John Kupiec’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and other corporate matters, including cross-border transactions.

His practice is multidisciplinary, focusing on difficult and unique situations that require critical thinking and practical solutions for private equity sponsors, public companies, REITs, and hedge funds.

John represents both buyers and sellers on public and private acquisitions, unsolicited bids, divestitures, joint ventures, bankruptcy and distressed transactions, and other transactions spanning a variety of industry sectors. In addition, he represents financial sponsors on leveraged buyouts, growth equity investments, take-private transactions, platform investments, minority stakes, and portfolio company matters.

He also advises clients on securities law, corporate governance, and shareholder activism defense.

John joined the firm in 2021.

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Notable Experience (including those prior to joining Cleary)

Private Equity Matters

  • Sixth Street in its $5.1 billion acquisition of Enstar and in a number of investments, including those into the San Antonio Spurs NBA franchise, Milan Laser, Mindbody, Fullsteam, and Emplifi.

  • Sequoia and Paradigm in their $1.15 billion minority investment in Citadel Securities.

  • TPG Growth and The Rise Fund in their majority investment in Greenhouse, a hiring software company.

  • Starwood Energy Group Global in its acquisition of Third Coast Midstream’s Lavaca gas gathering system.

  • Starwood Capital Group and Mammoth Resorts in the sale of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and three other ski resorts to affiliates of Aspen Skiing Company and KSL Capital Partners.

  • The Carlyle Group in a $374 million investment commitment to Amp Solar Group support its growth in core markets in North America, Japan, Australia, Spain, and the UK.

  • KKR in its acquisitions of Avoca Capital, C.H.I. Overhead Doors, and Optiv, and its $3.7 billion take-private acquisition of Gardner Denver.

  • L Catterton in its $925 million take-private acquisition of Steiner Leisure Limited.

  • TriZetto Corporation, a portfolio company of funds advised by Apax Partners, in its $2.7 billion sale to Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.

  • Sycamore Partners in its $6.9 billion acquisition of Staples.

  • Alerian in its sale to Aretex Capital Partners.

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Corporate Matters

  • W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust, Kellanova’s largest stockholder, in Mars’ $35.9 billion acquisition of Kellanova.

  • FEMSA in the merger of Envoy Solutions with BradyIFS, a portfolio company of Kelso & Co.

  • Innocap in its acquisition of BNY Mellon’s HedgeMark business.

  • Comscore in its recapitalization involving investments from Charter Communications Holding Company, Qurate Retail, and an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management.

  • WPT Industrial REIT in its $3.2 billion take-private sale to Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, and its $730 million acquisition of a portfolio of 26 U.S. distribution and logistics properties.

  • Nexstar Broadcasting Group in its $4.6 billion acquisition of Media General, ending a six-month public takeover battle during which Nexstar jumped Media General’s previously announced transaction with Meredith Corp.

  • Tronox Limited in its approximately $2.2 billion acquisition of Cristal’s titanium dioxide business, its $1.64 billion acquisition of FMC Corporation’s Alkali Chemicals business, and its subsequent $1.325 billion sale of its Alkali Chemicals business to Genesis Energy.

  • Micro Focus International in its $8.8 billion Reverse Morris Trust acquisition of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company’s software business.

  • Tribune Publishing in its defense of an unsolicited acquisition proposal from Gannett Co.

  • Direct Energy in its $300 million sale of Clockwork to Authority Brands.

  • Tenneco in its $5.4 billion acquisition of Federal-Mogul from Icahn Enterprises.

  • tronc in its $500 million divestiture of the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, and other California publications.

  • Abbott Laboratories in its $5.8 billion acquisition of Alere.

  • IGATE Corporation in its $4.04 billion merger with Cap Gemini S.A.

  • Eaton Corporation in its $11.8 billion acquisition of Cooper Industries plc.

  • London Stock Exchange Group in its $2.7 billion acquisition of Frank Russell Company.

  • Cogeco Communications and Atlantic Broadband in their $1.4 billion acquisition of MetroCast cable systems.

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb in its up to $3 billion divestiture of its HIV pipeline to ViiV Healthcare, and its up to $475 million (including milestones) acquisition of F-star Alpha.

  • Building Materials Holding Corporation in its approximately $1.5 billion all-stock merger with Stock Building Supply.

  • Lazard, Morgan Stanley, Moelis, and J.P. Morgan as financial advisors for multiple transactions, including Lazard as financial advisor to the special committee of SolarCity Corp. in its $2.6 billion merger with Tesla Motors.

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SPAC Matters

  • Certain stockholders of Ginkgo Bioworks Inc., including Viking Global Investors, in connection with Ginkgo’s $15 billion business combination with Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp.

  • The Lion Electric Company in its $1.9 billion combination with Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded ESG-focused SPAC.

  • Live Oak Acquisition Corp. II, a SPAC, in its $1.4 billion business combination with Navitas Semiconductor, the industry leader in Gallium nitride power ICs.

  • Spartan Acquisition Corp. II, a SPAC sponsored by funds managed by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, in its $1.3 billion business combination with Sunlight Financial, a premier U.S. residential solar financing platform.

  • Tortoise Acquisition Corp., a SPAC, in its merger with Hyliion Inc.

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Publications