Private Equity and Mezzanine Financing

Private equity and mezzanine capital now play a critical role in the transactional marketplace in which our clients operate. Moreover, private equity and mezzanine funds have emerged as an attractive asset class for many investors. As a result of this market shift, we have made mid-market private equity and mezzanine financing a special focus of our Firm’s transactional practice.

Reid and Riege lawyers have experience in meeting the needs of mid-market private equity and mezzanine firms in the formation and operation of their funds, and in the acquisition and disposition of their investments.  Our private equity and mezzanine financing practice covers a wide range of transactional activities, including Mergers and Acquisitions, capital raising, portfolio company investments, disposition transactions, structuring of debt, mezzanine and equity financings, and regulatory compliance and tax planning for the funds and their portfolio companies. These activities have also included advising, documenting, and closing transactions involving direct equity investments, debt (bank, high yield and mezzanine) finance, dispositions, sale-leasebacks, restructurings, co-investments, recapitalizations, and joint ventures.  We are often called upon to render advice regarding fund management issues, tax implications of various structures and administration issues, securities regulatory issues affecting private equity funds, and management compensation issues. With broad experience in complex financing transactions and corporate business support, we bring together an interdisciplinary team experienced in all areas of Commercial Finance, Business Counseling, Corporate Governance, Securities, Tax, ERISA, Employment, Creditor’s Rights, Anti-Trust, Environmental Law, and Litigation. 

Our private equity and mezzanine team also has advised general partners and their principals in an array of business issues related to fund formation and operation, including conflicts of interests, estate planning, retention and recruitment of investment professionals, generational succession planning, and dissolution. We use this experience in drafting a fund’s initial documents, as well as when advising its principals throughout the life cycle of the fund.

Reid and Riege has extensive experience representing private equity investors in the purchase and sale of private equity portfolios in the secondary marketplace.  We began representing a private equity firm in the 1980s when it closed on the first major purchase of a portfolio of private equity investments and we have continued to work with this client in the acquisition of additional interests.  Our experience in securities, tax and ERISA law and our ability to organize and complete complex transactions enable us to conclude transactions like these successfully for other clients as well.

Recently, we formed a special purpose investment vehicle for a small group of institutional investors, including benefit plan investors, and represented the new entity in its acquisition of a portfolio of several dozen limited partnership interests in buy-out, mezzanine, and venture funds. 

For additional information, contact Andrew J. Howat (860) 240-1094, ahowat@reidandriege.com, Craig L. Sylvester (860) 240-1032, csylvester@reidandriege.com, Robert M. Mulé (860) 240-1010, lawtalk@reidandriege.com, Mark X. Ryan (860) 240-1056, mryan@reidandriege.com or Jane F. Korwek (860) 240-1085, jkorwek@reidandriege.com.