Private Equity

At Fredrikson & Byron, we have built a reputation as a go-to law firm for national and regional private equity and mezzanine funds seeking representation in middle market M&A transactions and day-to-day representation of their portfolio companies.

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Sean P. Kearney

Email: skearney@fredlaw.com
Office: 612.492.7128

Leigh-Erin Irons

Email: lirons@fredlaw.com
Office: 612.492.7259

Frank B. Bennett

Email: fbennett@fredlaw.com
Office: 612.492.7377

“It was one of the few times that we have worked with a firm other than the very large firms that represent us. You demonstrated that you could handle a transaction extremely efficiently and cost-effectively. We were very, very happy, so, I just wanted to let you know that it really was a pleasure to work with you on the transaction.”

What We Do

Clients find our value focused approach a refreshing choice, especially for private equity funds seeking alternative representation for a portion of their legal needs. In particular, our clients find we provide:

Senior legal leadership heavily involved in each M&A transaction
Midwest-based rate structure
Expertise with lower middle-market companies

Fredrikson & Byron offers a comprehensive approach to deal management, with the depth and breadth to handle multiple transactions simultaneously. Our attorneys work with fund clients to identify and understand the fund’s key assumptions about the business thus enabling us to negotiate and draft acquisition documents that underscore and protect the basic assumptions and investment thesis.

For lawyers in Fredrikson & Byron’s Private Equity Group, understanding the client’s investment strategy and philosophy is the key to delivering quality legal services. We understand that the life cycle of a private equity investment is unique. From sourcing and evaluation, through acquisition and operations to exit, we know transactions do not start with a letter of intent and evaluations of potential portfolio companies are not limited to legal issues.

Private Equity & Venture Capital Services offered include:

Acquisitions of portfolio companies
Acquisition of add-on companies
Acquisition debt financings
Management team representation
Sales of portfolio companies
Minority owner representation
Recapitalizations
Representation of operating companies
Review and negotiation of LP investments
Secondary sales and transfers of LP interests
Fund formation

Experience

Clients value our focus on getting deals closed in a timely and efficient manner within a relatively low rate structure as well as the level of experience and efficiency we bring to private equity transactions of all sizes. Our experience includes:

Representation of local private equity funds and over a dozen national private equity clients
Regular exposure to leading national senior lenders
Sponsor funding activity with local senior lenders
Both national and local mezzanine lenders experience
Extensive sell-side experience with a number of national funds across the country

Practice Services include:

Acquisitions of platform companies
Acquisitions of add-on companies
Acquisitions debt financings
Management team representation
Minority owner representation
Sales of portfolio companies
Recapitalizations
Representation of operating companies
Review and negotiation of LP investments
Secondary sales and transfers of LP interests
Fund formation

News & Articles

Fredrikson & Byron Represents Open Systems International, Inc. in Its Sale to Emerson Electric Co.

September 2, 2020

Fredrikson acted as legal counsel to OSI Inc. in connection with the execution of a purchase agreement to sell 100 percent of the company’s equity in a $1.6 billion transaction with Emerson Electric Co.

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Fredrikson & Byron Represents Ecessa in Its Sale to Communications Systems, Inc.

May 20, 2020

Fredrikson & Byron acted as legal counsel to Ecessa Corporation in its sale to Communications Systems, Inc.

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Fredrikson & Byron Represents Stone-Goff in Its Sale of NAS Recruitment

March 9, 2020

Fredrikson & Byron acted as legal counsel to Stone-Goff in its sale of NAS Recruitment to M3 USA.

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Fredrikson & Byron Earns Top 20 Ranking in PitchBook’s 2019 US PE Global League Tables

February 20, 2020

PitchBook, a leading source for data on M&A, private equity and venture capital deal activity, has ranked Fredrikson & Byron among the most active law firms in 2019 for private equity deals in the U.S.

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Fredrikson & Byron Represents Brightstar Capital Partners in its Acquisition of Capstone Nutrition

October 2, 2019

Fredrikson & Byron acted as legal counsel to Brightstar Capital Partners, a private investment firm, in its acquisition of Capstone Nutrition, a leading developer and manufacturer of nutrition products.

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Fredrikson & Byron Represents Virteva in its Sale to RLJ Equity Partners

April 20, 2019

Fredrikson & Byron acted as legal counsel to Virteva, a privately held Minneapolis-based, Gold ServiceNow partner and provider of managed services for digital enterprises, in its acquisition by RLJ Equity Partners, an affiliate of the RLJ Companies, and merger with RLJ portfolio company Crossfuze.

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Our Team

Private Equity

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