Kevin Smith

U.S. MATTERS

• Represented Leonardo DRS, Inc., a leading defense contractor, in acquisition transactions, including:
  • Sale of full ownership of joint venture Advanced Acoustic Concepts (ACC) to Thales Defense & Security, Inc. 
  • Acquisition of Ascendant Engineering Solutions (AES), a leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of gimbal systems for unmanned aerial systems.
  • Strategic investment in Hoverfly Technologies, a designer and developer of tethered drones.
  • Acquisition of Daylight Solutions, Inc., the world leader in quantum cascade laser based molecular detection and imaging systems.
• Represented Crowe LLP, a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm, in a carveout sale of its technology-enabled health care consulting business to TPG, a global alternative asset management firm.
• Represented SCM Connections, a leader in technology-enabled supply-chain planning and analytics, in the sale of the company to McKinsey & Company.
• Represented LAACO, Ltd., the owner of the Storage West brand of 59 self-storage facilities (as well as the Los Angeles Athletic Club and the California Yacht Club, in its sale to CubeSmart for approximately US$1.69B.
• Represented 123-year-old Thomas Publishing Company, a leader in product sourcing, supplier selection, and digital marketing solutions, in connection with its US$300M sale to Xometry, Inc.
• Represented a manufacturing conglomerate in M&A, joint venture, and capital markets transactions, including (i) the spin-offs to its shareholders of its automotive, avionics and semiconductor businesses into independent publicly traded companies, (ii) the divestiture of its aerospace and defense business, and (iii) a joint venture with a leading aerospace company for the operation of a major program for NASA.  
• Represented a leading industrial automation company in M&A transactions, including the sales of its power systems business and its call center business.
• Represented a leading aerospace and avionics company in acquisition and sale transactions, including (i) the acquisition of an air-ground communications and systems engineering provider, (ii) the acquisition of a global leader in satellite-based communications networks, (iii) the acquisition of a military and commercial avionics simulation business, (iv) the acquisition of a military software application company, (v) the divestiture of its seamless alloy and stainless steel pipes business, and (vi) the divestiture of a research and development center.
• Represented a leading Nasdaq-listed enterprise software company in acquisitions of a virtualization and cloud infrastructure company and an IT consulting firm focused on government IT assets.
• Represented a leading international advertising company in a merger and joint venture transaction in the direct marketing space and its acquisition of a direct response TV agency.
• Represented a Fortune 50 aerospace company in the formation of a joint venture providing satellite and other launch services.
• Represented a leading energy financial services company in the acquisition from a global green energy company of a 49% ownership stake in a portfolio of approximately 50 wind, geothermal, hydropower, and solar energy projects with 1,200 MW of installed capacity in North America, and related joint venture arrangements.
• Represented a developer and a leading financial institution in the sale of a 150 MW development-stage solar photovoltaic electric generating project in California, to a leading solar development company.
• Represented the North American division of a leading global energy company in its acquisition of controlling interests in a 500 MW gas-fired power project in New York.
• Represented a leading automotive supplier in its “merger of equals” transaction with a leading light vehicle automotive supplier, as well as other acquisition and divestiture transactions.
• Represented an industrial manufacturer in the sale of its automotive businesses in several transactions under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

CROSS-BORDER MATTERS

• Represented Southern Cross Group, a leading Latin American private equity firm, in acquisition and sale transactions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Panama, including:
  • Sale of S.I.N. Implant Systems, one of Brazil’s leading manufacturers of dental implants, to Henry Schein, Inc.
  • Investment in Data Horizon Americas, a new Latin America-focused datacenter platform.
  • Sale of its majority stake in Colombian port operator, Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Barranquilla, to I Squared Capital.
  • GP-led secondary transaction for Southern Cross Latin America Private Equity Fund IV in which Intermediate Capital Group (ITG) was the lead investor.
  • Acquisition of Getronics LATAM, an integrated ICT products and services provider for the large enterprise market with operations in Mexico and Colombia, from OpenGate Capital.
  • Acquisition of a majority interest in Supermercados Xtra, a retail chain in Panama, and related shareholder arrangements.
  • Acquisition of Pétrobras Chile Distribución Ltda., the third largest fuel distribution business in Chile, from Pétrobras.
  • Transactions relating to its investment in Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited, a Nasdaq-listed industrial transportation company serving marine transportation needs, and its river and offshore businesses, with operations in South America, including Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
  • Investment in Estrella International Energy Services Ltd., a TSX-listed provider of oil and gas field and geothermal services mainly to the E&P industry in Latin America.
  • Sale of its 50% stake in Chilean gas transporter and energy generator GasAtacama to Endesa Chile.
• Represented Terold, a company owned by the Bemberg Family Group, a sixth-generation family business with deep experience in the wine and beverage industry, in its acquisition of a majority stake in California-based WX Brands, a leading global wine company.
• Represented Grupo Vilaseca, a multinational business group dedicated to developing products and services in the packaging, food, real estate, and supplies industries, in connection with its acquisition of Diana’s Bananas, a U.S.-based food company.
• Represented TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V., the second-largest media company in Mexico, and Azteca International Corporation in the sale of its U.S. television network to HC2 Network, Inc., a subsidiary of HC2 Holdings, Inc.
• Represented a private equity firm and its global infrastructure fund in its acquisition of a 2,300 MW portfolio of hydroelectric and natural gas generation plants, transmission infrastructure and natural gas processing facilities in Latin America (including Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Central America, and Argentina) from a leading power generation and transmission company.
• Represented a leading Latin American mining company in the sale of its Chilean copper mining operations.
• Represented a Central American packaging company in its acquisition of a U.S. based visual merchandising, packaging, and design company.
• Represented the shareholders of an Argentina-based provider of outsourced channel origination and transmission services in Latin America, in the sale of the company to a U.S.-based portfolio company of a private equity firm.
• Represented one of the largest energy companies in Spain in the sale by its U.S. subsidiary of its natural gas utility businesses in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
• Represented a Spanish infrastructure company in its acquisition of a toll road project in the U.S.
• Represented a leading automotive supplier in the acquisition of a U.K.-based heavy vehicle braking business from a leading U.K. automotive supplier.