers & Co.
  • Jefferies LLC
  • Piper Jaffray & Co.

Technology, Media & Telecom

Technology, Media & Telecom Deal of the Year

Broadcom acquires software developer CA Technologies

Target: CA Inc.
Investment Adviser: Qatalyst Partners
Counsel to I-bank: Morrison & Foerster LLP
Outside Counsel: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC
Proxy Solicitor: MacKenzie Partners Inc.

Acquirer: Broadcom Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Deutsche Bank AG
Morgan Stanley
Credit Suisse Group
Barclays
Counsel to I-bank: Ropes & Gray LLP
Outside Counsel:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Cooley LLP
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

KKR’s First Data agrees to combination with Fiserv 

Target/Seller: First Data Corp./ KKR & Co. LP
Investment Adviser:
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Evercore Partners Inc.
Counsel to I-bank:
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Outside Counsel:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
Delaware Firms as Outside Counsel:
Richards, Layton & Finger PA
Proxy Solicitor: Morrow Sodali Global LLC

Acquirer: Fiserv Inc.
Investment Adviser: JPMorgan Securities LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Outside Counsel: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Walt Disney acquires television and film assets of Twenty-First Century Fox 

Target/Seller: Twenty-First Century Fox Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Centerview Partners LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Deutsche Bank AG
Counsel to I-bank: Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Outside Counsel:
Hogan Lovells
Allen & Overy LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Special Counsel: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
PR Firm: Sard Verbinnen & Co. LLC

Acquirer: Walt Disney Co.
Investment Adviser:
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Guggenheim Partners LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Outside Counsel:
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Covington & Burling LLP
White & Case LLP
Delaware Firms as Outside Counsel: Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
Special Counsel: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
PR Firm: Gladstone Place Partners LLC

SAP acquires Qualtrics from Accel Partners, Insight Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital 

Target/Seller(s): Qualtrics International Inc./ Accel Partners LP/ Sequoia Capital/ Insight Venture Management LLC
Investment Adviser: Qatalyst Partners
Outside Counsel:
Goodwin Procter LLP
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
PR Firm: Edelman Inc.

Acquirer: SAP SE
Investment Adviser: JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Counsel to I-bank:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Hengeler Mueller
Outside Counsel: Jones Day
PR Firm: Edelman Inc.

IBM acquires software infrastructure company Red Hat  

Target: Red Hat Inc.
Investment Adviser:
Morgan Stanley
Guggenheim Partners LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Outside Counsel: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Proxy Solicitor: Innisfree M&A Inc.
PR Firm: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Acquirer: IBM Corp.
Investment Adviser:
Lazard Ltd.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
JPMorgan Securities LLC
Counsel to I-bank: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Outside Counsel:
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Hogan Lovells
DLA Piper
Stikeman Elliott LLP

Technology, Media & Telecom Law Firm of the Year

  • Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
  • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
  • Hogan Lovells US LLP
  • Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Technology, Media & Telecom Investment Bank of the Year

  • Centerview Partners LLC
  • Goldman, Sachs & Co.
  • JPMorgan Securities LLC
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Qatalyst Partners

About the Deal Awards