Private Equity
McGuireWoods addresses the unique, intersecting needs of private equity funds and those doing business with them, including institutional investors, family offices, investment advisors, lenders and portfolio companies. We represent funds at all points of the continuum from early-stage venture and growth capital to middle-market and control buyout funds. We also represent mezzanine funds and senior lenders providing debt financing for private equity deals.
In just the last five years, we have represented more than 100 private equity funds, each with nuanced needs. We are equally adept at representing the special needs of fundless sponsors as we are with funds of funds. This volume and diversity of experience has enabled us to develop concentrations that align with the investment strategy of the funds such as control and non-control buyout, SBIC, mezzanine finance, and senior and subordinated debt strategies.
Our clients come to us for depth of experience that cuts across legal practice and industry lines. We weave and leverage our resources to assemble teams that bring what each client needs — strength in regulation (particularly Dodd-Frank Act compliance and SBIC licensing and compliance), transactions (M&A, debt finance, capital markets), governance (securities compliance, entity formation), and specialty niches (energy, healthcare, life sciences, finance, supply chain management, technology and privacy). Our ability to understand industry and sector-specific regulations and trends and to distill this information for our clients translates into actionable, strategic business advice.
Investments
We are experienced in all types of private equity investing, including LBOs, roll-ups, minority and preferred stock investments, “going private” transactions, mezzanine and convertible debt, and purchases of troubled companies in or out of bankruptcy. We realize the importance of tax consequences, reconciling management’s interests with the investors’ interests, exit strategy, and control. As a result, we are active in evolving markets and economies, and can advise our clients on current trends in myriad deal terms, from purchase price multiples and earnouts to liability and indemnification basket strategies.
Fund Formation
We have a core group of partners who focus on representing general partners and institutional limited partners in forming buyout private equity funds, mezzanine finance funds, and venture capital funds. Our lawyers also have formed industry-focused funds, including healthcare, energy, real estate, life sciences and technology funds, as well as fund of funds.
SBICs
McGuireWoods is home to some of the nation’s most experienced Small Business Investment Companies lawyers. Our lawyers have represented numerous SBIC funds on a variety of issues — from filing the Management Assessment Questionnaire and handling licensing and transactional work to assisting with the sale of SBIC funds portfolios. We also counsel SBIC funds on day-to-day regulatory matters.
Mezzanine Financing
Mezzanine financing has been an attractive option for many of our clients who need additional capital for acquisitions or expansion and growth, or who have money to lend to companies with good track records for aggressive terms and returns. We represent issuers and investors in the full range of mezzanine financing transactions. Our clients include banks, institutional non-bank lenders, hedge funds and other investors, as well as private equity portfolio companies and other borrowers. The extensive experience and perspective gained from this history are sources of value we offer mezzanine funds, as well as equity funds making investments alongside mezzanine funds, in financings, creditors’ rights matters and bankruptcies.