Bryan Rakes practices in the areas of business transactions, corporate finance and general business advisory services.  Mr. Rakes represents emerging growth companies in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, commercial loan transactions, and general corporate planning.  Mr. Rakes also serves as counsel to private equity groups in connection with equity investments and mergers and acquisitions and regularly serves as counsel to their portfolio companies.  Mr. Rakes also represents lenders engaging in subordinated loan transactions and related equity investments.

Significant Matters

• Represented, as lead counsel, a syndication of five banks in a loan of up to $250 million to a leading consumer products company secured by domestic and international assets.
• Represented the borrower in a music publishing transaction including a $330 million equity investment and a senior subordinated financing of $70 million in the context of a workout.
• Represented subordinated lenders, as lead counsel, in mezzanine financing transactions totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. These transactions have been secured and unsecured, with equity (including warrants) and without. The investments have been made by SBIC's and private equity groups.
• Represented a publishing business in a sale to a group of investors lead by a national private equity firm for $150 million.
• Represented a private equity group in the sale of its portfolio company to Danaher for $50 million.
• Represented a U.S. company in connection with the restructuring of its €32 million credit facility with a European lender.
• Represented the portfolio company of a private equity group in connection with the purchase of a division from General Electric Corporation and related financing transaction.
• Represented purchaser in the acquisition of a distribution business for an aggregate value, including earn-out, of $19 million.
• Represented seller in the sale of a distribution business for an aggregate value of $27 million.
• Represented a surgical monitoring business in a sale to a group of investors lead by a national private equity firm for an aggregate value, including earn-out and retention of a 25% equity stake, of more than $40 million.
• Represented a utility services company in its $22 million sale to Power Line.
• Represented a private equity group in the acquisition of a gourmet frozen food business from a bankruptcy trustee and the related equity and debt financings.
• Represented a company in connection with a $25 million debt/equity financial restructuring transaction.
• Represented both lead investors and companies in numerous investment rounds.
• Represented, as outside general counsel, numerous growing companies throughout the United States.

Activities