Mr. Grandis is a partner who for more than 30 years has concentrated his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, finance, securities and business law. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America, Chambers and Virginia Business Legal Elite.
M&A Practice
Mr. Grandis devotes a significant portion of his practice to advising purchasers and sellers of business organizations, representing both strategic and financial purchasers and sellers. He assists clients in the structuring, financing, negotiation and consummation of leveraged and management-sponsored buy-outs, as well as conventional business acquisitions and dispositions. In connection with leveraged acquisitions, he also assists clients in negotiating senior and subordinated debt financing including offerings to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A.
Recent transactions have ranged in size from several million dollars to in excess of $8 billion; have involved businesses headquartered throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Puerto Rico, South America, China and Southeast Asia; and have involved diverse industries including manufacturing, insurance, coal mining, oil and gas production and distribution, utilities, product distribution, restaurants, multifamily real estate and hotels, printing, railroads and resorts. As an adjunct to his mergers and acquisitions practice, he also assists clients in structuring, negotiating and consummating joint ventures, strategic alliance and leveraged recapitalizations, and in connection with undertaking, or defending against, hostile takeovers.
Recent Closed Transactions
Representation of a portfolio company of a private equity fund in the add-on acquisition of a design, source and market (DSM) furniture distributor for $50 million.Representation of a portfolio company of a private equity fund in the add-on acquisition of a lighting fixture distributor for $285 million.Representation of a private equity fund in add-on acquisition of Owner and operator of barbeque ribs restaurants for $65 million.Representation of a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and developing coal bed methane mines in the People’s Republic of China in the acquisition of a company incorporated in Samoa and developing coal bed methane mines in the People’s Republic of China.Representation of a portfolio company of a private equity fund in the add-on acquisition of a lighting fixture distributor for $110 million.Representation of a real estate investment trust in its merger with another real estate investment trust for $1.3 billion.Representation of an operator of resort properties in the going private acquisition of a public resort operation.Representation of a private equity fund in the sale of a global provider of logistics services to automotive industry for $190 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the acquisition of a lighting fixture distributor for $190 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the acquisition of a distributor of building and construction materials for $80 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the sale of stock in affiliated (but not commonly owned) manufacturing companies incorporated in Italy and Canada to an Italian private equity firm for $175 million.Representation of an operator of coal mines in the contribution of the coal mining operations in exchange for a 50% interest in a limited liability company formed by a private equity fund.Representation of a private equity fund in the acquisition of a charged off consumer debt collection business for $75 million.Representation of a private equity fund as holder of a minority interest retained from a previous sale and recapitalization of a building products distribution business in the sale of the business for $750 million.Representation of a public utility company in the acquisition of a public oil and gas exploration and production company for $2.3 billion.Representation of a public company in the sale to a private equity fund of a less than prime mortgage company for $300 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the recapitalization and sale to a private equity fund of an owner and operator of restaurants for $65 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the sale of a commercial carpet manufacturer for $440 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the acquisition of an Italian manufacturer of automobile parts for $50 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the sale of a building products distribution business for $440 million.Representation of management in the acquisition from a large financial institution of a leading mergers and acquisition advisory firm.Representation of a private equity find in the acquisition of a controlling interest in a restaurant chain.Representation of a public property and casualty insurance company in the acquisition of a Bermuda based public insurance company with syndicates at Lloyds for $700 million.Representation of a public United Kingdom corporation of its US aerospace business to a United Kingdom corporation for $165 million.Representation of a public food processor of an add-on acquisition for $500 million.Representation of a public utility company in the acquisition of a public natural gas distribution company for $6.5 billion.Representation of a portfolio company of a private equity fund in the add-on acquisition of a commercial carpet manufacturer for $50 million.Representation of a public food processor of an add-on acquisition for $350 million.Representation of a public property and casualty insurance company in the hostile acquisition of a public insurance company for $140 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the acquisition of two independent retail furniture chains for $100 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the acquisition of a distributor of building products for $126 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the sale of a commercial printing business for $100 million.Representation of a private equity fund in the acquisition of a commercial carpet manufacturer for $195 million.
Securities Offering Practice
Mr. Grandis also devotes a portion of his practice to advising issuers and underwriters in connection with the private placement and public offering of securities, including initial public offerings (IPO). In addition to conventional underwritten offerings, he also recently assisted a client in connection with a series of best efforts registered public offering which raised in excess of $1 billion over a several year period.
Recent Closed Transactions
Representation of a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and developing coal bed methane mines in the People’s Republic of China in the private placement of $20 million of common stock to private equity funds and other investors.Representation of a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and operating coal mines in the People’s Republic of China in the spin off to its shareholders of its subsidiary that is developing coal bed methane mines in the People’s Republic of China.Representation of a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and operating coal mines in the People’s Republic of China in the private placement of $50 million of common stock to private equity funds and other investors.Representation of a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and operating coal mines in the People’s Republic of China in the private placement of $25 million of common stock to private equity funds and other investors.Representation of a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and operating coal mines in the People’s Republic of China in the private placement of $25 million of common stock to a Thailand independent power producer.Representation of a real estate investment trust investing principally in hotels in the registered best efforts initial public offering of $1 billion in common shares.Representation of a real estate investment trust investing principally in hotels in the registered best efforts initial public offering of $1 billion in common shares.Representation of a real estate investment trust investing principally in extended stay hotels in the registered best efforts initial public offering of $300 million in common shares.Representation of a real estate investment trust investing principally in hotels in the registered best efforts initial public offering of $300 million in common shares.Representation of a real estate investment trust investing multi-family housing in the registered best efforts initial public offering of $300 million in common shares.Representation of a real estate investment trust investing multi-family housing in the registered underwritten public offering of $50 million in common shares and listing on the New York Stock Exchange.Representation of a real estate investment trust investing multi-family housing in the registered best efforts initial public offering of $300 million in common shares.
Business Law Practice
Mr. Grandis also is the partner principally responsible for the day-to-day representation of a number of the firm's clients, including an insurance holding company, several real estate investment trusts, and various natural resources and manufacturing companies, as well as advising numerous clients and their boards of directors on corporate governance issues.
