Frank Aquila has been a partner in Sullivan & Cromwell's Mergers & Acquisitions Group since 1992. He specializes in handling mergers and acquisitions, takeover defense, strategic alliances and corporate governance matters for a broad range of clients. Mr. Aquila serves as regular advisor to global leaders such as Amgen, British Airways and Diageo. He has represented Amgen, the world s largest biotech, in its acquisitions of Abgenix, Alantos Pharmaceuticals, Avidia and Ilypsa and their collaborations with Kirin and Takeda. Over the last decade, he has represented Diageo, the top premium drinks company, in many significant transactions, including its sale of Burger King Corporation to an investor group led by Texas Pacific Group and the merger of Pillsbury with General Mills; its acquisitions of Seagram Wines and Spirits, The Chalone Wine Group and Rosenblum Cellars; the restructuring of its U.S. joint venture arrangements with Mo�t Hennessy, and their joint venture with respect to Ketel One Vodka, among many others. Mr. Aquila has also represented British Airways in numerous transactions over the last 20 years. Selected Transactions Mr. Aquila's representations include: Collective Brands (formerly PayLess ShoeSource) in its acquisitions of Stride Rite and Collective International. J. Sainsbury in the sale of its U.S. supermarket businesses to Albertsons. Aames Investment Corp. in its merger with Accredited Home Lenders. Medtronic in its acquisitions of MiniMed and Medical Research Group. EchoStar in its attempted acquisition of Hughes Electronics from General Motors. Western Resources in its hostile bids for ADT and KCP&L. Pharmacia & Upjohn in its merger with Monsanto, and Upjohn in its earlier merger with Pharmacia. SITA S.C. in connection with Equant s acquisition of GlobalOne and The SITA Foundation in selling its equity interest in Equant to France Telecom. The Earthgrains Company in its acquisition by Sara Lee. Newbridge Networks in its acquisition by Alcatel. In Bev in its sale of Rolling Rock and its US Import Agreement with Anheuser-Busch. Grand Metropolitan in its merger with Guinness to form Diageo. Professional Activities and Community Involvement Recently chaired the Practising Law Institute's conference on "going private" transactions and Executive Enterprise Institute conferences on due diligence in M&A transactions and Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance. Regular commentator on M&A activity and trends on Bloomberg Radio, Bloomberg TV and CNBC TV. Board of Trustees of The NALP Foundation for Law Career Research and Education. Board of Advisors of the Salvation Army of Greater New York. Rankings and Recognition In demand as an author and lecturer on M&A and corporate governance, Mr. Aquila received The Burton Award for Legal Achievement 2005 in recognition of his article, "Back to the Future! Recent Hostile Bids Make Takeover Defenses Relevant" (The M&A Lawyer, April 2004). Featured twice in The American Lawyer, "Daddy s Weekend on the Phone" (January 2002) and "Supersonic Lawyers" (May 2004) Featured in The Wall Street Journal, "Business Trips Leave Little Time for Luxuries" (May 31, 1996) Cited in Seeing the World Through Clients' Eyes (Nisus Consulting) as an advisor who had "really gone the extra mile and surpassed your expectations." Mergers & Acquisitions Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (2008, 2007, 2006, 2004-2005, 2002-2003, 2001-2002, 2000-2001) Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003-2004) Guide to the World's Leading Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyers, Euromoney Legal Media Group/International Financial Law Review (2008 - announced, 2006, 2001) The Definitive Guide to Europe's Leading Advisers: Are Your Advisers Giving You the Edge? (mergermarket) PLC Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions Handbook (2008/2009, 2007/2008, 2006/2007) PLC Global Counsel Mergers & Acquisitions Handbook (2005, 2004-2005, 2003-2004) PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook (2007, 2006, 2005, 2003-2004, 2002-2003) New York Super Lawyers (2007, 2006) Best Lawyers in America (2008 - announced, 2007) Corporate Governance PLC Cross-border Corporate Governance Handbook (2008/2009 - announced, 2007/2008) |